Thailand’s underwater world – the best snorkelling, scuba diving, cave diving, and marine life in Thailand
With a coastline that stretches for over 1,500km and hundreds of beautiful islands, Thailand has plenty of opportunities for exploring the magical water worlds it harbours. It’s a snorkelling and scuba diving paradise, with endless kaleidoscope coral reefs filled with a mind-boggling array of marine life. Swim among everything from schools of vibrant tropical fish, inquisitive turtles and rays to octopuses shuffling along the soft coral. You can discover many of these straight from the beach of your dreamy island escape or join a cruise to the outlying islands where you can go diving in the hidden caves of Thailand.
Here is our top choice for the best beaches and snorkelling spots in Thailand.
Pimalai Resort & Spa
Koh Lanta is a peaceful, natural, unspoilt island located south of Krabi, with beautiful beaches and soaring emerald green mountains. Pimalai Resort & Spa sits in one of its most southerly bays, built on a hillside, overlooking beautiful Kantiang Bay and surrounded by native forest. It is simply exquisite and a top Turquoise pic. The superb beach location means a great choice of complimentary water activities for guests including canoes, windsurfing and boogie boards, there are no motorised water sports which just adds to the tranquillity. You are also close to the beautiful unspoilt islands and iconic limestone cliffs of Koh Krandan, Koh Ngai and Koh Mak making this is a celebrated spot for underwater adventure – the resort offers daily snorkelling trips to the islands.
Paradee, Koh Samet
A tiny island just off the coast of Thailand, a drive from Bangkok, Koh Samet is idyllic, with a scattering of pure white shores lapped by a clear turquoise sea. The interior is hilly and covered in pristine jungle. Paradee is located on the tranquil Ao Kiew beach with just 40 villas built behind one of the whitest, untouched beaches we’ve seen in Thailand. The scene is perfect for those seeking peace and quiet, a true escape from the outside world. Though no beach in Thailand is private, you can only access Ao Kiew beach from the resort, so you pretty much have it to yourself!
Tubkaak, Krabi
We love finding a truly boutique retreat, and by that we mean fewer rooms, fewer people and an intimate and personal atmosphere. Tubkaak is just that and with oodles of Thai charm. However, its biggest appeal is the incredible views across to the archipelago of limestone karst islands of Phang Nga Bay, that rise dramatically from the Andaman Sea. With a backdrop of fine white sands, this has to be one of the best sundowner sunset spots in the country.
The Racha, Koh Racha – near Phuket – one of the best snorkelling and diving spots in Thailand
The island of Koh Racha is just 40 minutes by speedboat from Phuket and is a tiny island paradise with beautiful white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters. It really is quite exquisite.
It is one of Thailand’s best snorkelling and dive spots and The Racha, an exclusive, contemporary luxury resort, has its own dive centre and is the place to stay for an idyllic island escape.
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