11 Best Snorkeling Beaches In Phuket

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Not only in Asia but throughout the world, Phuket is one of the most popular tourist destinations for vacation. It is a rainforested, mountainous island of Thailand in the Andaman Sea. It is famous for its scenic and beautiful beaches, delicious Thai cuisine, and amazing nightlife. This is one of the top vacation spots if you want a beach vacation. The island has some of the most picturesque and serene beaches that have clear water and an abundance of marine life. One more thing Phuket is famous for is an array of adventure activities that you can do here. One such activity is snorkeling. You can lounge on a beach as well as dive to see some of the most beautiful, unique, and vibrant fishes. You can see turtles as well. One of the main reasons why people like snorkeling is that it is not just an exciting way to explore life underwater but also to witness some unique things such as corals. In Phuket, you will find many beaches where you can hope to see some vibrant and vivid coral structures as well. To help you find those amazing beaches where you can see these lovely creatures, we have compiled a list of 11 beaches best for snorkeling.

Best Snorkeling Beaches In Phuket

1. Ao Sane Beach

This is a small hidden gem of a beach. It is one of the rare beaches which still feels untouched by human intervention. The natural beauty of the rocky shore combined with the little flora on both sides of the beach gives it a feel of being unexplored and hidden away from human eyes. This makes for a great snorkeling and diving spot if you want to go to a less crowded place. You can enjoy the vibrant, mesmerizing, and colorful viral formations undersea. There is a lot of marine life too which you can see and enjoy. The beach is not entirely Sany as there are pebbles and small rocks here and there which only adds to the drama and feel of the place.

There is a restaurant as well as shower facilities and toilets so you have all the amenities you require to fully enjoy the place. You can spend your whole day here. You can grab a bite to eat when you feel hungry or take a shower to wash off the ocean salt too. Overall this is a spot that has relatively less crowd and offers a lot of amenities where you can enjoy snorkeling to the fullest. It stays open 24 hours a day. The road to get to this place is a little tricky so do follow Google maps and in any case, you can always ask locals for directions. It is located at House 59/43, Saiyyan Rd, 12 Rawai, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket.

2. Freedom Beach

This beach is straight out of your dreams. This is a spitting image of what you imagine when someone says Phuket. The long stretch of white sandy beach and blue ocean under the clear sky look exquisite. It is one of the most scenic beaches in Phuket. It is also one of the best locations for snorkeling due to its clear blue water. There is a lot of fish and marine life that make for an exciting spot for snorkeling. It has a lot of greenery which makes for a great contrast between the greenery and the endless ocean. At one end of the beach, you would also find a lot of rocks which provide a different look and feel to the beach.

You will find umbrellas as well as equipment for snorkeling on rent. A pro tip is that the best location to snorkel here is on the left side where there is a lot of coral which is vibrant and colorful. This is also one of the locations where there isn’t much crowd. You will find a few locals selling grilled things as well as drinks. You can buy things from them in case you want something to eat or drink. There aren’t many other services available so you will actually feel cut off from the chaos of the city and in the middle of nature. There are a few dining options available too. It is a public beach that remains open for 24 hours. It is located at Pa Tong, Kathy District, Phuket.

3. Yanui Beach

This is one of the most picturesque locations you can find for snorkeling. The beach itself is surrounded by dense greenery. The water is clear blue. There is a small island just off the shore where you can swim to. This gives a unique place for people to swim and snorkel as you can snorkel to the small island and see beautiful corals and abundant marine life. The beach is clean, less crowded, and calm. You can sit, relax and unwind on the beach. The scenery from the beach is nothing less than mesmerizing. The sunsets are particularly beautiful. There isn’t much infrastructure so you feel amidst nature.

Though you can rent snorkeling gear easily on the beach. They will probably cost you somewhere around 100 baht per hour for one person. Apart from the beautiful and diverse marine life which you can witness, you can also kayak here. You can rent a kayak here as well and explore the water a little. This is a perfect location for those who want a calm and peaceful beach where they can enjoy these activities without the hassle of a large crowd. The water is perfect for scuba diving or snorkeling. It stays open for 24 hours since it is a public beach.

BEST SNORKELING BEACHES IN PHUKET THAILAND

4. Haad Laem Sing

This beach will definitely feel like a hidden treasure. It is a beach that is relatively difficult to reach as you have to follow a relatively small dirt road. But the prize for persevering through the difficult road is worth it. It is one of the less famous and non-touristy beaches in Phuket. This will give you the vibe of unexplored, untamed, and wild beauty. The beach is surrounded by tall green trees. The water is clean and clear. One can enjoy snorkeling very much as there is abundant marine life present for you to see and enjoy. The beach is beautiful and you would not find many people at this location. The scenery is exceptional from here at the time of sunset.

Due to its crystal clear water, it makes for a perfect location for scuba or snorkeling. The whole beach exudes tranquillity. There isn’t much infrastructure so be mindful of that. You can rent a boat to go out in the ocean. You can hope to find sun-tan chairs as well as shades with them. There is a small restaurant on the small dirt road where you can grab a bite to eat. The view from the location is great too so you can sit and relax here for a bit. One thing to keep in mind is that the small dirt road is not wheelchair friendly. One way of reaching this place is going to Surin beach and then finding your way in between rocks and asking the locals. There are boat taxis available from Surin for this place too.

5. Karon Beach

This is probably one of the most famous beaches in Phuket. The beach is located south of Phuket. It is a long and narrow sandy beach with a clear and inhibited view of the vast ocean. It is relatively less busy than Patong though. This is a perfect location if you are traveling with your family or your partner as you would see an abundance of such crowds here. This is a good spot for snorkeling as there is a lot of marine life such as fish and turtles present. One good thing about this beach is, that there is a lot of infrastructure already existing on the shoreside. You have all the amenities that you can think of, such as renting snorkeling gear, chairs, umbrellas, clean toilets, etc.

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This beach also provides an opportunity to do a lot of other activities such as parasailing, boating, swimming, etc. There are lifeguards on the beach so it is one of the safer beaches. There are particular designated swimming areas so kids can also have their own fun too. There are many restaurants too so plenty of options for food. You can just relax, chill and enjoy the clear blue ocean and marine life. The clear beach, as well as water, present an ideal condition for shooting some amazing marine life. The water too is shallow so it is good for less experienced divers and swimmers.

6. Hua Beach

If you are traveling with your family or with people who are less experienced as far as snorkeling goes then this is a good spot where you can go and still enjoy the activity. This is a small quiet beach which is some distance off Kamala beach. It is a rocky beach perfect to spend some quiet moments by the sea and enjoy the waves. It is a great place for beginners and kids to do a little bit of snorkeling as the seabed is rocky. Due to the rocky nature, some find it difficult to swim here but others find it easy too. There isn’t much infrastructure around the beach itself so if you plan to visit this you need to bring your own things. There are boats available, which can take you deep into the ocean.

Though not much in the name of amenities, there are few restaurants on the shore where you can lounge and enjoy Thai food after all the snorkeling and swimming. You can just sit back and enjoy the picturesque sunset. This is perfect for those who want to enjoy nature and don’t want much luxury and amenities. One other thing which you can hope to see is elephants as there are lots of elephant trainers training elephants in the surrounding area. This is indeed a true hidden gem that is away from the crowd, chaos and too much noise. You can only hear the ocean, nature and your own thoughts.

7. Kata Beach

It is known as Hat Kata. It is situated on the western coast of the island of Phuket. This is a big sandy beach with an absolutely breathtaking view of the endless ocean. This is an excellent spot for snorkeling and diving as well. The water is clear and, in the distance, there is a small little island as well. You can spot some amazing colorful corals as well as other marine life such as a variety of small and big fishes, turtles and many more. One more good thing about this beach is that it is not as crowded as the famous tourist spots. The beach is clean and vast. It is surrounded by vegetation and enough infrastructure. There are ample restaurants, vendors and renting shops for every kind of your needs.

You can rent a boat or snorkeling gear to do some quality snorkeling in the reefs right off the beach. You can rent a kayak around the island too. It has a perfect mix of ample amenities and abundant nature for you to enjoy the water and greenery while getting most of the required facilities to enhance your experience. There are plenty of restaurants where you can sit back, relax and enjoy the local food and drinks. This beach provides a spot for not just snorkeling but in general enjoying a day out on the beach. This, too, remains open 24 hours so you can sit and enjoy the sunset without worrying about anything.

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8. Koh Hey

This is also known as Banana beach. This is perhaps the location you see most on social media and other places. This is one of the most picturesque beaches in Phuket. It is a perfect location for those who want to spend time on a secluded beach but with ample amenities and services. This is a secluded, white sandy beach that has more than just snorkeling to offer. The water is extremely clear, blue and refreshing. Due to this fact, you have an abundant variety of fish species to spot. There are plenty of vibrant and Vivid coral structures that you can see. You just have to swim a little further to witness all this. If you are a good swimmer then you should have no problem.

Apart from this, you can also swim in the refreshing water or do kayaking. One of the recommended things here is checking out the viewpoint known as the ‘Short jungle walk’. You will also find a pier which offers a different and beautiful view. There are restaurants available so you can enjoy the delicious Thai food and drinks once you are done with other activities. The hut-like structures on the shore give this beach a distinctive and tribal-inspired look. Since there isn’t a large crowd most of the time, the fishes don’t scare away and you are surely going to witness some amazing views. It stays open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It is located at 44,1 Rawai, Muang, Phuket, Thailand.

9. Kata Noi Beach

This is located on the southwestern side of the island, just adjacent to Kata Beach. If you are planning to visit either of these two, you should visit the other also. This is a relatively small beach but it offers a great location for snorkeling in a location where you won’t find a lot of crowds. And everyone knows the less crowd there are the more chances you have of spotting more fishes and other marine life. The beach entrance is somewhat difficult to find but asking the locals would help you a lot. The beach is absolutely gorgeous. It has the perfect balance of people. You neither feel alone and secluded nor do you feel you are in a crowded place.

There are few restaurants and bars near the shore thus plenty of chairs and umbrella shade available for you to rent. Apart from this, you can obviously enjoy amazing Thai food and a variety of drinks. The sunsets are something to be noteworthy here. Overall, this location offers a relaxed, chill and scenic spot for snorkeling and spending a day out on the beach by the ocean. Apart from all this, you rent sunbeds to kick back and chill at the beach too. There are massage services available too for you to relax and fully enjoy the day out at the beach.

10. Nui Beach

This place is absolutely gorgeous and is famous on social media for picturesque photo op spots and props available on the beach itself. The beach is nothing less than mesmerizing. It isn’t big but it is super clean and well maintained. You can find one of those beach swings overlooking the endless ocean where you can click an unforgettable photo with your partner. There is a rocky end to the beach too, so it presents all kinds of terrain at one spot. It also makes for a great spot for snorkeling as this isn’t as accessible as other beaches. It isn’t very crowded either so you can enjoy diving and snorkeling without being too crowded.

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There are plenty of tropical fishes and marine life you can spot. You will get to see some of the most beautiful and unique fishes here. You can see a lot of coral formation too. This is a private beach unlike many others on the list so you will have a feel of privacy and little to no crowd to enjoy the beach and water all by yourself. You would have to pay around 100 baht to enter though. You can rent snorkeling gear on site but if you want to carry your own then you can do that too. The entry fee is worth it as the beach has so many beautiful spots to take pictures. It remains open from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. It is located at Soo Laemmumnok, Karon, Mueang, Phuket.

11. Paradise Beach

One more private beach where you can do some amazing snorkeling. One of the great things about this is you can stay at the onsite hotel. It is situated just one hour and fifteen minutes away from the Phuket international airport so you won’t have to hurry back from a long distance at the time of returning to catch a flight. Another good thing is its closeness to the famous Patong beach, which is situated just 8 minutes away. You can do some amazing snorkeling here as it is a private beach so there won’t be a crowd like Patong beach. There is ample opportunity to spot some unique fishes and marine life. The beach has got a tropical vibe, clean and well maintained.

You would have to pay 100 baht to enter and it includes a transfer down the hill, toilet use, and a beach chair. Apart from this, there are plenty of eating and drinking options available too. This will give you a vibe where there are enough people to make you feel like you are in a famous spot but it never becomes overbearing at the same time. It remains open from 8:00 a.m to 6:30 p.m. It is located at Muen-Ngern Road, Pa Tong, Kathu District, Phuket.

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Note: The hours of operation, ticket prices, and admission criteria of museums, parks, etc. may change from time to time. For the most updated information, we recommend checking the official website of the attraction directly prior to your planned visit.