Koh Phi Phi Island is one of the best snorkelling destinations in Thailand, thanks to its vibrant marine life and crystal clear waters. The island is home to some incredible species including black tip reef sharks, cuttlefish, leopard sharks, sea snakes, and much more! One of the top snorkelling spots on Koh Phi Phi Don Island is Shark Point, where it’s common to get incredible sightings of black tip reef sharks up close. Not all of the snorkelling spots are located on the main island, so you will need to book a tour or boat trip to access some spots like Maya Bay and Bamboo Island. Having spent a month exploring the incredible underwater world around the island, we created this guide to the best places to go snorkelling on Koh Phi Phi!
Want to see more wildlife during your trip to Thailand? Read our guide to seeing wildlife elephants in Kui Buri National Park!
Where to go snorkelling on Koh Phi Phi
Maya Bay
Maya Bay is most famous as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, but also happens to be one of the best snorkelling spots in Koh Phi Phi.
We encountered a number of wonderful species here, including black tip reef sharks, sea snakes, clownfish, and more! Other species that can be seen when snorkelling at Maya Bay near Koh Phi Phi are butterflyfish, parrotfish, and giant clams.
Maya Bay was actually closed to the public for four years, and reopened in January 2022. Since reopening swimming from the beach itself is banned, but it’s still possible to go snorkelling from your boat further out in the bay.
The only way to get to Maya Bay from Koh Phi Phi Don is to take a tour or rent a private longtail boat. Tours will have a set itinerary so you will need to check it involves a snorkelling stop at Maya Bay, whereas private boats will take you to a few spots of your choosing.
Please note every year from the 1st of August to the 30th of September Maya Bay is closed to the public to prevent damage from overtourism.
Shark Point
Shark Point is one of the best places to go snorkelling on Koh Phi Phi, and is our personal favourite. Conveniently located on the main island of Koh Phi Phi Don, this snorkelling spot is located just offshore from Long Beach.
The easiest way to get to Long Beach is to take a boat from near Tonsai Pier, which should cost 100 baht one-way, or alternatively it’s around a 20-30 minute walk from the same area.
There is plenty of amazing marine life to discover at Shark Point, with the main attraction being the resident black tip reef sharks. When snorkelling at Shark Point on Koh Phi Phi it’s possible to see a number of sharks at once, and on one occasion we saw a group of around 10 sharks in the area.
Other species that can be seen at Shark Point include cuttlefish, lionfish, eels, and even leopard sharks! It’s a matter of luck as to what you see, but if you are patient you should hopefully at least see the black tip reef sharks – which we managed to see every time we snorkelled at Shark Point!
Even if you don’t have your own snorkelling gear, you can rent fins and masks from the nearby Phi Phi The Beach Resort. This resort is near to Shark Point, and so once you have your gear then you can swim out in search of the sharks!
Ideally you will want to visit Shark Point in high tide, as there are some sea urchins in the area – and it’s easier to avoid these when the water level is higher. Click here to check the tide times in the area!
Bamboo Island
Bamboo Island is an amazing snorkelling spot to visit from Koh Phi Phi, thanks to an abundance of marine life and crystal clear waters.
It’s around a 45 minute boat ride from Koh Phi Phi Don to Bamboo Island, which makes it one of the area’s more remote snorkelling spots. Some tours do include a visit to Bamboo Island, but you can also arrange a private longtail boat to take you there as well.
The reefs at Bamboo Island are damaged, but there is still a good variety of marine life in the area. Species found at Bamboo Island include clownfish, pufferfish, eels, wrasse, sea snakes, and giant clams.
There is a fee of 400 baht to access Bamboo Island, but this fee only applies if you go on the island itself. If you are just snorkelling at this beautiful island near Koh Phi Phi then you should not have to pay this fee.
Nui Beach
Nui Beach is another wonderful snorkelling spot on Koh Phi Phi Don Island. This lovely white sand beach is in a small and secluded cove, and there is some interesting marine life to discover in the area.
The easiest way to get to Nui Beach is to take a longtail boat from Loh Dalum Beach, which should cost around 250 baht for a return trip depending on your group size. It is possible to kayak or walk to the beach, but these are more time consuming options – with it taking around an hour to walk there from Loh Dalum Beach.
Some species you may see when snorkelling at Nui Beach include nudibranches, parrotfish, and even sea snakes. If you don’t have your own snorkelling gear then you should be able to rent a snorkel for around 50 baht on Loh Dalum Beach before making your way to Nui Beach.
During low tide it can be a bit tricky navigating the rocky terrain in Nui Beach, so try to visit during high tide if possible.
Koh Phi Phi Snorkelling Tours
One of the best ways to visit a number of these incredible snorkelling spots is on one of the snorkelling tours from Koh Phi Phi. The easiest way to book one of these tours is online via Get Your Guide, but you can also try to negotiate a price with one of the boatmen at either Tonsai Beach or Loh Dalum Beach.
Get Your Guide offer a wonderful group snorkelling tour from Koh Phi Phi, with stops at Maya Bay, Bamboo Island, Nui Beach, and more! Tours start from 2,200 baht per person, and include national park fees, snorkelling equipment, and lunch!
Click here to book an amazing snorkelling tour on Get Your Guide!
Private snorkelling tours of Koh Phi Phi Island are also available via Get Your Guide, with the option of a 3, 4, 6, or 7 hour tour. The itinerary and price varies depending on the length of your tour, but the 7 hour option includes visits to Maya Bay and Bamboo Island.
Click here to book a private snorkelling tour on Get Your Guide!
Alternatively, there are a number of Koh Phi Phi Island snorkelling tours from Phuket or Krabi – many of which stop at some of the snorkelling spots mentioned above. These tours vary in itinerary and price, but are a great way to enjoy Koh Phi Phi’s incredible snorkelling without having to stay on the island.
Click here to find the best day trips from Phuket and Krabi on the Get Your Guide website!
Of course it’s also possible to go scuba diving at various sites around Koh Phi Phi Island, and the best way to do this is to get in contact with one of the dive shops on the island.
If you love wildlife then we recommend visiting Kui Buri National Park to see wild elephants!
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