Shark Bay

Three ways into the bay

Through Haad Tien Beach Resort

The usual way in, about 15 minutes by road from Sairee. Park out front and follow the signs. Expect a charge of around ฿200 a head, and day visitors are kept to one corner of the sand.

From the free beach

A small public beach at the western end of the bay, free to use. You swim round into the bay from there, which is hard work when the sea is choppy.

By kayak from Sai Daeng

Rent a kayak at Sai Daeng Resort in the next bay east and paddle over. Shark Island, the small rock offshore, is within reach the same way.

Shark Bay, Ao Thian Og in Thai, is a small bay on Koh Tao's south coast between Chalok Baan Kao and Sai Daeng, and it's where people snorkel with green turtles and small blacktip reef sharks straight off the beach. The bay is shallow and sheltered, with a gently sloping sandy bottom and patches of coral, and the turtles graze in the shallows. The sharks are shy and harmless. Give them room, and don't count on seeing one, because plenty of snorkelers don't.

Timing makes the difference. Early morning is when the water is calmest and the wildlife closest, and overcast, drizzly afternoons turn the water murky. Koh Tao is driest from February to September, while October to December bring the island's heaviest rain, about 445 mm in November, and rough seas. Keep your distance from the turtles, never chase or touch them, and wear reef-safe sunscreen.

It isn't a lounging beach. The shore is scattered with coral fragments and rock, and people do cut their feet here, so bring water shoes. It also gets crowded when the round-island snorkeling boats arrive, since most of them stop here.

There are three ways in. Most people go through Haad Tien Beach Resort, about 15 minutes by road from Sairee, which charges around ฿200 a head and keeps day visitors to one corner of the sand. The free way is the small public beach at the western end of the bay, the one Google lists as Free Beach to Shark Bay, though the swim round from there is hard work when the sea is choppy. Or rent a kayak at Sai Daeng Resort in the next bay east and paddle over, which also puts Shark Island, a small rock offshore with coral and plenty of fish, within reach. Snorkel gear rents at the resort and the beach restaurant, where food and drinks are fairly priced.