Where to go snorkelling in Phuket

by Mihai Pinzariu on September 25, 2019

Phuket is known for its beautiful secluded beaches hidden from the hustle and bustle of city life. If you’re looking to snorkel in and amongst nature, in small beaches with crystal clear warm waters, this is your destination! While a lot of Phuket has been developed, many of its small beaches remain quiet and undiscovered (especially the ones that are difficult to reach.)

Whether you’re looking for a tropical holiday in a luxury resort or an adventurous time out in the tranquil outdoors, you’ll find it in Phuket. The snorkeling here isn’t world-class or especially unique, but the snorkel sites are. Enjoy exploring the island’s beautiful diverse beaches and its small restaurants and food vendors with this rundown on where to go snorkeling in Phuket.

Fish in Phuket:

  • Barracuda, Blue Spotted Stingray, Clown Anemones, Clown Trigger Fish, Eels, Giant Moray Eels, Groupers, Harlequin Shrimp, Leopard Sharks, Ornate Ghost Pipes, Powderblue Surgeonfish, Puffer Fish, Reef Octopus, Sergeant Majors, Turtles, Whale Sharks, and more!

Corals in Phuket:

  • Table Coral, Bubble Coral, Barrel Sponges, Staghorns, Giant Clams, Crown of Thorns Starfish, Cowrie Shells, Cone Shells, and more.

Phuket snorkelling map

Best places to snorkel in Phuket

Ao Sane Beach

Where: Tambon Rawai, Mueang Phuket District
Details: One of the less-visited snorkel sites in Phuket, this 200-metre long leafy beach is made up of 3 tiny coves separated by granite boulders. With pristine blue waters and soft white sands, each of the small coves is perfect for snorkeling and lazing around in the sun or shade. Since it’s safe from all the bout tours, the living corals here are healthy and abundant, as well as the sea life. There are lots of untamed fish to discover here, from parrotfish to clownfish and more, making this spot one of the best in Phuket for free snorkeling.

Information:

  • This is one of Phuket’s calmest beaches, easily accessed year-round with easygoing waters that make for a relaxing swim or snorkel.

Facilities:

  • Bathrooms and showers on-site,
  • Bungalows, equipment hire, and restaurants available.

Kata Noi Beach

Where: West Phuket
Details: If you’re looking for the turquoise waters Phuket is famous for, this is where you’ll find them. Kata Noi Beach is a beautiful long beach that’s lined by resorts, restaurants, bars, and offers some of the island’s best snorkeling. The rocks on one end of the beach are the best spot to snorkel, and you’ll be swimming amongst an abundance of tropical fish and coral life – you might even spot octopus and eels! With barely any waves, the visibility at this beach is great, especially at midday.

Information:

  • Kata Noi is a snorkeling option during high season only. The weather conditions during other times can create crashing waves which are dangerous and don’t offer the best snorkeling experience,
    This beach is a lot less crowded than Phuket’s other popular spots, but still expect to see lots of travellers around.

Facilities:

  • Bathrooms, showers, and food available on-site – as well as tailors and masseurs.

Laem Ka Beach

Where: Rawai
Details: One of Phuket’s hidden gems hidden from plain site, this beach is perfect for adventurous snorkelers who want to go off the beaten track. Undisturbed, pristine, and tranquil, this beach has calm clear waters, lots of palm trees, and an abundance of sea life to discover. You won’t find anything different in the waters here than elsewhere in Phuket, but it’s a great spot to relax and chill out away from all the other tourists.

Information:

  • There are no restaurants here but a few stands selling fruit and other snacks, small tents with sarongs and other needs for a lazy hot day, and some vendors selling drinks.
  • This beach can be hard to find, and that’s what makes it so nice and quiet! Here’s some detailed information to help you find this snorkel site.

Merlin Beach

Where: Patong
Details: Phuket’s only beach with a natural reef, this is another hidden gem that’s perfect for snorkelers who want to be amongst natural untouched beauty. Technically owned by Marriott Resort Merlin Beach, there is a small dirt road next to the hotel that can take snorkelers straight to the beach. You’ll find calm clear waters, lots of coral life on the sea bed, and tropical and colourful reef fish to discover.

Information:

  • There are a lot of corals and rocks in the beach here, which make it difficult for swimming. Snorkeling on the other hand, is perfect.
  • High tide is better for swimming over the coral and reef, however you’ll have to swim out further to get to the good stuff.

Paradise Beach

Where: Patong, Kathu District
Details: Just next to the bustling Patong Beach is this quieter snorkel destination with amazing views of Patong Bay. You’ll find the main parts of the reef just in front of the beach and around the rocky edges, with colourful patches of hard corals and plenty of fish. Calm and peaceful, this small beach club is a prime spot for snorkeling, perfect for beginners and children.

Information:

  • Once a secluded beach accessed by a walking track through the jungle, the beach now has road access, hotels, restaurants, and a small entry fee of 200 baht. Once you’re in, you can expect great service, facilities, and a clean beautiful beach to explore

Ya Nui

Where: Rawai, Mueang Phuket District
Details: Another one of Phuket’s ‘secret’, hidden beaches, this spot is popular with the swimmers but less so with snorkelers – meaning you can enjoy all the reef life to yourself! A beautiful beach of warm turquoise waters, white sands, and lots of lush greenery, the marine life here is populated with colourful schools of fish.

Information:

  • The best spots for snorkeling are just past the moored yachts, and for even better views of marine life you can hire a kayak and paddle out to the island Koh Keyao Noi just 700 metres out.

Facilities:

  • You can find small restaurants offering food and drinks, snorkeling equipment rentals, as well as small bungalow accommodations if you decide to stay!
 

The Ninja Shark full face snorkel masks makes your experiences the best they can be. They are exclusively sold on the Ninja Shark website.

The Ninja Shark full face snorkel masks comes equipped with advanced Anti-Fog technology, automatic drainage, no CO2 Buildup with improved uni-directional valves, and a revolutionary breathe flow system so you can breathe through both your nose and mouth.





“If you thought we’re just here to sell you products, think again. You’re part of the Ninja Shark family, and your feedback matters! We’re constantly working to improve our products and deliver the full face snorkel mask that exists only in our dreams!”

What customers are saying about us…

“Awesome set.

Loved the complete set. I even used the waterproof phone pouch to take photos and videos underwater. It made my Fiji experience so much better than using the free snorkel set that hurt your face after 2hours and leaving a sun/mask mark. The ninja leaves no marks and gives great vision under water in comparison. It did take some getting used to but it definitely paid off! Only frustration is that the tightening straps are quite basic; they should be much simpler to loosen and tighten both in and out of water.” – Jock

Try our line of snorkelling and swimming gear
by Ninja Shark! You’ll love it.

All Ninja Shark Products are tailor-made
with medical silicone.

We care about making our products safe and healthy for you—and our planet.
That’s why the Ninja Shark Full Face Snorkelling Masks are made from a non-toxic and environmentally friendly anti-allergic medical grade silicone, that’s not only safer for your kids but safer for you too.
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Based on 1482 reviews
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B
Electra - Full Face Snorkel Mask
Bolang C. (Perth, AU)
Great design

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Best snorkel ever!!

Got one of these for me and my 7 year old daughter for Xmas. We’ve used them twice already and love them!! So much easier to breathe, can see so much and just makes the whole snorkelling experience better! Would highly recommend!

Clear as day

Clear to see and easy to breathe,
Whole family loves the NinjaShark Snorkel mask.

R
Lifetime Warranty
Robyn H. (Adelaide, AU)
Amazing

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M
Package: Dry Snorkel (Set + Fins + Bag)
Mermaid M. (Townsville, AU)
Mermaid

While travelling in Timor leste l met a fellow snorkeller. We snorkelled for 10 days together the food was shit but the water was stunning. The friend was using Ninja Shark fins and mask mine were steaming up, letting in water and heavy. On arriving back in Australia l ordered straight away.
I was a little bit anxious on receiving my order as the mask was quite different to my old one and the fins were short and adjustable ( l wanted them to be my size ! ) well to my luck the weather was beautiful ( yes mid winter in Mackay ) and perfect for boating so off we scooted to Cockermouth ( don't laugh it's a real place ) jumping in and WOW I'm now a mermaid 🧜‍♀️ the mask and fins felt like part of me. I actually cried as not only was the equipment allowing me to explore as l wanted but the reef was STUNNING. So lm indepted to Ninja Shark for making me the mermaid l always aspired to be 🧜‍♀️

Took it to Tahiti

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Judge.me YouTube video placeholder
Life changing

I do love my full face snorkel.. the freedom of nose breathing under the water.. the meditative and relaxative effect of this snorkeling is unexpected and great. Fits so well.. comfy to wear for long time.. highly recommend

j
Diving Dry Snorkel Set with GoPro mount
jomm11 (Brisbane, AU)
Super quality & fit

So happy we got Ninja shark, perfect for Great barrier reef snorkel day.
Flippers, mask, dry wallet, carry bag (good quality bag), anti fog spray, happy days.

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Even better than expected!

I saw the kids full face snorkel masks online, and thought they looked pretty cool. I ordered two for Christmas, for my 3 and 6 year olds. Wow, did they have a great time with them!

I wasn't sure how the 3 year old would go with it, but he was comfortable in it almost immediately, and spent hours swimming around and seeing a whole new world of underwater scenery.

They were easy to fit, zero issues with them staying on. No leaks or fog.

They can't wait to get back to the water!

Highly recommend this product :)

N
Electra - Full Face Snorkel Mask
Nick J. (Brisbane, AU)
mask swimming

The mask did exactly what was stated. I was very happy and will get another mask for my daughter.

S
Electra - Full Face Snorkel Mask
Sheara R. (Perth, AU)
Great way to swim

I have NEVER been able to snorkel but love swimming. These full face snorkels are an absolute game changer in my life. Now I try to swim around 5 kms a week in the local pool. The Ninja mask makes it easy to do laps. I’ve been using the Ninja Shark for a quite few years and find the new Electra the best full face mask ever. No leaks, no fog and really easy to use and great quality. I’ve noticed my regular chats with other swimmers at the pool have encouraged many of them to purchase one of their own. I’ve given my older models to my grandkids and they love them too.

Fabulous

I got one for the 3 year old and one for the 5 year old, I thought maybe the 3 year old would get the hang of it eventually but they both loved it and mastered it pretty quickly. We’ve only used in the swimming pool, excited to go snorkeling in the ocean soon. Great product.

S
Lifetime Warranty
Sarah B. (Surfers Paradise, AU)
Love it!

Amazing product ! Have the electra package, kids love it. So easy to use. Highly recommend

J
Diving Dry Snorkel Set with GoPro mount
Jennifer M. (Brisbane, AU)
Love it

Bought these for myself and my husband after getting the full face masks for the kids, and they were so good we’re getting them for the rest of the extended family for Xmas. The fact u can dive down and not get water down ur snorkel is a brilliant bonus! Makes our family holidays much easier and better without snorkel dramas!

This made our holiday

The product itself was amazing, but the service we received allowed us to get our 2 sets of masks for our cruise. We took them with us and used them multiple times for snorkelling on our cruise to Nouméa and New Caledonia. It was amazing snorkelling and being able to breathe easily, and the fins were the most comfortable I've ever used. I've got size 13 feet, and not only were they completely adjustable, but they were THE most comfortable fins ever invented. A massive shoutout to Colleen Zamora from your support staff who helped me out and made it possible to take our gear on holidays! Thanks Colleen!
The photo is us snorkelling off Amadee Island looking for turtles!

My kids love them

I’ve got three of these masks for my younger kids, however the oldest wants one too as the young ones rave about how good the are.

Summer Family Fun

Our Ninja masks have made snorkelling as a whole family very easy and enjoyable. The kids (and parents) find them super easy to use and have allowed us as a family of five to snorkel for longer than we ever could using traditional snorkel gear. I would highly recommend these masks.

G
Lifetime Warranty
Geri D. (Sydney, AU)
Lifetime warranty

Glad I have but haven’t needed to use .. yet

Great Mask

Love this mask. Kids find it so much easier snorkelling with the Ninja Shark. The snorkel mask is super clear and doesn’t fog up. The adjustable straps are great and easy to loosen and tighten. Very happy that we made the decision to get these for the kids.

A must for snorkelers!

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awsome

we used our new masks over the weekend. they were amazing, my daughter barely had her head out of the water all day.

L
Lifetime Warranty
Lina J. (Gold Coast, AU)
life warranty

This is great! More stores should do it!

O
Lifetime Warranty
Olivia (Perth, AU)
Fantastic snorkel!

Our 5 year old has never snorkelled. Put it on and was snorkelling no problem straight away! Easy for him to put on and off by himself. We bought the full package with flippers (also amazing and he can put them on by himself) and the two wet bags. The foldable snorkel is so handy for storing while we are travelling. And the lifetime warranty gives us great comfort that we can use it for future trips! We are so impressed with this product I’m going to get mum and dad one too!

Kids snorkel

It is a lot easier for the younger children to have fun and snorkel without worrying about their nose breathing. My 6 year old swims confidently and happily.