Let me tell you something that took me years of watching first-timers get in the water to fully appreciate. The people who worry most about snorkelling before they try it are almost always the ones who love it most once they do.
I’ve seen it on every trip. Someone comes aboard looking nervous, says they’ve never done it before, isn’t sure they’re strong enough a swimmer, doesn’t know if they’ll panic with their face in the water. An hour later they’re refusing to get back on the boat because there’s still a parrotfish they haven’t properly looked at yet.
The Andaman Sea around Phuket is, genuinely, one of the best places in the world to try snorkelling for the first time. The water is warm, the visibility is extraordinary, and the marine life is the kind of thing you’d expect from a David Attenborough documentary, not a Tuesday morning in real life. If you’re going to start somewhere, start here.
So let me walk you through everything — the kit, the technique, what to expect in the water, and where to go.
This is the most common question I get, and the honest answer is: not particularly. You do need to be comfortable having your face in the water, but snorkelling with a life jacket or buoyancy aid is completely normal and means that even non-swimmers can do it. On our boats, we always have life jackets on hand, and my crew will help anyone who’s less confident get comfortable in the water before they venture further out.
If you’re a complete non-swimmer who’s genuinely nervous about being in open water, tell us when you book. We’ll make sure you’re looked after, and we’ll find you spots where the water is shallow enough that you can stand if you need to.
The good news is you don’t need to bring your own snorkelling gear — we provide it all. Mask, snorkel, fins. All cleaned and checked before every trip. But here’s what to know about how it works.
The most important piece. If the mask doesn’t seal properly against your face, water gets in and you spend the whole time clearing it rather than looking at fish. When you try it on, press it gently to your face without the strap and breathe in gently through your nose. If it stays put without you holding it, the seal is good. If you wear glasses, let us know — we have prescription masks available on request.
Breathe slowly and steadily through your mouth. Don’t try to breathe through your nose — the mask covers it. If water gets into the snorkel tube (which it will if a wave slaps over you), blow sharply to clear it out before breathing normally again. This sounds more complicated than it is. After about five minutes in the water you’ll be doing it without thinking.
Fins make a big difference in how far you can travel without tiring. Use a slow, steady kick from the hips — not a bicycle kick from the knees. Keep your arms by your sides or out in front. You’ll be surprised how effortless it is once you get the rhythm right.
This is the bit that trips people up. The instinct when your face goes underwater is to hold your breath, which tenses you up and makes the whole thing uncomfortable. The key is to relax and breathe normally through the snorkel. Slow in, slow out. Trust the equipment.
Start in shallow water before you head out anywhere interesting. Float face-down, look at the bottom, breathe slowly. Once that feels natural — and it usually takes about five minutes — you’re ready. Everything after that is just looking at things.
The short answer is: more than you expect. The Andaman Sea around Phuket is part of a protected marine zone, which means the fish aren’t used to being bothered and they don’t bolt the second a human turns up. You’ll get genuinely close to things.
At Phi Phi — our most popular snorkelling destination — you can expect parrotfish, surgeonfish, triggerfish, and plenty of Nemo’s clownfish cousins tucked into anemones on the reef. If you’re lucky, a turtle. Occasionally a blacktip reef shark cruising along the bottom — they’re about as dangerous as a particularly large goldfish, I promise.
At Phang Nga Bay, the underwater landscape is different — more dramatic rock formations, caves, and overhangs to peer into. Different species too: more wrasse, angelfish, and if you keep an eye on the sandy bottom, the occasional stingray gliding past.
The general rule: the earlier you get in the water, and the smaller the group, the more you see. Big groups disturb the water and the fish scatter. On our trips, with a maximum of 20 people in the water at any one time, you get enough space to move quietly and see the reef as it actually is.
Don’t touch the coral. It looks solid but it’s alive, and one careless hand can kill growth that took decades to form. Keep your fins away from the reef too — the same principle applies.
Don’t feed the fish. I know it looks tempting when someone offers you a bit of bread to hold out. It disrupts their natural behaviour and, frankly, makes them aggressive. You’ll have better encounters by letting them come to you naturally, and they will.
Don’t chase things. A turtle that’s being followed will swim away. A turtle that’s been left alone will swim right up to you. Patience always wins in the water.
Phi Phi is my top recommendation for beginners. The water is clear, the fish are abundant, the reefs are accessible from the surface, and the whole setting — limestone cliffs, white sand, turquoise water — makes it feel like an experience rather than just a swim. It’s also where we take the most care to find sheltered spots for anyone who’s less confident.
Phang Nga Bay is a close second, particularly for people who are drawn more to the drama of the landscape than the reef itself. The canoeing through sea caves adds another dimension that makes the day feel properly adventurous even if the snorkelling is your first time.
For a list of all the best snorkelling spots in the area — including a few that are a bit off the beaten track — have a read of our guide to the best snorkelling in Phuket.
On all our day trips, snorkelling is included as a core part of the day — not an optional extra, not a rushed ten minutes in the water between stops. We go to good spots, we give you time, and the crew is in the water with you if you want company or guidance.
Any questions before you book — about swimming ability, age of children, what to bring — drop us a message on Facebook or WhatsApp. We’re always happy to help.
— Captain Mark
Exceptional, uncrowded island day trips from Phuket. Family-owned and operated since 2004.
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