Where the water turns sapphire, the reefs rise like underwater mountains, and every bay feels like a tiny world of its own.

Koh Tao (เกาะเต่า) is the snorkeling capital of the Gulf of Thailand — a small island wrapped in coral gardens, granite boulders, and clear blue water. The best way to understand Koh Tao is to move clockwise, bay by bay, headland by headland, watching the reef change shape as you circle the island.

This is the island’s natural rhythm — a full loop of color.

1) Mango Bay (Ao Muang)

Thai: อ่าวม่วง
Romanization: Ao Muang
Local pronunciation: Ow‑muang

A wide, deep‑blue bay with coral gardens and granite boulders. One of Koh Tao’s most iconic snorkeling spots.

What makes it beautiful

• Clear, deep water
• Coral gardens near the rocks
• Huge schools of fish
• Perfect for confident snorkelers

Fish you’ll see

• ปลาฟูซิเลียร์ (Pla Fusilier) — fusilier — “the silver confetti cloud”
• ปลาทรัมเป็ต (Pla Trumpet) — trumpetfish — “the long, shy pretender”
• ปลากะรัง (Pla Garang) — grouper — “the chunky, quiet guardian”
• ปลานกแก้วรุ้ง (Pla Nok Kaew Rung) — rainbow parrotfish — “the colorful chaos machine”

“Mango Bay is the ‘big blue welcome’ of Koh Tao.”

2) Lighthouse Bay

Thai: อ่าวไลท์เฮาส์
Romanization: Ao Lighthouse
Local pronunciation: Lighthouse

A quiet, rocky bay on the northeast tip with excellent visibility.

What makes it beautiful

• Calm, clear water
• Coral heads close to the surface
• A peaceful, hidden‑bay feeling

Fish you’ll see

• ปลาผีเสื้อเหลือง (Pla Phee Suea Lueang) — yellow butterflyfish
• ปลาคราม (Pla Kram) — blue‑green chromis
• ปลานกแก้ว (Pla Nok Kaew) — parrotfish

“Lighthouse Bay is the ‘soft, quiet corner’ of the island.”

3) Hin Wong Bay

Thai: อ่าวหินวง
Romanization: Ao Hin Wong
Local pronunciation: Hin‑wong

A huge bay wrapped in granite boulders — one of Koh Tao’s most colorful snorkeling spots.

What makes it beautiful

• Massive granite boulders underwater
• Coral gardens between rocky channels
• Deep, clear water

Fish you’ll see

• ปลาจิ๋วฟ้า (Pla Jiw Fa) — blue damselfish
• ปลาผีเสื้อปากยาว (Pla Phee Suea Pak Yao) — long‑nose butterflyfish
• ปลานกแก้วรุ้ง (Pla Nok Kaew Rung) — rainbow parrotfish

“Hin Wong is the ‘underwater boulder maze’ of Koh Tao.”

4) Tanote Bay

Thai: อ่าวโตนด
Romanization: Ao Tanote
Local pronunciation: Ta‑note

A dramatic bay with a giant boulder in the middle — perfect for snorkeling and cliff jumping.

What makes it beautiful

• Clear turquoise water
• Coral gardens near the rocks
• A dramatic, adventurous atmosphere

Fish you’ll see

• ปลาผีเสื้อเหลือง (Pla Phee Suea Lueang)
• ปลาสลิดทะเล (Pla Salid Talay) — rabbitfish
• ปลานกแก้ว (Pla Nok Kaew)

“Tanote Bay is the ‘jump in, snorkel out’ bay.”

5) Aow Leuk

Thai: อ่าวลึก
Romanization: Ao Leuk
Local pronunciation: Ow‑leuk

A calm, shallow bay with soft sand and coral heads close to shore.

What makes it beautiful

• Beginner‑friendly water
• Coral heads near the surface
• Soft white sand

Fish you’ll see

• ปลาคราม (Pla Kram)
• ปลาผีเสื้อปากยาว (Pla Phee Suea Pak Yao)
• ปลานกแก้วรุ้ง (Pla Nok Kaew Rung)

“Aow Leuk is the ‘gentle, easy, turquoise’ chapter.”

6) Shark Bay (Thian Og Bay)

Thai: อ่าวเทียนออก
Romanization: Ao Thian Og
Local pronunciation: Shark Bay

Famous for its harmless blacktip reef sharks and calm, shallow water.

What makes it beautiful

• Soft, shallow water
• Seagrass meadows
• Gentle, friendly sharks

Fish you’ll see

• ปลาฉลามหูดำ (Pla Chalam Hoo Dam) — blacktip reef shark — “the tiny, harmless cutie”
• ปลาสลิดทะเล (Pla Salid Talay)
• ปลานกแก้ว (Pla Nok Kaew)

“Shark Bay is the ‘don’t worry, they’re cute’ moment.”

7) Sai Daeng Beach

Thai: หาดทรายแดง
Romanization: Sai Daeng
Local pronunciation: Sai‑daeng

A quiet, beautiful bay with coral gardens and occasional turtles.

What makes it beautiful

• Clear water
• Coral heads near the rocks
• Occasional turtle sightings

Fish you’ll see

• ปลาผีเสื้อเหลือง (Pla Phee Suea Lueang)
• ปลาจิ๋วฟ้า (Pla Jiw Fa)
• ปลานกแก้วรุ้ง (Pla Nok Kaew Rung)

“Sai Daeng is the ‘turtle‑friendly’ bay.”

8) Shark Island (near Koh Tao)

Thai: เกาะฉลาม
Romanization: Koh Chalam
Local pronunciation: Shark Island

A small rocky islet southeast of Koh Tao — dramatic, colorful, and full of life.

What makes it beautiful

• Deep, clear water
• Coral walls
• Huge schools of fish

Fish you’ll see

• ปลาฟูซิเลียร์ (Pla Fusilier)
• ปลาทรัมเป็ต (Pla Trumpet)
• ปลากะรัง (Pla Garang)

“Shark Island is the ‘open‑ocean adventure’ of Koh Tao.”

9) Chalok Baan Kao

Thai: อ่าวโฉลกบ้านเก่า
Romanization: Chalok Baan Kao
Local pronunciation: Chalok

A calm, shallow bay — not the best snorkeling, but included for a complete clockwise loop.

What makes it beautiful

• Warm, shallow water
• Easy access

Fish you’ll see

• Mostly juveniles in the shallows

“Chalok is the ‘skip for snorkeling, stay for sunsets’ bay.”

10) Jansom Bay

Thai: อ่าวจันทร์สม
Romanization: Ao Jansom
Local pronunciation: Jansom

A private, quiet bay with surprisingly healthy coral.

What makes it beautiful

• Calm, protected water
• Coral gardens near the rocks
• A peaceful, hidden‑bay atmosphere

Fish you’ll see

• ปลาผีเสื้อเหลือง (Pla Phee Suea Lueang)
• ปลาคราม (Pla Kram)
• ปลานกแก้ว (Pla Nok Kaew)

“Jansom is the ‘secret garden’ of Koh Tao.”

11) Sairee Reef

Thai: แนวปะการังหาดทรายรี
Romanization: Sairee Reef
Local pronunciation: Sai‑ree

Koh Tao’s longest beach — with coral patches near the northern end.

What makes it beautiful

• Long, wide beach
• Coral near the rocks
• Soft sunset colors

Fish you’ll see

• ปลาคราม (Pla Kram)
• ปลานกแก้ว (Pla Nok Kaew)

“Sairee is the ‘sunset snorkel’ of Koh Tao.”

12) Japanese Gardens (Koh Nang Yuan)

Thai: สวนญี่ปุ่น
Romanization: Japanese Gardens
Local pronunciation: Nang‑yuan

A shallow, colorful reef at the base of Koh Nang Yuan — one of the most famous snorkeling spots in Thailand.

What makes it beautiful

• Shallow coral gardens
• Calm, clear water
• Perfect for beginners

Fish you’ll see

• ปลาผีเสื้อปากยาว (Pla Phee Suea Pak Yao)
• ปลาจิ๋วฟ้า (Pla Jiw Fa)
• ปลานกแก้วรุ้ง (Pla Nok Kaew Rung)

“Japanese Gardens is the ‘postcard‑perfect’ chapter of Koh Tao.”

🌺 The Feeling of Koh Tao (Clockwise)

Koh Tao is a circle of reefs, boulders, and blue water — each bay with its own personality, each headland with its own color. Snorkeling here feels like reading a story written in coral.

It’s the island that makes you want to keep swimming.