Koh Bon Snorkeling

Can you spot manta rays at Koh Bon?

You can if you are lucky. Koh Bon is a renowned manta ray feeding spot and you can snorkel over the pinnacle where the mantas come in to feed. But in truth it’s quite unlikely that you’ll see mantas on a day trip, it’s much more likely on a liveaboard trip that can be at the islands early in the morning before day trip boats have even left port.

Manta Rays can be seen at Koh Bon from November to April. We have no statistics on sightings but we guess that your chances of seeing them are about 50%.

There are no dedicated Koh Bon snorkeling day trips but if you are keen to snorkel with manta rays you can join the dive boat to Koh Bon. This makes Koh Bon day trips are most suitable for snorkelers with diving partners. The boats are primarily geared towards scuba divers. There are two dives per day, each about 60 minutes long. During those dives the snorkelers can snorkel. If the mantas are there it’s an awesome day trip. If the mantas are not there you won’t see much else so it’s a bit of a gamble. Also, there are no beach excursions on this day trip (Koh Bon has no beach). Lunch is served on the boat.

We only recommend day trips to Koh Bon if your main focus is to see manta rays, otherwise we prefer the Similan Islands, Surin Islands and Koh Tachai day trips.

Koh Bon day trips

Similan Islands and Koh Bon

Snorkeling equipment rental (mask, snorkel, fins) is included. National park fees are 500 baht extra per person.

Koh Bon snorkeling is not suitable for novice snorkelers. You will be snorkeling over a submerged plateau in open water. It’s deep and there can be currents (manta rays like the strong currents).

Speedboat tours is not suitable for children below 3 years of age, pregnant women or people over the age of 70.