Coral Reefs & Marine Conservation

Thailand's 2,600 km coastline (Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea) is home to over 300 coral species and more than 1,500 fish species. The reefs range from world-class to severely damaged — where you dive and snorkel makes a huge difference.

Best Diving and Snorkeling Areas

• Similan Islands (Andaman Sea): The ultimate. Healthy hard corals, manta rays, whale sharks at Richelieu Rock. October–May.
• Surin Islands (Andaman Sea): Even more untouched than Similan. Fewer visitors, excellent snorkeling directly from the beach.
• Koh Tao (Gulf of Thailand): The cheapest diving training in the world — PADI Open Water from 9,000 Baht (250 €). Good reefs for beginners, but partially affected by mass tourism.
• Koh Lipe (Andaman Sea): Coral reefs right off the beach. Perfect for snorkeling, even without a boat.

Coral Bleaching & Environmental Issues

The reality is worrying: Over 50% of the corals in the Gulf of Thailand are damaged by warming, overfishing, and tourism. The Andaman Sea is in better condition, but coral bleaching is also increasing here. Thailand has responded: Maya Bay (Koh Phi Phi) was closed to tourists from 2018–2022 and has since reopened with strict visitor limits. Similar measures apply to other sensitive areas.