5 Best Snorkelling Beaches in Koh Samui

Coral Cove is a tiny bay just south of Chaweng Noi, on the east coast of Koh Samui. It's one of the most highly recommended places to enjoy snorkelling on the island. Featuring big boulders outside and inside the water, a wide variety of corals, and abundant marine life just a few metres off the beach, Coral Cove will surely please all underwater explorers.

Choeng Mon is a splendid series of small bays on the northeastern coast of Samui, a short distance from the international airport. Despite its rapid development with the construction of hotels and satellite businesses, it's an excellent destination for a relaxing holiday in Koh Samui. 

Choeng Mon is famous for providing visitors with excellent water activities, including sea kayaking, scuba diving, and snorkelling. It has 2 islets – Koh Fan Yai and Noi – lying a few hundred metres off its shore. The best snorkelling spots are towards both ends of the main beach and between the islets. 

Silver Beach – or Haad Thong Ta Kian – is a small bay between Lamai and Chaweng beaches, on the east coast of Koh Samui. The beach has all the assets of a small and hidden tropical paradise, including mid-range resorts. You have to pass through one of the resorts to reach the public beach, which is framed between 2 rocky capes. 

Silver Beach offers pleasant snorkelling sites along granite boulders at both ends. You’ll find small patches of coral reef with marine life.

Taling Ngam is a long beach facing west, just 20 minutes south of Nathon Town (the main port of arrival in Samui). This area is rather remote and only hosts a handful of hotels. Snorkelling is possible all along this part of the coast, which hosts rocks and reefs a short distance from the beach.

Getting to Taling Ngam is quite an adventure as its many roads create something of a maze. Roaming around this part of Koh Samui is extremely pleasant. Not only are the landscape and coast very beautiful, but the lack of development also lets you discover a more genuine side of the island.

Ao Phang Ka is a square-shaped bay at the southern tip of Taling Ngam Beach. There’s not much, apart from a few hotels such as Phangka Paradise Resort, in this area, which offers the perfect tropical getaway from the highly developed areas of Koh Samui. 

Snorkelling is good in Phang Ka Bay, with the best spot located towards the southern tip of the bay. You can get there after a short drive on a trail through a lush jungle.