8 Places to Experience the Best Snorkeling in Pattaya
1. Koh Larn - Coral Island
After you are done booking a day-long snorkeling trip in Koh Larn Island, all you need to do is get your snorkeling mask on and go underwater to see the undiscovered world. Koh Larn is 7 km away from Pattaya. This nearby beach witnesses thousands of people every day. You can relax in this paradise and wear your tan on.
How to Reach Koh Larn
1. Take a speed boat from Bali Hai Pier
Travel Time - 15 mins
2. Take a Koh Larn ferry
Travel Time - 40 to 45mins
2. Koh Sak
Though no previous snorkeling experiences are required in Pattaya, if you are a beginner, Koh Sak is the perfect island for you. The sheltered inlet makes the best place for training. Koh Sak is 600m from Koh Larn and 10km from Pattaya. It has witnessed many big-name vacations like Neil Armstrong, etc. This horseshoe-shaped shaped small, cozy island offers many cheap Thai foods and drinks. It has some mesmerizing hawksbill turtles and several bamboo sharks.
How to Reach Koh Sak
1. Take a speed boat from Bali Hai Pier
Boat Capacity - 10-15 people
Travel Time - 25 to 30mins
3. Koh Krok
After all the exhausting tours to iconic temples and other sightseeing places, enjoying the nightlife, and shopping in the busy markets, Koh Krok provides you with the perfect environment. Unlike Koh Larn, this place is extremely peaceful and inhabited, with no hotels to stay in. It has very few cafes. Jet skis are not allowed as a policy of governmental projects to keep the environment as natural as possible, which Pattaya mainland lacks. Thus, crystal clear blue water on only one beach provides picturesque views of marine life. Relaxing here costs heavily in the pocket because of its private, solitary beach.
How to Reach Koh Krok
1. Take a speed boat from Bali Hai Pier
4. Koh Phai
Koh Phai can also be called by its meaning - ‘Bamboo Island’. It hosts artificial coral reefs, pink anemonefish, and various crabs. Travelers are not permitted to spend the night here. This place is one of the best spots for snorkeling among the nearby islands. Scuba Diving is also famous here. A day-long trip is sufficient to get to this island.
How to Reach Koh Krok
1. Take a speedboat from Bali Hair pier
Travel Time - 2 hours nearly
5. Koh Rin
Koh Rin is one of the remote islands near Pattaya. This is considered to have a rich marine life. Even if you do not dive to see them, the marine life, like multicolored emperor angelfish and the curious butterfly fish, sometimes comes to the surface to give you all a view!! Snorkeling, thus, is perfect here for amazing visibility.
How to Reach Koh Rin
1. Take a speed boat from Bali Hai Pier
Travel Time - 30 mins (Approx)
6. Koh Samet
With many luxurious beach-side bungalows and exotic resorts to stay at, this place remains packed up on weekends. From slackening with pineapple juice by the turquoise blue beach under the sun to shaking feet in the lively nightlife, the magnetism of this place draws people a 3-4-hour drive away from Bangkok. The next best thing to do in this far island is snorkeling to spend some time with the aquamarine habitats.
How to Reach Koh Samet
1. Take a bus from Pattaya to Ban Phe
Travel Time- An hour or less
2. Take a taxi service from Pattaya to Koh Samet (either by car or mini bus)
7. Ko Khram
The pleasant white sand dunes of Koh Khram are perfect for sunbathing and getting a tan. This little place is near Koh Samet and offers several exciting water sports activities, including snorkeling. Due to the far-off location of this island, it offers undisturbed underwater life. Here, you can see how small schools of fish are getting scattered from your shadow only!!
How to Reach Koh Khram
1. Take a bus from Pattaya to Rayong - Fast Ferry from Ban Phe Pier to Koh Samet Na Dan Pier - Ferry from Koh Samet Na Dan Pier to Koh Kood - Ferry from Koh Kood to Koh Khram
Tips for snorkeling in Pattaya
1. If you snorkel in Pattaya, always go for islands further off the mainland for better visibility and peace due to fewer speed boats and jet skies.
2. It is advisable to book snorkeling day trips from any operator prior. They will pick you up from your hotel in the morning, take you on a speedboat to the island, brief you about the activity, and provide you with a lunch buffet and beverages. And drop you back to your hotels - completely hassle-free.
3. The Best time to go snorkeling is from December to March and again from July and August. Try to avoid the summer and rainy seasons.
4. Book your accommodation in advance if you are planning to pay a visit this peak time. You may get discounts as well!!