Bangkok Airways Round-Up
- Koh Samui, a gem in the Gulf of Thailand, is known globally for its pristine beaches, stunning scenery, and vibrant nature. The island is recognised as one of the bucket-list destinations for travelers from around the world.
- Apart from its reputation on the shore, Koh Samui is also known for its rich underwater world, offering excellent snorkeling and diving opportunities with a perfect ecosystem under the sea and well-preserved marine life just beyond the coastlines, it’s a paradise for sea adventurers.
Koh Samui: A Paradise on Earth for Snorkelers and Divers
Koh Samui is a must-visit destination for many snorkelers and scuba divers. Best known for its well-preserved ecosystem under the sea with calm and turquoise waters, Koh Samui offers various snorkeling and diving spots to all levels of sea adventurers. The island boasts stunning shallow snorkeling experiences right off its coastlines, and the nearby areas promise incredible adventures. Bangkok Airways has curated the top snorkeling and diving spots in Koh Samui you cannot miss.
Best Snorkeling & Diving Spots in Koh Samui
1. Koh Madsum
Koh Madsum, or Pig Island, is famous for its crystal-clear waters and vibrant ecosystem undersea. Located close to the southern tip of Koh Samui, approximately 20 minutes away by boat, this island is the perfect retreat for a one-day snorkeling and diving trip.
Apart from the free-roaming pigs, which are the highlight of the island, Koh Madsum is one of the top destinations for sea adventurers to explore magnificent coral reefs and diverse marine life. Travelers may spot starfish and parrotfish, and with a bit of luck, even sea turtles, rays, or baby sharks drifting through the colorful coral-studded seafloor.
This diving spot is friendly for beginners, thanks to its shallow and calm waters, making it a perfect destination for first-timers. Travelers can bring their snorkeling gear to ensure a perfect experience underwater, but in case you do not own one, the tour agency also provides essential equipment, such as a mask, snorkel, and fins, as part of the package tour.
2. Choeng Mon Beach
Choeng Mon Beach is one of the most secluded beaches on Koh Samui as it stands further away from the busy tourist spots. Located in the northeastern part of the island, Choeng Mon offers calm, crystal-clear, and shallow waters, making it a must-visit stop for snorkelers.
The best spots for snorkeling at this crescent-shaped beach are at either end of the main beach. Just a few meters offshore are 2 small islands called Koh Fan Yai and Koh Fan Noi, offering magnificent coral reefs and vibrant underwater creatures. The best snorkeling area is between the islets due to its shallow waters and pristine ecosystem under the sea.
3. Silver Beach
Silver Beach or Crystal Bay is located between Chaweng Noi and Lamai Beach, approximately 9 kilometers away from the former and 3.5 kilometers from the latter.
The beach is best known for its pristine condition with ivory-white sand, see-through waters, and rich marine biodiversity. Snorkelers can appreciate, at close distance, hard coral reefs and colorful marine life such as butterflyfish, parrotfish, sponges, and sea urchins.
The best snorkeling spot to encounter these wonderful living creatures is around the rocky outcrops at both ends of the beach. Needless to say, Silver Beach is a perfect haven for underwater adventurers.
Get to know the hidden gems of Silver Beach and its unforgettable experiences. Silver Beach Koh Samui: A Seaside Paradise for Ultimate Relaxation
4. Taling Ngam Beach
Let’s move on to the next snorkeling spot at Taling Ngam Beach on the west side of Koh Samui. This beach has the perfect combination of a peaceful atmosphere and calm, clear waters, making it a tranquil escape for snorkelers from beginners to experts.
The beach offers clear visibility underwater and an unforgettable view of shallow reefs. The snorkelers can expect to see these lively marine creatures, including clownfish, angelfish, butterflyfish, and parrotfish, around coral formations just beyond the shore of Taling Ngam Beach.
5. Koh Taen
Get ready to embrace well-preserved underwater biodiversity of Koh Taen. This island is located 5 kilometers away from the southern tip of Koh Samui. For a perfect 1-day trip, travelers can go to Koh Taen by taking a long-tail boat ride from Thong Krut Pier. As a bonus, you can also make a stop at Koh Madsum in one go.
Koh Taen is famous for its clear waters, unspoiled marine life and colorful coral reefs which are perfect for snorkelers to explore a vibrant ecosystem under the sea. This little island contains 7.5 square kilometers and is divided into 2 main areas: east and west.
The eastern side features shallow reefs just beyond the shore with smooth and ivory-white beaches. Meanwhile, the western bay is closed for marine conservation, but the travelers can still explore the dense mangrove forest along the rocky beach.
6. Coral Cove Beach
Craving a snorkeling escape without the crowds? Coral Cove, located between Chaweng and Lamai, is one of the must-experience spots for snorkelers. Be ready where the sand meets the sea, as the unforgettable underwater experience awaits just a heartbeat away at this beach. This spot welcomes snorkelers of all experiences, from first-timers to experts.
Due to its secluded and laid-back atmosphere at the beach, snorkelers can find a sunbathing spot and jump into the sea to explore the rich biodiversity and colorful coral-studded seabed just beyond the coastline.
This beach offers calm, shallow, and crystal-clear waters where you can see through the rocky and sandy sea floor. The snorkelers can find clownfish as well as colorful coral reefs near rock formations in this serene snorkeling haven.
7. Bang Po Beach
This beach in the north of Koh Samui welcomes all snorkelers from beginners to pros. Let’s dive right in Bang Po Beach is widely recognised for its 4-kilometer-long white sand beach and crystal clear, making it one of the most accessible snorkeling spots in Koh Samui.
Bang Po Beach offers emerald shallow and calm waters with a rocky seabed teeming with schools of fish and sea plants. Sea explorers can enjoy colorful small marine creatures such as clownfish, and the vibrant ecosystem of shallow reefs and seaweeds here.
8. Lamai Beach
Lamai Beach is no doubt one of the most bustling beaches on Koh Samui. The beach is best known for its various rock formations, both on and off the shore, and panoramic sunset view. The geography of this beach is full of rocky outcrops, making the underwater ecosystem teeming with colorful marine life and shallow reefs.
The northern tip of Lamai Beach is highly recommended as snorkelers can easily spot parrotfish, wrasse, clownfish, and trumpetfish around the rock formations.
Tips: This spot is best suited for intermediate to experienced snorkelers, due to its sloping seabed.
Best Diving Spots Around Koh Samui
1. Chumphon Pinnacle
For open-water diving spots, Chumphon Pinnacle is one of the dream destinations for many skilled divers as it has the perfect environment for marine life and unspoiled sea plants. Located about 12 kilometers northwest of Koh Tao, this divine spot lives up to its reputation as the largest and deepest diving area around the island, with the best visibility underwater.
The Chumphon Pinnacle is a large granite formation with the maximum depth at 40 meters and the shallowest point at 14 meters below the surface. The pinnacle is covered thoroughly with colorful coral reefs and sea plants such as sea anemones, sea fans, and sponges.
Sea enthusiasts can also closely observe huge schools of fish gliding through the coral-studded granite formation. They may encounter many tropical marine life, including batfish, small shrimps, white eyed moray eels, and, if lucky enough, whalesharks.
2. Sail Rock
Dive deeper in the Gulf of Thailand and discover the wonders of Sail Rock or Hin Bai.
It is recognised as one of the best open-water diving spots around Koh Tao and Koh Phangan. Sail Rock is a perfect getaway for a 1-day diving trip. This site features a majestic granite rock formation that has its pinnacle 10 meters above the surface of deep blue waters, and the deepest spot at 40 meters.
Sail Rock is famous among the advanced scuba divers for its Chimney or Hollow Channel, allowing divers to dive vertically down the channel to explore the pristine ecosystem and diverse marine species beneath the sea.
Divers can closely observe colorful coral reefs, sponges, sea fans, groupers, batfish, and crustaceans here. And, yes, of course, the majestic whalesharks can sometimes be spotted here.
3. Southwest Pinnacle
Southwest Pinnacle is among the must-visit destinations for many scuba divers around Koh Tao. This diving site ranges in depth from 6 to 28 meters, with about 20 meters of visibility on a sunny day. The site consists of 7 granite pinnacles in a circular shape, creating a unique and dynamic underwater landscape.
In each pinnacle, divers can spot vibrant sea plants, including colorful coral reefs, sea fans, and sponges. Here, divers can also encounter vast marine diversity, such as one-spot snappers, barracudas, and rabbitfish. Stingrays and moray eels can sometimes be spotted through small rock holes.
5 Essential Tips for Snorkeling and Scuba Diving
1. Choose the Right Equipment
The right and good quality gear can ensure your smooth, safe, and pleasant journey underwater. Be sure you have a well-fitted mask, fins, a standard snorkel tube and choose a wetsuit that fits your body properly, to maintain your body temperature, and protect yourself under the water.
Bangkok Airways allows passengers to bring on board 1 set of well-packed diving equipment per passenger. Each set can contain 1 piece of each equipment: Explore more details of the diving equipment guidelines here:
2. Move Slowly and Stay Relaxed to Conserve Energy
Always remind yourself to breathe regularly every time you enter the water for a safe and memorable diving journey. Controlled breathing and relaxation are the keys to enjoying a perfect ecosystem and staying longer under the sea.
3. Always Snorkel or Dive with a Buddy
A mandatory rule for all levels of snorkelers and divers is never go underwater alone. Ensure you have someone close by to save you in unexpected circumstances, like physical injuries and cramps.
4. Check the Weather and Tides Before Entering the Water
Weather and tides tremendously affect your experience underwater, so it’s important to check the weather conditions in advance, for your safety and a pleasant diving and snorkeling experience.
5. Respect Marine Life
To preserve and protect the pristine condition of the underwater ecosystem, including colorful sea plants and wonderful marine creatures. Please don’t touch, kick, stand upon, or perform any disruptive actions to destroy the ecosystem under the sea for your own safety and nature.
Explore Koh Samui’s Top Snorkeling and Diving Spots with Bangkok Airways
Don’t miss the opportunity to explore the top snorkeling and diving sites at Koh Samui and the area nearby. Let’s observe diverse marine life, appreciate vibrant biodiversity under the sea, and enjoy local cultures with the islanders. Bangkok Airways makes your trip to Koh Samui easy and convenient with comprehensive premium services, ensuring your memorable and seamless journey.
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