– JANUARY 02-06, 2015
We have left Bangkok for a combination bus/speed boat ride to the island of Koh Tao. This island is supposed to be among the best places in Thailand for snorkelling.
The speed boat from the mainland to the island.
The speed boat from the mainland to the island.
A street stand where they make the best Pad Thai I have had in Thailand.
A cool display on the island for diving tours.
We decided to take a full day boat tour around the island to see all of the bays. There are bays for swimming/snorkelling/diving on the south/east/north/west sides of the island and there are some really steep/narrow roads that make land access very difficult. To start off we were picked up by a truck taxi to take us to the docks. There we waiting for two hours for the unorganized tour company to figure out how to divide the group into two boats. It was painful to watch, as I could streamline their entire operation in about 10 minutes to make their lives easier…but its not my place to get involved. So we just sat back and watched them run around with complete inefficiency.
At 9am a taxi truck came to pick us up. You sit in the back of the truck and they jam 8-10 people back there for their regular taxi service.
After waiting for two hours at the harbour we finally got going on the boat.
Koh Tao view from the boat.
Koh Tao view from the boat.
Koh Tao view from the boat.
Koh Tao view from the boat.
Koh Tao view from the boat.
Koh Tao view from the boat.
Koh Tao view from the boat.
Koh Tao view from the boat.
Koh Tao view from the boat.
Koh Tao view from the boat.
Koh Tao view from the boat.
We grabbed our snorkel gear as we pulled up to the first stop…Shark Bay!
SHARK BAY
Shark Bay contains 5 species of sharks that travellers can actually swim with depending on the month of year: Black Tip Reef Sharks, Bull Sharks, Grey Reef Sharks, Whalesharks, and Leopard Sharks. We came across three very large Black Tip Reef Sharks which were each over 4 feet long (which is large enough for me to pay close attention to them).
Shark Bay snorkelling.
Shark Bay snorkelling.
Shark Bay snorkelling.
Shark Bay snorkelling.
Shark Bay snorkelling.
Shark Bay snorkelling.
Shark Bay snorkelling.
Shark Bay snorkelling.
Shark Bay snorkelling.
Shark Bay snorkelling.
Shark Bay snorkelling.
Shark Bay snorkelling. We swam with this Black Tip Reef Shark and it was a bit humbling when you’re floating in the ocean in their environment.
Shark Bay snorkelling. We swam with this Black Tip Reef Shark and it was a bit humbling when you’re floating in the ocean in their environment.
Shark Bay snorkelling. We swam with this Black Tip Reef Shark and it was a bit humbling when you’re floating in the ocean in their environment.
Shark Bay snorkelling. We swam with this Black Tip Reef Shark and it was a bit humbling when you’re floating in the ocean in their environment.
TANOTE BAY
Tanote Bay snorkelling.
Tanote Bay snorkelling.
Tanote Bay snorkelling.
Tanote Bay snorkelling.
Tanote Bay snorkelling.
Tanote Bay snorkelling.
Tanote Bay snorkelling.
Tanote Bay snorkelling.
Tanote Bay snorkelling.
Tanote Bay snorkelling.
Tanote Bay snorkelling.
Tanote Bay snorkelling.
Tanote Bay snorkelling.
Tanote Bay snorkelling.
Tanote Bay snorkelling.
Tanote Bay snorkelling.
Tanote Bay snorkelling.
HIN WONG BAY
Hin Wong Bay snorkelling.
Hin Wong Bay snorkelling.
Hin Wong Bay snorkelling.
Hin Wong Bay snorkelling.
Hin Wong Bay snorkelling.
Hin Wong Bay snorkelling.
Hin Wong Bay snorkelling.
Hin Wong Bay snorkelling.
Hin Wong Bay snorkelling.
Hin Wong Bay snorkelling.
Hin Wong Bay snorkelling.
Hin Wong Bay snorkelling.
Hin Wong Bay snorkelling.
Hin Wong Bay snorkelling.
Hin Wong Bay snorkelling.
Hin Wong Bay snorkelling.
Hin Wong Bay snorkelling.
Hin Wong Bay snorkelling.
Hin Wong Bay snorkelling.
Hin Wong Bay snorkelling.
Hin Wong Bay snorkelling.
Hin Wong Bay snorkelling.
Hin Wong Bay snorkelling.
Hin Wong Bay snorkelling.
Hin Wong Bay snorkelling.
Hin Wong Bay snorkelling.
Hin Wong Bay snorkelling.
Hin Wong Bay snorkelling.
Hin Wong Bay snorkelling.
Hin Wong Bay snorkelling.
Hin Wong Bay snorkelling.
Hin Wong Bay snorkelling.
Hin Wong Bay snorkelling.
Hin Wong Bay snorkelling.
Hin Wong Bay snorkelling.
MANGO BAY
Mango Bay snorkelling.
Mango Bay snorkelling.
Mango Bay snorkelling.
Mango Bay snorkelling.
Mango Bay snorkelling.
Mango Bay snorkelling.
Mango Bay snorkelling.
Mango Bay snorkelling.
Mango Bay snorkelling.
Mango Bay snorkelling.
Mango Bay snorkelling.
Mango Bay snorkelling.
Mango Bay snorkelling.
Mango Bay snorkelling.
Mango Bay snorkelling.
Mango Bay snorkelling.
Mango Bay snorkelling.
Mango Bay snorkelling.
Mango Bay snorkelling.
Mango Bay snorkelling.
Mango Bay snorkelling.
KOH NANG YUAN ISLAND
Ko Nang Yuan is a small island very close to Ko Tao. It is famous for its diving spots and its great snorkeling beach. Many day trippers come from the islands of Ko Tao, Ko Pha Ngan and Ko Samui, as well as from Surat Thani and Chumphon on the Thai mainland.
Koh Nang Yuan Island
Koh Nang Yuan Island
Koh Nang Yuan Island
Koh Nang Yuan Island
Koh Nang Yuan Island
Koh Nang Yuan Island
Koh Nang Yuan Island
Koh Nang Yuan Island
Koh Nang Yuan Island
Koh Nang Yuan Island
Koh Nang Yuan Island
Koh Nang Yuan Island
Koh Nang Yuan Island
Koh Nang Yuan Island
Koh Nang Yuan Island
Koh Nang Yuan Island
Koh Nang Yuan Island
Koh Nang Yuan Island
Koh Nang Yuan Island
Koh Nang Yuan Island
Koh Nang Yuan Island
Koh Nang Yuan Island
Koh Nang Yuan Island
Koh Nang Yuan Island
Koh Nang Yuan Island
Koh Nang Yuan Island
Koh Nang Yuan Island
Our boat picked us back up and took us to shore to wrap up the full day tour around Koh Tao island. This was certainly the best & most cost effective way to see all of the remote snorkelling spots available here. Swimming with sharks was easily the highlight here for a good day.
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For more photos of our adventure go to our flickr account here.
A Leaf on the Wind 