This is Cocovolt’s guide to sonrkeling on Samui. Vacation on Samui is an excellent opportunity to try a new hobby, Snorkeling. This is why we wrote you an article on some basic things which will help you to start up and then level up your skills.

Snorkeling is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to explore the underwater world. All you need is a mask, snorkel, and some curiosity.

Learning to know about the fish you encounter makes things even more interesting. You might even find your own favourite fish. For me personally Anemone fish is the favourite one. They live in Anemone plants which are poisonous for the other fish to touch but they are immune. This is why it gives such a good place to call home for them. Usually you will find one “family” living on one Anemone. If you get too close they might start an aggressive and fast moving routine.  They cannot hurt you , but this is how you know they are scared of you and try to fight you off- you’ve gotten too close.

One of the most beautiful typically seen fish on Samui is Copperbrand  butterfly fish .  It’ has a beautiful white and copper branding and is relatively large. If you approach it even a bit too quickly it will take a spurt and you will never see it again. If approach it calmly, it’ll let you observe it in its daily routines for a while. This fish is quite common in Thailand so you should have no trouble spotting it.

On Samui you will spot fish on the best sites on Samui such as Coral Cove and  Crystal Bay. The waters on Samui are not that clear most of the time. You get decent visibility but not crystal clear. Both of these locations are beautiful beaches and good for starting up snorkelers.

More experienced snorkelers may want to find more. If you’re looking for plethora of sealife and colorful corals,  you will want to book a trip to Ang Thon marine park and Koh Tao.

Snorkeling can seriously be a low cost hobby

You can snorkeling out even by picking up the cheapest set from the nearest street shop.  As you improve, you can upgrade your gear to match your skills and comfort level. A good first upgrade? Fins – they make movement smoother, more efficient, and let you glide effortlessly through the water. 

When choosing a mask the way it fits your face is important. Most important thing is you feel comfortable wearing it and that it sits firmly but not tightly on your face.  

If you’re fairly certain you will like this hobby, you might want to buy a lower cost basic snorkeling set with fins from Central Samui’s sports shop.  

To help you progress, here’s a belt system for snorkeling – just like in martial arts !.

🏳️ White Belt – Getting Started

Snorkeling is easy, but foggy masks can ruin the experience. Here’s the best anti-fog trick:
✅ Spit inside your mask and spread it evenly over the lenses.
✅ Rinse it with seawater before putting it on.
✅ Avoid touching the inside of the lenses after that – it ruins the anti-fog layer!

Now, step into the water and:
1️⃣ Put on your mask – make sure it seals well.
2️⃣ Attach the snorkel to your mask and place the mouthpiece in your mouth.
3️⃣ Relax – lay on the surface, let the waves move you, and focus on slow, steady breathing through your snorkel.

Pro tip: Put your fins on once in the water – walking with them on land is awkward !

🟡 Yellow Belt – Moving with Control

Once you’re comfortable floating and breathing, it’s time to move efficiently:

🐸 Use frog-style kicks with your fins – keep your legs straight and kick from the hips, not the knees.

🔄 To turn left, kick more with your right fin (and vice versa).

🙌 Keep your hands relaxed – using them burns more energy and is unnecessary. You want to learn to move around without helping with your hands as later on you might want to bring an action camera to capture the underwater world – at that point, keeping your hands free becomes even more important.

Pro-tip: Move slowly and calmly. Sudden movements scare fish away. If you stop and stay still for a minute, they might even come to check out out themselves.  

🟤 Brown Belt – Handling Waves & Confidence Building

Now that you’re comfortable in calm waters, it’s time to deal with waves and currents:

🌊 Exhale forcefully through your snorkel if a wave floods it.
🌬️ If you get tired, stay still for a moment on the surface and enjoy the sealife simply floating still. The water will support you.

📍 Rough ocean and waves look more aggressive than they feel while snorkeling. Waves are simply ripples on the water and when you relax and let them sway you, you will soon see the ocean is simply a calmer environment sometimes than above the water.

⚫ Black Belt – Advanced Snorkeling & Freediving

Once you’re fully in control, you can start pushing your limits:
🏊 Diving down: Hold your breath, tuck your head down, and kick hard to descend.
⚖️ Using a weight belt: Helps you sink naturally for better underwater exploration.
🦑 Freediving techniques: Learning to equalize pressure lets you go even deeper.

This is where snorkeling transitions into freediving, unlocking the true magic of the ocean.

First make sure you understand what is below you (don’t go diving head first into something you don’t see). If the visibility is good enough, you can try to take a dive. 

– First take a few breathes of air and then hold your breath.

– Push your head down under the water and quickly go into as vertical position as possible.

– Once you’ve submerged, calmly but strongly use your fins to get to the depth you want to reach.

– When underwater, stay calm, hold your breath and explore.

– If you feel you have difficulty in reaching the desired depth or you start feeling pressure in your ears, pinch your nose and blow air into your nose which will lead your ears to stabilize. This will help you reach higher depths.

– Remember to start with short dives and lengthen them when you are confident.

– Remember to come up to the surfaces. We are not fish afterall ;D

For proper freediving lessons , we recommend you get in touch with your local official Padi dive shop and they will take care of you.

Final Tips for Every Level

✅ Respect marine life – never touch or chase fish, corals, or turtles or any other sealife. Always remember, you are a visitor in their environment and a guest in their home. Act like it. Touching sealife may have serious consequences for you: Pretty much any living beind has a self-preservation mechanism and ways to protect itself and you might get hurt. Even Corals, which to many of us seem like plants, are living organisms that spary out calsium which harneds in an eyeblink in the water. If you touch a living coral, it will sting you with it’s spike or can cause you cuts. In Thailand sealife can be poisonous or even deadly. You should stay out of their way and they will let you be in peace.
✅ Be aware of currents – snorkel with a buddy and make sure boats know you are there by using snokreling flags especially in areas where there is traffic..
✅ Check your gear before heading out – Even though a leak in your mask can be annoying it is not that dangerous. A little water in your mask doesn’t hurt.  Male snorkelers need to pay attention to their shaving. Having a beard or mustache will require special measures to keep the mask sealed. 

✅ Sun-cream: Wear suncream that does not harm corals and/or wear a rashguard to prevent your skin from burning in the sunlight.  
✅ Stay calm and enjoy the moment – snorkeling is all about relaxing and observing.

Whether you’re just starting or leveling up your snorkeling game, the ocean has something new to discover every time. So grab your mask and dive in! 🌊🐠