Shark Bay Koh Tao Snorkelling Guide 2025
- Kate Colliety
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
Shark Bay Koh Tao (also known as Thian Og Bay by locals) is one of the best snorkelling spots on the island, offering the chance to see green turtles as well as black tip reef sharks - which is where the bay gets its name from.
The main beach is a long stretch of white sand in front of the Haad Tien Beach Resort where turquoise water meets the shore, lined by the picturesque palm trees. The resort charges an access fee to the main beach, however there is a smaller chill out spot just next door which offers access to the same snorkelling spots without the cost!
Shark Bay Koh Tao is one of our favourite spots on the island, read on to find out everything you need to know before visiting: from how to get there, what to expect and the best snorkelling areas.
Contents
Where Is Shark Bay Koh Tao?
Situated in the south-eastern corner of Koh Tao, Shark Bay is a popular spot accessible by taxi, scooter or boat tour. It is just a short 15 minute drive from the main tourist area of Sairee Beach.
The main access point for Shark Bay is through the Haad Tien Beach Resort which charges a 100 baht fee to enter per person. We chose to go via the free Shark Bay access beach which is a smaller cove with laid back vibes, a seating area and some bars.
How To Get To Shark Bay Koh Tao?
The most convenient way to get around Koh Tao is by rental scooter which gives you freedom and flexibility to get around on your own terms unlike on boat tours or via taxis. For only 200 baht per day, you also have the freedom to explore the island at your own pace.
Alternatively, if you don't fancy driving on the crazy roads of Asia, we recommend getting taxis around which could cost around 400 baht each way.
Many tour operators also offer snorkelling tours of Koh Tao’s best bays which are a great option for a full day out to see the best Koh Tao has to offer in one day.
For any travellers staying in Sai Deng Resort or visiting one of the neighbouring bays, you could also kayak around the coast to Shark Bay for free.
Shark Bay Koh Tao Description
Once you’ve arrived at Shark Bay through either the Resort (for 100 baht each) or the free access point, you’re ready to chill out on the beach, relax and go snorkelling. You can rent a snorkel from the stores along the front or bring your own if you have them,
Whether you’re accessing the bay from the main beach or the free access point, you’ll need to swim out into the slightly deeper section of Shark Bay to spot the marine life.
The water visibility will depend on the season you’re visiting in, the dry season (November to March) will bring crystal clear waters, whereas the wet season (April to October) can be hit or miss due to churned up sand.
In recent years, Shark Bay has been becoming more and more popular meaning the coral has suffered slightly which is immediately visible when entering the water, however once you swim further out to where people can't stand, you’ll see why everyone raves about Shark Bay’s snorkelling.
Shark Bay Koh Tao Snorkelling Spots
Blacktip Reef Sharks at Shark Bay
The bay is most famous for the chance to view black tip sharks which use the bay as a nursery for their young. The baby black tips sharks can be spotted cruising the shallows, especially in the early morning hours when the sun is rising, and in the evening just before sunset.
To see the adult sharks, you’ll most likely need to be in the deeper waters past the coral drop off, commonly where the dive boats visit.
Green Sea Turtles at Shark Bay
Large green sea turtles also populate the bay and are much more likely to be seen throughout the day compared to the sharks. We couldn’t believe the huge size of these turtles compared to others we’d seen in Indonesia, they were very chill and didn’t mind us admiring them from afar for a while. We were the only ones in the water with them until a boat tour pulled up and caused chaos.
Coral
As mentioned above, the coral in the shallows where people can stand has been bleached and destroyed however if you snorkel further out there's plenty of fish, turtles, sharks and coral. It goes without saying, however when snorkelling please be careful of where you stand and what sun cream you wear, places like these are fading due to mass tourism!
Shark Bay Free Access Beach - Bars & Restaurants
As you walk down the steps from the parking lot at the free access point, you’ll notice a line of small shacks selling fruit shakes, Pad Thai’s & cocktails. With music playing throughout the day and bean bags lined along the shore this is a great spot to enjoy a beer. Make sure to arrive early if you want a seat!
Shark Bay Koh Tao Common Questions
How Much Is the Entrance Fee to Shark Bay?
100 baht each if you enter via Haad Tien Beach Resort or free via here.
Will I See Sharks and Turtles?
It depends! Visit early and be patient, swim further out if the visibility is low in the shallows.
Koh Tao Hotels Sairee Beach
This is where we stayed and we loved it! We only had a fan room but there were two large swimming pools, direct access to the beach plus an onsite beachfront restaurant. This is our number one choice of Sairee Beach hotels.
Savage hostel offers shared or private accommodation options plus guests can enjoy a rooftop pool & yoga, movie nights and organised tours. We love the look of this hostel which is the heart of Sairee Village.
If you’re looking for a little bit of luxury this resort is nestled at the north end of Sairee Beach. You can take it a step further and even get a private pool! This is one Sairee Beach hotel we’d love to try.
We use Booking.com, Agoda and HostelWorld for all of our stays around the world!
Best Tours In Koh Tao
Final Thoughts on Shark Bay Koh Tao
Whether you’re looking for a chill out spot or an adventurous day snorkelling, Shark Bay is an amazing spot to visit on the island of Koh Tao. Without a doubt, the highlight is the snorkelling and the possibility of seeing huge green turtles and juvenile black tip reef sharks.
We recommend visiting in the morning or evening and be patient for your best chances of spotting the most marine life, initially the coral looked completely dead to us - until we ventured further out to where people couldn’t stand.
The small free beach is where we visited for multiple days from Sairee Beach on our trip to Koh Tao as it has great music and vibes all day compared to the resort beach which had more room to relax on.
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