Koh Tao Snorkeling: What It’s Like (and Best Tours)
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We’re snorkel junkies, and some of the best underwater exploring in Thailand is found around Koh Tao.
Like kittens drawn to catnip, we decided to spend a few days on this tiny island on one of our trips to Thailand to scratch that snorkel itch.
So we hopped on a full-day snorkeling boat tour around the island. It included a stop at gorgeous Koh Nang Yuan.
Here’s what our experience was like, the snorkeling stops and a few of the best tours to consider if you too want to explore Koh Tao’s reefs.
🤿 Koh Tao snorkeling at a glance
When to go to Koh Tao
March through September is the best time for snorkeling.
Top-rated snorkeling tours
- Snorkeling highlights big-boat day tour – Rated 4.7 out of 5, with almost 4,000 reviews
- Big boat with a waterslide – Recommended by 99% of travelers, with 2,400+ stellar 5-star reviews
- Premium small-group snorkeling tour – Rated 4.8 out of 5, with 150+ reviews
- Private longtail boat trip – Rated 4.6 out of 5
Staying on Koh Tao
- Sensi Paradise Beach Resort ⭐⭐⭐
- The Place Luxury Boutique Villas ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Jamahkiri Dive Resort & Spa ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
➡️ For accommodation details, see our guide on Koh Tao’s best bungalow resorts.
Contents: Snorkeling guide to Koh Tao
Is snorkeling on Koh Tao worth it?
About Koh Tao
Koh Tao is a small bohemian island (only some eight square miles in size), located roughly 42 miles away from its bigger neighbor, Koh Samui.
Encircled by coral reefs and teeming with marine life, the island attracts thousands of visitors each year eager to learn scuba diving.
Indeed, Koh Tao certifies so many scuba divers that it churns out more dive certifications than anywhere else in the world, except for Queensland, Australia.
But you don’t have to strap on a tank and regulator to enjoy what’s beneath the surface.
Diving requires more time and training than snorkeling. And we’ve found that you often see as much snorkeling as you do diving.
On Koh Tao, we decided to take it easy and explore underwater this way instead.
Is snorkeling on Koh Tao worth it?
The short answer… It can be – but it depends on your expectations.
Koh Tao is famous for diving, and the snorkeling can be enjoyable too, especially if visibility is good. But coral health varies around the island, and conditions can change from day to day.
For us, the snorkeling itself was a bit underwhelming. Much of the coral we saw was damaged, and visibility wasn’t great on the day we went.
But the boat trip around the island, swimming stops and visit to beautiful Koh Nang Yuan still made for a fun and relaxing day on the water.
If you enjoy scenic boat rides with a bit of snorkeling along the way, it’s definitely a worthwhile outing.
Snorkeling tours by “big boat”
The most popular way to go snorkeling on the island is on a big-boat snorkeling tour around Koh Tao.
It’s an easy (and inexpensive!) way to see several bays around the island while hopping into the water at different stops.
(You can also visit Koh Tao on a day trip from Koh Samui – more on that later.)
Mae Haad is the main village on Koh Tao. Along its sandy streets, dozens of small tour shops hawk the big boat tours.
We initially tried researching the “best” snorkeling tour online. No luck – the Internet was painfully slow. Island life!
So we wandered the strip and asked around.
“Same same,” said our cheerful tour seller. And she was right.
About a dozen companies run similar trips. Prices are roughly the same, and most follow almost identical routes around the island.
In other words, there’s no need to overthink which operator to choose if you’re looking at a big-boat tour.
What to expect on Koh Tao’s big-boat tours
Time
Most trips leave daily at about 9:30 am and get you back about 5:00 pm.
What’s included?
- Drinking water, coffee, tea and fresh fruit
- Snorkeling gear
- A simple Thai box lunch
Our lunch was served onboard in a plastic container – warm rice topped with a fried egg, accompanied by a ground pork concoction in a plastic bag, and a plastic spoon for eating our lunch. Not gourmet! But edible.
Extras
The entrance fee of 250 Thai Baht (about $7.75 USD) to beautiful Koh Nang Yuan is usually extra.
Koh Tao’s 5 best snorkeling spots
Boats typically cruise around Koh Tao and visit Koh Nang Yuan too, stopping to snorkel at five spots.
1) Shark Bay
Shark Bay (also known as Haad Tien Beach) sits on the southern tip of the island.
It’s named for the blacktip reef sharks that sometimes cruise through the bay. Don’t worry – they’re harmless, and attacks are extremely rare. If you spot one, simply give it space.
Green sea turtles are also occasionally seen here.
Sadly, we didn’t see either during our visit.
Much of the shallow coral here is also badly damaged, likely from warming ocean temperatures.
2) Aow Leuk
Also on the south end of the island, Aow Leuk is a large picturesque bay, known for its crystal clear waters. The water wasn’t gin clear for us though – just not our day!
Again, the coral isn’t in the best of shape.
But some artificial reef structures have been placed by the New Heaven Reef Conservation Program to encourage restoration of the reef there.
There are lots of fish to see, however – butterfly fish, trigger fish, needle fish, parrot fish, Sergeant Majors and more.
3) Hin Wong Bay
This small bay on the eastern side of the island turned out to be one of the better snorkeling stops.
The coral was in slightly better condition, and we saw more fish here than at the other locations.
Keep an eye out for huge schools of sardines and large groupers!
4) Mango Bay
Ahhhh, Mango Bay.
It’s a pretty pretty place, where the water is almost luminescent in different shades of turquoise.
We loved just gazing at it above the water, never mind poking our heads underwater.
Located on the north end of Koh Tao, Mango Bay is difficult to get to except by boat.
The shallow reef makes for easy snorkeling, and marine life is lively.
What to see underwater? Large shoals of yellowtail barracuda are regularly spotted here, along with damselfish and lots of candy-colored wrasse.
5) Koh Nang Yuan
Our last stop was a small private island, Koh Nang Yuan (also spelled Koh Nan Yuan).
During the day, the island is busy. Very busy.
When we went, it felt like there were over 1,000 people vying for space to drop a towel on the sand, or to hide from the burning sun under one of the limited numbers of teeny umbrellas.
Still, the place is undeniably beautiful.
Framed by large granite boulders, the Japanese Gardens snorkeling area is calm and beginner-friendly. And while some coral has suffered damage, we saw plenty of fish.
When we needed a break from the sun, we took advantage of the shade offered by the Koh Nang Yuan Beach Bar – the cold beer and drinks were very welcome!
There’s only one resort on the island – the 3-star Nangyuan Island Dive Resort. (It must be quite amazing to stay here and enjoy the whole island to yourself after the day-trippers leave! Note that bungalow prices are higher, though, than on Koh Tao.)
Top-rated snorkeling tours to consider
Big-boat tours
These two trips get great reviews!
- Top-rated snorkeling day tour with lunch – It has almost 4,000 glowing reviews.
- Big boat with a waterslide for added fun – It’s recommended by 99% of travelers (with 2,400+ glowing 5-star reviews).
Small-group tour
For a few more dollars than a big-boat tour, you can book a premium small-group snorkel tour.
- The group size is limited to 25 guests.
- You enjoy chicken or vegan sandwiches plus panna cotta for lunch.
- Hotel round-trip transfers are included.
If going again, we’d probably book this tour.
Longtail boat tours
If you’d prefer to go out on your own, book a private tour on a longtail boat (snorkeling gear is included).
On a private tour, you’re free to arrange your own schedule. You can stop at less busy spots to snorkel and pick a beach to snooze on if you want a break from snorkeling.
On the flip side, you’ll probably have to arrange your own stop for lunch (or bring your own snacks with you).
And depending on the sea conditions, the water may be a little bumpier than on a “big boat.”
Koh Samui day trip to Koh Tao
Koh Tao is close enough to Koh Samui that you can visit the island on a day trip from Koh Samui.
You might like this full-day snorkeling tour to Koh Tao (and Koh Nang Yuan) by speedboat. It includes pick-up from your Koh Samui hotel.
Good to know
Best time to snorkel Koh Tao
You can pretty well snorkel and dive around Koh Tao for most of the year, except during the monsoon months of November and December.
The peak snorkeling and diving season is March to September, when water conditions are at their best. July and August are the busiest months.
March and April are the prime months for spotting whale sharks around Koh Tao. Most sightings occur at dive sites, but snorkelers occasionally spot them near Shark Island, just offshore from Shark Bay.
Visibility and snorkeling conditions
Water visibility around Koh Tao can vary depending on weather and currents.
On good days it can reach 50 to 100 feet, but some bays may be murkier – especially after storms or during busy seasons.
That means snorkeling experiences can vary quite a bit from one day to the next.
Staying on Koh Tao
We stayed at Sensi Paradise Beach Resort, a beachfront bungalow resort with a cool hippie-chic vibe.
For more options, see our guide to the best places to stay on Koh Tao, where we review this resort and several others.
Our final verdict
So how do we say this without sounding too discouraging?
The snorkeling itself was a little disappointing for us.
Much of the coral we saw was dead, so we were looking at brown and grey broken bits (not too interesting to see underwater). And we weren’t surrounded by the galaxies of fish we’d expected. Plus, the visibility wasn’t terribly clear for us.
But the boat trip around Koh Tao was still a lovely way to spend the day! The scenery was beautiful, the swimming refreshing and the whole experience relaxed and fun.
And at about $26 USD per person, it felt like great value.
Besides, if we hadn’t gone, we’d always wonder what we might have missed.
If you go, have fun! Conditions do vary, and lots of travelers report that their snorkeling experience was great. (See the comments below at the end of this post.)
Read more of our Thailand guides
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- Yes! We Loved our Stay at Railay’s Iconic Rayavadee Resort
- Finding Zen at Koh Samui’s Zazen Boutique Resort
- Discovering the Power of Poppies at the Hall of Opium
- A Luxury Guide to the Most Beautiful Places In Thailand
- Shangri-La Bangkok: River Views, Classic Thai Luxury
- Sheraton Grande Sukkhumvit Review: A Grand Stay in Bangkok
- Dine in the Dark in Bangkok: An Eye-Opening Experience
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So sorry to hear that Koh Tao let you down! I have a friend who recently went diving there, she absolutely loved the Sail Rock and generally the whole island. But I agree, though, too many people in the same place and a general lack of diversity in services can ruin what would otherwise be a fantastic experience.
Nice to hear your friend loved the island and especially the diving there! Maybe our experience was a one-off :-)
I am visiting Koh Tao with my wife and 1 year baby girl. I am in for diving and wifey needs some good snorkel. Hoping for a good trip. Quick question: which part of the year did u visit Koh Tao? Coz we are visiting September and have read that the sea is quite good that time with less crowds.
Sorry for the belated reply! (We just moved to Victoria – new blog posts on that coming soon…) To answer your question – we visited in February, when conditions are generally described as “okay” and “changeable.” July to August is said to be the best time for diving and snorkeling with the best visibility. So your visit should be great! Have a great trip! (Let us know after how you enjoyed it…)
Seemingly a pretty negative post, I am in Koh Tao at the moment and having hired a bike to visit majority of the beaches and snorkelled I couldn’t disagree anymore.
We went to shark bay and within minutes was greeted by 5 black tip sharks no further than 4 meters off steps. I do agree that the coral isn’t pretty but it still attracts bundles of colourful fish which on a good day set up for a nice time.
As for it being overcrowded – a lot of the tourist/day boats do the same route so it does get over crowded but this can be avoided by taking a taxi boat earlier and missing the crowd.
For anyone thinking of coming to Koh Tao – don’t let this put you off, it’s a beautiful island with so much to offer.
Hi Aaron,
Thanks for writing in! It’s great to hear you really enjoyed Koh Tao – and were greeted by no less than 5 blacktip sharks :-).
Your tip about taking an earlier tour or taxi boat to avoid the crowds is a good one.
We’ve written about snorkeling at Santa Maria Bay near Cabo San Lucas (Mexico) and how by visiting on your own, you can go earlier before the snorkel tour boats arrive, and so get to see lots of fish (maybe even whales too!).
I haven’t been to Koh Tao too but after your post… I want to go :) Great
Now a days, it is a very popular travel destination, but it is still amazing!
Beautiful Koh Tao photos! Really want to go there some day! Thanks for sharing your experience with us!
This second trip to Koh Samui.
In 2014 I come for Samui bike week so no time to explore this beautiful island so much.
18th Feb 2016 I repeat again exploring the koh samui..
Just back for snorkeling in Mango Bay,Koh Tao and Koh Nyang Yuan..not so crowded that moment ..about 145THB include buffet lunch in Koh Tao eat all u can.
Agent say we are lucky because that date, water are calm and no big wave compare to other days.
If have extra time and money I wish to explore other island near koh samui again one days..
Sorry my English not so good.
Penang,Malaysia.
Thank you for giving us an update on Koh Tao! Sounds like you had a good day – glad you were blessed with calm waters, and nice to hear that Koh Nang Yuan wasn’t too crowded for you :-). Fewer people to share Koh Nang Yuan with would make all the difference to your experience, because it’s a beautiful island!
Thanks for this post! We’re planning to do a similar boat trip to Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan on a Thailand trip soon. It’s good to know that we should expect some nice scenery and fun swimming but not much in the way of fish & coral. Hopefully if we go in with moderate expectations we’ll be pleasantly surprised :)
That’s the attitude :-). When we’re disappointed in our travels, it’s usually because of expectations that haven’t been met. We once went on a Fiji cruise touted as “five-star.” It turned out to be three-star by North American standards. But if the cruise company had said – “Hey, just pack your swimsuit and shorts, and you’ll get to enjoy some fabulous white-sand beaches and have a simple air-conditioned cabin to sleep in” – their marketing would have been more accurate. We ended up having a great time, but we had to shift mental gears first.
I can’t believe I’ve never been to Koh Tao – I’ve spent so much time down in southern Thailand. That one shot of Koh Nang Yuan looks stunning, but with too many people … yikes. Oh, I love Thailand, though.
I love your honesty. It’s funny about tours, how they are all the same in some places. In Mauritius, you either get the North or South tour, no one seems to offer a bespoke one depending on what you’re interested in!
Koh Tao definitely could do with a more bespoke boat tour offering :-). Now, Mauritius, don’t know much about that island – but it sure sounds exotic!
Would love to snorkel there, so far the most beautiful sea I have been to is the red sea, amazing corals… hopefully will be in Thailand next year at about the same time :) A little dream of mine… Anyway, you are welcome to visit my site as well, give your opinion, on what I should/could improve, as your site seems very cool :)
Followed you on facebook btw ;)
The Red Sea is amazing! We loved diving there while staying in Sharm El Sheikh. Enjoy your trip to Thailand :-).
I haven’t been to Koh Tao but I thought it was considered the “Mecca” of snorkelling and diving in Thailand – at least – like you said – that’s how it’s described in the guidebooks, so I can understand why you would have been disappointed! I lived on neighbouring Koh Phangan for a few months and as the island is not particularly famous for its snorkelling I went on a boat trip with no expectations, and was happy just to see a few colourful fish and corals!
Apparently the best diving and snorkelling site in the Gulf of Thailand is at Sail Rock though, so maybe take a trip there next time? I am planning to test it out next month, so I’ll let you know if it’s any good!
The way you did your snorkeling trip on Koh Phangan is probably the best way to do it – go with no great expectations :-). We hear Koh Phangan is a lovely island too. Must have been wonderful to live there for a few months. And yes, we look forward to hearing what the snorkeling is like at Sail Rock!
I haven’t been to Koh Tao, Janice and George, but I’ve heard great things about it. Sounds like it was swamped and that things maybe weren’t too pristine for you guys. I found Koh Lanta to be stunning. Mind you, I didn’t dive, but we visited during high season and if we went south enough we had large, private beaches to ourselves basically because everybody chills at the beaches in the north. As for snorkeling I don’t know. Diving is supposed to rock but that’s way out at sea. I didn’t see many snorkelers there though, just swimmers, and some fishing from the locals with their large throw nets.
Beautiful photos guys!
Ryan
Looks like Koh Lanta gets the thumbs up from many people :-). We too loved the island.
Funnily enough, I did my very first big boat snorkel trip on a Thailand around 4 months ago but it was Ko Lanta rather than Ko Tao. I enjoyed it overall though I hear Ko Tao is great for diving and snorkelling as you say! It helped that our snorkel guise happened to be a friend who lives there! Your photo of Koh Nang Yuan looks beautiful despite the crowds you mentioned ☺
Koh Lanta is another dream island :-). And, yes, being shown the best spots by a friend who lives there would be a real boon! We have really fond memories of our stay on Koh Lanta a few years ago. It’s larger than Koh Tao, but it didn’t seem as busy with tourists, at least where we stayed, which was at Pimalai. They say one should enjoy Koh Lanta now, because there’s talk of building a bridge between Koh Lanta and Krabi, which would increase the visitor numbers on the island. Don’t know if that’s true or not, but…
Fell in love with the country and my beloved gf living the majority of the 2 years living there on Lanta. Unfortunately every time I go (at least 3 times a year) it is slowly evolving into the next Koh Samui. Now besotted with Koh Yao- you should book a week of purest perfection at the 6 Senses Resort. They have finally finished the bridge between Koh Lanta Yao and Koh Lanta Noi about a month ago. But unless they build a 2nd much larger bridge to the Mainland I don’t think that it will significantly increase the number of tourists. The bridge will be most useful for the locals.
Yes, we love Koh Lanta (and pretty well all of Thailand). Good to hear the bridge to the mainland hasn’t been built (yet) and may not be ?? Koh Tao we were less impressed with though, as you can tell from this blog post. And we have been to Koh Yao Noi and stayed at the Six Senses Resort (it’s lovely!). Thanks for taking the time to write in :-).
Gosh! Sounds somewhat disappointing! Guess we can’t always believe the guidebooks.
:-)
That’s true. For us, what was needed was just a little “truth in advertising” for the snorkeling tour. Had our expectation been – pleasant scenic boat tour, cool off at some spots with a swim, see a beautiful island (though be prepared, it’s so beautiful that everyone else wants to see it too), oh and we’ll feed you a bit too (though don’t expect anything much, as it’s hard to prepare food on a boat, so we brought in a little something premade on shore) – we would have been very happy. It’s like whale watching. If you go expecting to see whales, you’re disappointed if you don’t see them, even though you might have seen sea lions, dolphins and fabulous scenery. And as we noted, what you get on these Koh Tao boat tours really is a bargain at $30 odd p.p. Whack us with a wet noodle! Here we were in paradise, and we were disappointed because we didn’t enjoy the snorkeling experience expected :-).