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  1. #1
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    Snorkelling only

    OK folks

    here is a thread where you can keep the best snorkelling areas updated

    for me, most of Thailand seems to be not good as the visibilty is poor, the corals have died or have been ruined, and the fishes eaten

    prove me wrong please, as I love snorkelling and want to find good places

    my own partial recommendation would be Koh Wai (part of the Koh Chang group)

    The visibility is poor to Ok, the reef is easy to reach without a boat, or you can go on a day trip by boat to other small islands where the visibity is much better

    It has improved slowly over the past few years, due to some protection, you can actually see new corals growing back. In addition, some bigger fishes can be seen.
    I have reported your post

  2. #2
    RIP
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    Koh Racha Noi off Phuket is pretty good and for Snorkelling from the main island(Phuket) there are some good spots between Kata and Nai Harn .
    My brother comes out for 6 months every year mainly for the snorkelling !

  3. #3
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    its full of wankers but phi phi can be very good

    used to enjoy kata on phuket at the right time of the year

  4. #4
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    I was in Phi Phi years ago

    where is there good snorkelling there? all I remember was lots of shallow sands

    mind you, I was there with two Malay girls, so snorkelling was not my no1 priority

  5. #5
    I am not a cat
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    Quote Originally Posted by DrAndy View Post
    OK folks

    here is a thread where you can keep the best snorkelling areas updated

    A (diving) friend said the snorkelling at Koh Lipe (down satun way) was as good (or better) than many dive sites they had been on.

  6. #6
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    Keep this on the QT ... Koh Ngai down Trang way. Last time we were there only 3 or 4 resorts on the island - about 3000 baht a night for a great bungalow on the beach front. Snorkelling right off the beach and boat trips to surrounding uninhabited islands. One of them has a hidden beach in the middle, only accessible by diving though a channel.

  7. #7

    R.I.P.


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    Quote Originally Posted by Gallowspole
    One of them has a hidden beach in the middle, only accessible by diving though a channel.
    I want to go there, more details please

    Koh Larn off of Pattaya has really clear waters, they also got the submarine thing that does journeys over the coral reefs, one of their staff was recently arrested for nicking coral to add to the reef so that one should be quite good.

  8. #8
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    I've dived all around the world, including Thailand and other spots in Asia, for the past 20 years, and over the past few years I've come to prefer freediving (a fancy word for snorkeling) to SCUBA, at least when the conditions are right. For my money, given the distance from Bangkok to worthwhile places in Thailand, I'd just as soon grab a flight to the Philippines and head to Cebu/Siquijor or, if I have the time, Tagbilaran or Negros Oriental. There are house reefs at resorts in the PI that far exceed anything easily accessible (i.e., not a boat ride away) in Thailand in terms of viz, corals, and sea life. There isn't much else that I like about the PI in comparison to Thailand- the food is generally awful and the people are kind of weird (but nice, kind of like the US Midwest)- but for easily accessible freediving and SCUBA it is head and shoulders above Thailand. Bear in mind that for freedivers the "24 hours before you fly" rule for SCUBA (admittedly a bit less if you trust your computer) does not apply, giving freedivers an extra day of diving.

    I hope Burma opens up and frees its people and its dive spots before I am too old to enjoy them.

  9. #9
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    Nst hotels and resorts - Koh Hai Fantasy Resort - Pictures and Facilities South Thailand Hotels Online Reservation by Hotel4Thai.com

    This is the resort we stayed at. The island with the hidden beach is a couple of kilometers off the east coast of the island. The resort organises day trips with lunch and everything. Make sure you don't go in the monsoon season or when there are tsunamis as the swells make it too difficult to swim through the channel. We tried but kept on hitting the rocks and the kid got scared so we turned back. I think it was here where a group of scando divers got killed when the tsunami hit.

    Looking at the pictures on the website there has been a heck of a lot of development on the island. They've put their rates up accordingly. Find paradise put up a parking lot.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by DrAndy
    I was in Phi Phi years ago where is there good snorkelling there? all I remember was lots of shallow sands mind you, I was there with two Malay girls, so snorkelling was not my no1 priority
    took a boat off the pier side
    left outlet as you come in

    malay muff divin over lookin at fish anyday

  11. #11
    I am not a cat
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    Quote Originally Posted by robuzo View Post
    I'd just as soon grab a flight to the Philippines and head to Cebu/Siquijor or, if I have the time, Tagbilaran or Negros Oriental. There are house reefs at resorts in the PI that far exceed anything easily accessible (i.e., not a boat ride away) in Thailand in terms of viz, corals, and sea life. There isn't much else that I like about the PI in comparison to Thailand- the food is generally awful and the people are kind of weird (but nice, kind of like the US Midwest)- but for easily accessible freediving and SCUBA it is head and shoulders above
    Agreed. been diving a couple of time in philippines - and it pretty much blows thailand away - in Dumageute very recently - awesome diving - great muck diving and knocked the pants of pretty much anywhere in thailand (except similans for the big stuff).

  12. #12
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    you back on diving!!? this is a snorkelling only thread please

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by DrAndy View Post
    you back on diving!!? this is a snorkelling only thread please
    Yes sir. Sorry to have digressed.

  14. #14
    Mmmm, Bowling......
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gallowspole View Post
    Keep this on the QT ... Koh Ngai down Trang way. Last time we were there only 3 or 4 resorts on the island - about 3000 baht a night for a great bungalow on the beach front. Snorkelling right off the beach and boat trips to surrounding uninhabited islands. One of them has a hidden beach in the middle, only accessible by diving though a channel.

    I was on Koh Ngai about 6 months ago. It is a beautiful area with about 4-6 islands with accommodation. It can be reached by ferry from Krabi or you can take the land route. I left Chiang Mai to fly to BKK then took a flight to Hat Yai then got on a bus to Trang then got on another bus to the ferry point Pak Meng where we stayed the night.

    To get to the island you either take a long tail boat for 300 baht per person or do what I did and book a full day of snorkeling where the boat leaves from Pak Meng and will drop you off at your Island of choice at the end of the day all for 600 baht.

    Most of the islands are ringed with coral and you can just swim 25 meters from shore and start snorkeling.

    We got our A/C bungalow for 1500 baht per night. It wasn't sitting on the beach but it was only a stones throw away. The area is a hidden gem and well worth the effort it takes to get there. I will definatley be back.

    The Cave








  15. #15
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    Is Lamai Beach the one in Phuket that you have to walk down a trail from a foot hill to get their? The reason I ask, is that is where I first got hooked on snorkeling. I was there on the beach with some friends and they had those rent a mask and snorkel for 40 baht or something like that. I had never doe it and reall was not interested. My buddy talked me into and it was so enjoyable. I was feeding rice to the fish and checking out the ocean. The water was VERY clean and visibility was great. Stayed in the batter so long, I got sunburn bliters on my head and shoulders. Went back to the dstartes and bought flippers, gloves, snorkel and mask.

    I actually plan to get certified in Scuba someday, but not sure when.

  16. #16
    bkkmadness
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    I always liked Rocky Bay at Koh Tao, every time I've snorkeled there I've seen sharks, but you have to go out pretty far. Not much coral though, it's all pretty knackered.

  17. #17
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    Yep, thanks for all those

    It seems that there are nice places, but the snorkelling is average to poor

    never mind, it is always good to stay and have a great time, with a snorkel or two to keep cool

  18. #18
    bkkmadness
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    Has anyone tried the Similan Islands? I've heard that's amongst the best of all dive/snorkel spots.

    Maybe we will have to wait and see if Myanmar ever opens up to more tourism, plenty of untouched reefs in that country. Of course they'll be destroyed pretty soon after.

  19. #19
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    ^ or maybe already, as dynamite fishing is probably still ongoing

  20. #20
    bkkmadness
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    Fantastic, you can see the fish without having to leave the boat.

  21. #21
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    Well I don't have much of a point of reference as I've never scuba dived and only snorkeled a few spots. But I did snorkel off the south end of Koh Samet a few months ago, and from what I've heard its pretty nice compared to whats available within a day trip of Bkk. I'm sure there is better stuff out there, but I was very impressed with what I saw during that trip. There were all sorts of big coral, a huge variety of fish, and colors I've not seen since the last time I ate mushrooms. So for what its worth I'd recommend that for those Bangkokians looking to kill a weekend.

  22. #22
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gallowspole View Post
    Keep this on the QT ... Koh Ngai down Trang way. Last time we were there only 3 or 4 resorts on the island - about 3000 baht a night for a great bungalow on the beach front. Snorkelling right off the beach and boat trips to surrounding uninhabited islands. One of them has a hidden beach in the middle, only accessible by diving though a channel.

    Lol....we just got back from here.

    Keep it quiet my arse.....

    Got some nice pics to put up and shall be doin just that over next few weeks....startin here... https://teakdoor.com/malaysia-travel-...-of-bacon.html

  23. #23
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    Quote Originally Posted by DrAndy View Post
    you back on diving!!? this is a snorkelling only thread please
    I have never scuba'd or snorkled .. but will be in Thailand and will visit a beach or 2 .

    Phuket: suggested (1 or 2) day trip snorkel excursions.. Simians or Hang Na Bay or Phi Phi .. or .. ?

    Gulf of Thailand: any special "sea life parks" in the Gulf near Hua Hin / Chumpon?
    Samui?

    or any other snorkeling options someone may offer.

    I'm not much for laying on the beach. will be in the room or on an expedition of some sort

    thanks

  24. #24
    Excitable Boy
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    Quote Originally Posted by chitown View Post
    Is Lamai Beach the one in Phuket that you have to walk down a trail from a foot hill to get their?
    The only Lamai Beach I know of is on Koh Samui.

    The snorkling off the beach on Koh Tao used to be pretty decent (I haven't been there for a couple of years so I can't speak to current conditions).

  25. #25
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    ^
    Just (today) got back from Koh Tao. VERY disappointing coral. Will try and do a report later.

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