The electric‑blue island of snorkeling, sea turtles, and vibrant coral reefs.

Koh 9 — also called Koh Ba Ngu and known locally as Koh Kâo (kâo = 9 in Thai) — is the island where the Similan day suddenly becomes bright, bold, and unforgettable. No beach, no landing, just cliffs, glowing water, and one of the most iconic snorkeling spots in the entire archipelago: Christmas Point. This is the stop that makes everyone gasp — the moment the sea turns electric.

To say it like a local

Koh Ba Ngu = koh bah-ngoo (soft “bah”, gentle “ngoo”).
Koh Kâo = koh kâo (kâo means 9 in Thai).

Koh 9 is the island that paints the sea a brighter blue.

Arrival at Koh 9

The boat slows, the cliffs rise, and the water shifts into a shade of blue that feels unreal — deeper than Koh 4, brighter than Koh 7, and glowing like it has its own light source. Koh 9 doesn’t greet you with sand; it greets you with color.

Pam always points at the water here and says, “This is the Similan blue everyone talks about.”

The mood of Koh 9

Koh 9 feels bold, bright, and alive. It’s the island that wakes everyone up again — the moment the day becomes playful and full of energy.

Expect:

• electric turquoise water
• dramatic granite cliffs
• swirling schools of fish
• a feeling of being inside a giant aquarium

Koh 9 is the part of the day that sparkles.

Christmas Point — the highlight of Koh 9

This is one of the most famous snorkeling and diving spots in the Similans. The water here is unbelievably clear, the coral formations are dramatic, and the marine life moves in colorful waves.

What you’ll see underwater

• nemo (clownfish) in bright anemones
• sea turtles gliding slowly
• parrotfish, angelfish, butterflyfish
• schools of yellow‑tail fusiliers
• soft coral gardens
• giant boulders forming underwater arches

Snorkeling at Koh 9 feels like swimming through a living postcard.

The visibility is often so good you can see the reef from the boat before you even jump in.

Snorkeling at Koh 9 — bright, playful, unforgettable

Koh 9 is perfect for:

• boat snorkeling
• swimming with nemo fish
• spotting turtles
• underwater photography
• drifting over glowing coral

The water here is calm, clear, and full of life — ideal for beginners and magical for experienced snorkelers.

Nature — the island behind the blue

Koh 9 is mostly cliffs, forest, and untouched rock formations. You don’t land here, but you feel its presence — the way the cliffs shape the currents, the way the water glows against the granite, the way the island stands quietly while everything around it sparkles.

Koh 9 is the island that doesn’t move, but makes everything else dance.

Why people love Koh 9

• the brightest water of the day
• famous Christmas Point
• incredible snorkeling
• turtles and nemo sightings
• dramatic scenery
• a fun, energetic mood

Koh 9 is the moment the Similan day becomes playful — the stop everyone remembers, the blue everyone tries to describe later, the underwater world that feels too colorful to be real.