Hop out of the water and climb over all the large boulders to get to it. Swim into it, and looking up, you should spot a cement staircase made right into the rocks. Inside the cluster of large boulders at the very end, you’ll find a very small, shallow lagoon. Looking at the map, find Number 3.įollow the white arrow as a guide and swim until you get out to the furthest point of land, which is labeled as Number 3. Even at low tide, it was possible to swim out deeper. Prepare yourself on the beach and jump (well, possibly float) in. VD Tip: If you have a dry bag, this is where it becomes incredibly handy: I used mine while on this trek, and although it was filled with two 1.5 liter water bottles, snacks, a few shirts, and 3 pairs of flip-flops, it floated in the water with no problem! When you arrive to Sai Daeng, walk all the way to the left side of the beach (looking seaward). Bare with me though as this is not the main spot it is only the jump-off point. I imagine this was probably a launch point or port many years ago, though now it is pretty quiet. It is mostly shallow water with destroyed reef underneath. Now mind you, although Sai Daeng is certainly a postcard-worthy beach, the majority of snorkeling just off the shore is pretty terrible.
The views here and there along the walk are quite nice have your camera ready! For those that are walking, it’s about 1.75 kilometers from here – and it gets a bit more treacherous! One half is uphill, and the other downhill. It is right around here that you will see a sign on the left for “Sai Daeng Beach.” Follow the signs later on to bring you all the way to Sai Daeng. To begin, have a look at Number 1 on the map, which is the crossroads for Sai Daeng Beach.
It would be helpful if you pulled up another tab with Google maps of the island to better put into perspective where/how far everything is. The day I snorkeled was a relatively calm day during low season with no strong current – however, conditions could easily change at any time, so do watch the weather and only attempt this trek if you are a strong and confident swimmer! You will find the best snorkeling in Koh Tao along this little strip of land! The map I have made up is of the southeast section of Koh Tao. Nearly all of it is 3 meters deep or more, with one long section dropping off to about 10 meters.
Although there is an abundance of group snorkeling tours available in Koh Tao along the main road and adjacent walking streets near the pier, there is another option for those who are more adventure-minded, hate the crowds, and are just plain cheap! For Koh Tao snorkeling, to explore what is in my opinion the most beautiful underwater views will cost you nothing but a fair bit of exercise (or a simple daily motorbike rental).ĭisclaimer: This trip is not for weak swimmers! The entire trip in the water, one way, is about 45 minutes.