Where to snorkel with blacktip reef sharks on Koh Tao

Where to snorkel with blacktip reef sharks on Koh Tao

A quick guide on where to snorkel with reef sharks on Koh Tao! Remember to respect wildlife and be responsible!

If you're in Koh Tao, then you're already aware of the epic marine life that surrounds the island. One particular marine creature that seems a little harder to catch is the blacktip reef shark.

Although these guys sometimes visit the popular dive sites around the island, they can be spotted regularly if you know when and where to look. Read on to find out where you can swim with sharks in Koh Tao.

Where are the blacktip reef sharks on Koh Tao?

Blacktip reef sharks typically frequent shallow sandy areas ranging from under 1m to 10m in Shark Bay, also known as Haad Tien Beach. Shark Bay is located at the southern end of Koh Tao Island, just behind Chalok. The easiest way to get there is to park your bike at Taatoh Seaview Resort and walk down the windy cliff paths until you reach the water.

Once you reach the bottom, just swim out to the shallows and look out for that black fin! Some of the young sharks in Koh Tao are very small, only about 60cm long! But keep an eye out as we often saw some up to 1.5m long, sometimes up to four at a time, circling us. Although these sharks can be found throughout the bay, we found that we were more likely to spot them in the area pictured below.

Go early

Many people I spoke to were sure that there were no sharks on Koh Tao, that is definitely not true. You can see sharks in Koh Tao every day, but it is important to go early in the morning between 6:30 and 9:30. It seems that the sharks only ever visit the bay at this time of the morning, which means getting up early if you really want to catch them!

Keep an eye out for turtles

Turtle Island is no longer a refuge for turtles like it used to be. Many have migrated to other smaller islands nearby to escape the diving crowds. However, it is still common to find large turtles sleeping or cruising in the tranquil Shark Bay sanctuary. Once the sharks have left for the day, swim out a little deeper and look for the relaxed guys. Remember to give them some space and let them enjoy the relative peace and quiet of this hidden gem.

More Koh Tao Guides

I hope this quick guide to snorkeling with reef sharks on Koh Tao was helpful. Remember, always respect wildlife and only go into the water with sharks if you feel comfortable and have experience. If not, I would recommend avoiding them altogether.

For more travel blogs about Koh Tao, check out the list below. Alternatively, start with this comprehensive guide to the best things to do on Koh Tao or this guide to the best beaches in Koh Tao.

The 7 Best Things to Do in Khao Lak, ThailandFighting Muay Thai as a Foreigner in ThailandTanote Bay – Cliff Jumping Beach on Koh TaoBEST Secret Sunset Spot on Koh Tao, ThailandBest Secret Freediving Location on Koh Tao, Thailand

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