Where the water is calm, the corals are close, and the whole island feels like a happy, sunlit afternoon.

Koh Hey — known to travelers as Coral Island — is Phuket’s cheerful, easygoing snorkeling escape. It’s close, bright, and beautifully simple: soft sand, turquoise water, and coral gardens that begin just a few steps from the beach. Everything here feels friendly and effortless, like a day trip that turns into a small, happy memory.

If Racha Noi is wild and the Similans are dramatic, Koh Hey is the soft, colorful, family‑friendly chapter — the one that feels like sunshine.

1) Banana Beach Reef

Thai: หาดกล้วย
Romanization: Hat Kluay
Local pronunciation: Haad‑kluay

Banana Beach is the star of Koh Hey — a bright, turquoise bay with soft sand and coral gardens near the rocky edges. The water is calm, the entry is easy, and the whole place feels like a postcard.

What makes it beautiful

• Calm, beginner‑friendly water
• Soft white sand
• Coral gardens near the rocks
• Clear visibility on most days

Fish you’ll see

• ปลาผีเสื้อเหลือง (Pla Phee Suea Lueang) — yellow butterflyfish — “the sunshine flutter”
• ปลาสลิดทะเล (Pla Salid Talay) — rabbitfish — “the polite vegetarian”
• ปลานกแก้ว (Pla Nok Kaew) — parrotfish — “the loud coral‑crunching gossip queen”

“Banana Beach is the ‘I didn’t expect it to be this pretty’ moment.”

2) Long Beach Reef

Thai: หาดยาว
Romanization: Hat Yao
Local pronunciation: Haad‑yao

Long Beach is the easiest snorkeling spot on Koh Hey — calm water, simple entry, and coral that begins just a few steps from the sand. It’s perfect for beginners, families, and anyone who wants a soft, relaxed snorkel.

What makes it beautiful

• Calm, shallow water
• Easy beach entry
• Soft sand
• Coral gardens close to shore

Fish you’ll see

• ปลาฉลามหูดำ (Pla Chalam Hoo Dam) — blacktip reef shark — “the tiny, harmless cutie who thinks it’s a celebrity”
• ปลานกแก้วรุ้ง (Pla Nok Kaew Rung) — rainbow parrotfish — “the colorful chaos machine”
• ปลาสลิดทะเล (Pla Salid Talay) — rabbitfish — “the polite vegetarian of the reef”

“Long Beach is the ‘I didn’t even try and it was amazing’ snorkeling spot.”

3) Banana Rock Reef

Thai: โขดหินกล้วย
Romanization: Khot Hin Kluay
Local pronunciation: Banana Rock

Banana Rock sits just off Banana Beach — a cluster of granite boulders wrapped in coral and bright fish. The water is clear, the coral is healthy, and the fish love to gather here.

What makes it beautiful

• Granite boulders underwater
• Coral blocks glowing in the sun
• Clear, turquoise water
• A little more adventurous than the beaches

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”

“Banana Rock is the ‘just swim a little further and wow’ moment.”

4) Coral Garden East

Thai: สวนปะการังด้านตะวันออก
Romanization: Suan Pakarang Dan Tawan‑ok
Local pronunciation: East Garden

The east side of Koh Hey is a long, shallow coral garden — warm water, gentle currents, and coral heads that glow beautifully in the morning light. It’s peaceful, simple, and perfect for slow floating.

What makes it beautiful

• Warm, shallow water
• Coral heads close to the surface
• Gentle currents
• Soft morning light

Fish you’ll see

• ปลาผีเสื้อปากยาว (Pla Phee Suea Pak Yao) — long‑nose butterflyfish — “the elegant one”
• ปลาคราม (Pla Kram) — blue‑green chromis — “the sparkling confetti”
• ปลานกแก้ว (Pla Nok Kaew) — parrotfish — “the gossip queen”

“East Garden is the soft, slow‑breathing side of Koh Hey.”

5) Coral Garden West

Thai: สวนปะการังด้านตะวันตก
Romanization: Suan Pakarang Dan Tawan‑tok
Local pronunciation: West Garden

The west side is deeper and more textured — coral blocks, sandy channels, and rocky edges where fish gather. It’s still beginner‑friendly, just a little more adventurous.

What makes it beautiful

• Deep‑blue water
• Coral blocks mixed with sand
• Rocky edges full of fish
• Excellent visibility

Fish you’ll see

• ปลานกแก้วรุ้ง (Pla Nok Kaew Rung) — rainbow parrotfish — “the colorful chaos machine”
• ปลาจิ๋วฟ้า (Pla Jiw Fa) — blue damselfish — “the tiny electric boss”
• ปลาผีเสื้อเหลือง (Pla Phee Suea Lueang) — yellow butterflyfish — “the sunshine flutter”

“West Garden is the quiet, blue‑lit adventure of Koh Hey.”

6) Ao Hukwang

Thai: อ่าวหูกวาง
Romanization: Ao Hukwang
Local pronunciation: Ow‑hoo‑kwang

Ao Hukwang is the quiet, softly‑curved bay on Koh Hey — a place where the water feels warm, the sand feels gentle, and the coral sits close enough to make snorkeling feel effortless. It’s less busy than Banana Beach, less exposed than Long Beach, and has a peaceful, tucked‑away feeling that makes the whole bay feel like a small secret.

What makes it beautiful

• Calm, shallow, beginner‑friendly water
• Coral heads close to the surface
• Soft sand and gentle entry
• A quiet, tucked‑away atmosphere
• Perfect for slow, dreamy floating

Fish you’ll see

• ปลาผีเสื้อเหลือง (Pla Phee Suea Lueang) — yellow butterflyfish — “the sunshine flutter”
• ปลาสลิดทะเล (Pla Salid Talay) — rabbitfish — “the polite vegetarian”
• ปลานกแก้ว (Pla Nok Kaew) — parrotfish — “the loud coral‑crunching gossip queen”
• ปลาจิ๋วฟ้า (Pla Jiw Fa) — blue damselfish — “the tiny electric boss”

“Ao Hukwang is the ‘I just wanted a quiet swim and ended up in a postcard’ kind of bay.”

🌺 The Feeling of Koh Hey

Koh Hey is the cheerful, easygoing chapter of the Andaman — the bright, friendly, turquoise‑water chapter. It’s where the sea feels simple, the day feels soft, and everything feels like a happy, sunlit afternoon.

It’s the island that reminds you that snorkeling doesn’t have to be complicated to be beautiful.