Phuket Snorkeling Tours & Trips

01 Where to Snorkel near Phuket should you visit?

There are 10 Islands Near Phuket – Phuket Island Hopping you could visit below.

1. Phi Phi Island

Phi Phi island is open, and the beaches and other nearby islands are more beautiful than ever. The island looks quiet, and the majority of shops, restaurants and hotels are still closed.

Diving around Phi Phi Island is a fantastic experience you shouldn't miss. Not many places in the world can offer such unique dive sites. If you never experienced diving before, remember that a very cool option called 'Discover Scuba Diving' doesn't require any training, just a briefing usually given on the boat deck on the way to the dive sites! I did it, and it was fantastic.

Phi Phi island has a huge diversity of marine life.

2. Similan Islands

The Similan Islands are a bit far from the island of Phuket, and you will have to dedicate an entire day to visit them, but the experience is so incredible, you will never regret it. You don't even need to be an excellent photographer to get some striking photos. When possible, you should go for a two days trip to make the best of it, The islands can be visited with several different types of boats; Liveaboard dive boats are ideal for multiple days while day trip dive boats and snorkelling speed boats are for day trips.The ideal time to visit Similan Islands is during the winter and hot seasons from December to April when the waters are clear, making it the best time for scuba diving and snorkelling.

3. Koh Racha Island

Koh Racha Yai (also called Raya Island or Racha Island) is a small island just 12 kilometres south of Phuket, 30min by Speedy boat. popular for day trips, snorkelling and scuba diving. Koh Racha Yai (also called Raya Island or Racha Island)

This tiny island is very well known by divers as a clear dive site, especially for beginners.the water around Racha Island is crystal clear.

4. Maiton Island

Maiton island is a small spot only 15 minutes from Phuket by speedboat  south of Phuket that used to be home to a luxury hotel.  Evan Maiton is a private island you can swim, relax, explore a bit, eat and drink, go snorkelling and enjoy the peace in a lounger under the trees, and the day feels perfect.

5. Koh Bon

Koh Bon is one of the  famous  islands  snorkel with manta rays from Phuket .Koh Bon (Bon Island) is the best place in Thailand to scuba dive with manta rays. Experienced snorkelers can also get in on the fun.  Koh Bon tours are available from November to April.

6. Rang Yai Island

Rang Yai Island is a beautiful private island located about five kilometres east of Laem Hin Pier. If you want to experience a Robinson Crusoe lifestyle, Rang Yai is a great place to spend the day .

7. Koh Khai

The Koh Khai are three tiny but trendy islands just 15 minutes away from Phuket east coast. People go there to soak in the sun and play in the clear water for a few hours.

8. Coral Island

Coral is very close to Phuket, only 15 mn by  speedboat. What a fun day out with a mix of activities will enjoy Coral Island,For anyone new to the underwater world it's ideal because the reefs are shallow and close to shore.

9. Surin Islands

The Surin Islands are popular with domestic tourists on weekends but less visited by overseas tourists than the Similan Islands. This fact will appeal to anyone who wants to avoid the crowds.It offeres a large variety of snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities.Snorkeling in the Surin islands not only let you explore the cystal clear water of Amanda Sea that allows  coral reefs to thrive by providing near perfect conditions for their growth and variety of sea marines.Many other unique colorful life all sizes can be seen while snorkeling there.

10.Hong Island

Hong Island is a group of four islands called the Koh Hong Group. Generally referred to as Hong Island and Hong Lagoon, they are located off the coast of Krabi. Krabi is a province situated in the West Coast of Southern Thailand.

So you can enjoy Krabi snorkeling off the beach  easily. They are considered to be the most beautiful islands of the region. From Krabi, leave on  a long-tail boat to explore Hong Island.

02 Which type of snorkeling boat?

There are many different kind of tour by different kinds of boat to go snorkeling.You will travel in a speed boat and  liveaboard  to Surin Islands,Similan Island ,Phi Phi Islands.Some islands close to phuket there could arrive by longtaile boat or Catamaran Cruises.Such as Racha ,Coral ,Maithon Islands.

03 When is the best time of year to snorkel in Thailand?

The best time to snorkel  hopping islands  is from November to February during Thailand's high season to avoid excessive rainfall. The Mo Kuh Surin and Similan Islands National Park is closed from the beginning of May to the end of October during the monsoon season. Since the park is only open during certain months, any time you choose to visit is sure to be enjoyable since it remains warm year round. If you wish to see manta rays, be sure to visit the island from March until the park's closure in May and bring your good fortune with you as they can be trickier to see in shallower waters.

04  Best Snorkelling Beaches in Phuket?

1.Ao Sane,Nai Harn:is a 200-metre-long beach next to Nai Harn Beach in the south part of Phuket. It has 2 distinct snorkelling areas – one is a sharp drop off into deeper waters populated by parrotfish, clownfish, and eels.

2.Kata Noi South of Kata Beach:Kata Noi Beach is one of Phuket's most beautiful beaches. The sea here is bright turquoise, especially at the rocky promontories at both ends of the 850-metre beach.

3.Paradise Beach South of Patong Beach:Paradise Beach lies around 5 km southwest of Patong, with a coral reef about 100 metres offshore. This 150-metre sheltered beach is managed by Paradise Beach Phuket Club, which offers snorkelling, kayaking, SUP boarding, and scuba diving.

4.Merlin Beach:This little-hidden beach located in front of the Marriott Phuket Resort Merlin Beach is not well known but is the only beach having its natural reef. If you are a hotel guest, you can enjoy using the snorkelling reef program offered by the hotel, but if you are a visitor, there is a small road on the left of the hotel that will take you to that beach. You can also meet sea turtles on this beach.

Good for snorkeling,but beach not excellent enough to swim.

5.Ya Nui Beach:Ya Nui is tiny but has the charms of a small beach, tucked in a cove between the Windmill Viewpoint and famous Promthep Cape in the very south of Phuket Island.

6.Banana Beach: the almost secret beach is a little hidden treasure.  the small Banana Beach is hiding from the crowd. We thought it wouldn't last, but it is still quiet. Banana Beach is pretty big with shallow clear blue waters, towering palm trees and excellent sand quality, it is a mystery why it hasn't been developed like the rest of the island.

It is such a great place to spend an afternoon, swimming is excellent, snorkelling is good, and you can even get a beach chair and an umbrella.

7.Laem Ka – ideal for kids:If you want to try snorkelling in Phuket but you have kids, then Laem Ka is your best bet. The current is as gentle as it gets, and although the beach is a bit rocky, it's easy to swim out. There are lots of cool crabs here, and the usual interesting fish that swim around the beaches on Phuket. Even if you are a bit more of an experienced swimmer, it offers some of the best snorkelling near Phuket just in terms of sheer visibility.

05 Phuket snorkelling tips

1. Wear sunscreen or/and a T-shirt – the sun's rays are magnified by the water

2. Be wary of jet skis and make yourself as visible as possible while snorkelling

3. Always defog your mask before diving.

4. Kicking from the hip is the most effective way to use your fins

5. Do not touch coral under any circumstances