Snorkeling with Blacktip’s at Shark Point, Phi Phi Islands

Phi Phi Islands Locations South East Asia Thailand

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Summary

By Luke

Summary

Rating: 4 out of 5.

By Luke

Sharks, Sharks, and Sharks! Awesome spot to swim with Blacktip Reef Sharks, beat the crowds by going in the morning, and hire a longtail boat for an hour to take you to and from the snorkel spot.

Pros

  • Blacktip Reef Sharks!
  • Larger and smaller sharks
  • Little cost to snorkel
  • Longtail Boat can take you to snorkel spot
  • Little tourists if you go early

Cons

  • Current is strong
  • Sharks not guaranteed, less likely when it’s busy
  • Can be very touristy
  • Visibility not fantastic
Action Camera Icon

Snorkel Video

Snorkeling Shark Point, Phi Phi Islands
Underwater Camera Icon

Snorkel Snaps

Blacktip Reef Shark Point
Sea Weed stuck in a Blacktip’s mouth
Blacktip Head On Shark Point
Head On With A Blacktip Reef Shark
Cruising Blacktip
Cruising Blacktip Reef Shark
Blacktip Shark Point
A Beefy Blacktip Reef Shark
Blacktip Shark Point 2
Blacktip Reef Shark
Triangle Butterfly Fish
Triangle Butterfly Fish
Moorish Idol
Moorish Idol
Singular Bannerfish Shark Point
Singular Bannerfish
Singular Bannerfish Shark Point 1
Singular Bannerfish
Fish Feeding Shark Point
Fish feeding on the rocks
Pink Sea Star
Pink Sea Star
Review Icon

Snorkel Review

Highlights

Coral Reef Icon

Small patches of Coral

Thermometer Icon

1-2 Meters Average Depth

Australian Mado Icon

Good Visibility

Snorkeling Partner Icon

Easy to Medium Difficulty

Food Drink Icon

Cafe’s near beach

Econonic Financial Icon

Longtail Boats cost approx $15 USD

Sea Urchin Icon

Sea Urchins Present

Jellyfish Icon

Jellyfish unlikely

When:

Who:

Tour Cost:

Star Rating:

Cost:

08:00 am, March, 2023

Luke

$15.00 for private boat, 1hrs (1x snorkels)

Rating: 4 out of 5.

On my final morning at the Phi Phi Islands, I had a ferry leaving at 11:30 am to Koh Lanta, but I didn’t want to miss out snorkeling Shark Point, so I had an early start (7:00 am) and walked across to Shark Point at the South-East of Koh Phi Phi Don. The walk is a bit up and down and does involve a questionable roped section you have to climb down to the long beach. It took me a good 45 minutes to get to Long Beach which is where Shark Point is located.

Shark Point Walk View
Morning view on the 45 minute walk to Shark Point

If you see the dive center, that’s where the longtail boats are docked off the beach. The actual snorkel spot is about 50 meters off the beach to the left of the rock formation.

Shark Point
At Shark Point looking back at Long Beach
Rock Formation Next to Shark Point
Rock Formation Next to Shark Point
Longtail Boat at Shark Point Beach
Long Beach

On the beach there were a few longtail boats, however, at that time, there weren’t many locals to take you out. I asked a few people and managed to find a local for who I negotiated ฿500 Baht ($15 dollars) for 1 hour of snorkeling at Shark Point. It only took 5 minutes to make our way out to Shark Point and anchor, but I still think it’s worth it to hire a longtail boat for safety and also to have a place to store your bag and valuables.

Some people say it is possible to swim out to shark point, but as an ex-competitive swimmer, I would not recommend this, I think it would be too dangerous to swim out from the beach due to the strong currents and changing conditions. One of the benefits was the local took me to the exact spot to see the Blacktip and to be fair to him I did see 3x sharks in that spot.

Blacktip Reef Shark Point
Sea weed stuck in a Blacktip’s mouth
Blacktip Shark Point
A Beefy Blacktip Reef Shark
Blacktip Reef Shark
Cruising along the sea bed

Shark Point is home to Blacktip Reef Shark’s which are ranked by ICUN as Vulnerable and very important to the marine ecosystem. Not all snorkel spots at the Phi Phi Islands are home to Blacktips Reef Shark’s, which is why this is a great spot. Although there wasn’t much more to see at Shark Point, aside from small patches of coral.

Juvenile Blacktip Reef Shark, Shark Point, Phi Phi Islands, Thailand
Juvenile Blacktip Reef Shark swimming amongst the rocks

I then got back onto the boat, and as soon as I did another boat turned up with tourists, so I timed it well. I then headed back for the 45-minute walk, where you do get some stunning viewpoints of the island and beaches. You can opt to pay for a sea taxi to take you back to the pier.

Overall in my opinion, if you want to see Blacktip Reef Sharks, get to Shark Point early in the morning to beat the crowds. I did have to wait a good 20 minutes before the sharks arrived, so be patient. Shark Point is one of the few snorkel spots on the main Phi Phi island (Koh Phi Phi Don), so if you hire a longtail boat or go on a tour, it can run either south to the island of Koh Phi Phi Leh to Maya Bay, or Pileh Lagoon, or North to Bamboo island.

Top Tip:

Before seeing the sharks, I snorkeled around the area for a good 15 minutes, seeing small spots of coral and Moorish Idols, Blue Sea Star. I then spotted a large Barracuda swimming in the distance checking me out, it was big, but wallowed with its distinctive black stripes running down its body, then within a flash, it was gone into the blue.

Marine Life

Giant Clams Shark Point
Patch of colourful Giant Clams
Triangle Butterfly Fish
Eastern Triangle Butterflyfish

And then, I had my first glimpse of a big Blacktip Reef Shark as it cruised away from me, I was surprised at how large the sharks were, ranging from 1-1.5 meters swimming along the bottom of the sea bed. In shallow waters, this big shark did make me feel like I was in its waters… all alone.

The water was shallow 1.5 meters, and the visibility was ok, good for 4 meters, then a bit cloudy due to the wave/current. I then started to see another two smaller sharks swimming around this area. They didn’t get too close but can be curious and check you out, although generally stay a good 5 meters away from you. Smaller juvenile sharks were swimming along the rocks, which were much more timid.

Safety Tip:

And then I had quite the fright! As I did a 360 turn I turned around to see a very curious Blacktip slowly creeping up on me swimming directly at me, I stayed calm and still maintained eye contact and it came within 2 meters of me, swimming much higher in the water than normal, and then away it turned to the right and swam by. Pretty cool experience, the shark had some coral/seaweed caught in its jaw as it cruised by.

Cruising Blacktip
The moment a Blacktip swam directly towards me!!!

I think this is rare due to me being the only snorkeler in the water. It is very rare for Blacktip Reef Sharks to attack unless they are threatened. The only threat I was posing was a dodgy stomach after that encounter! The shark was about 1.5 meters in length and had some coral/seaweed tangled in its mouth which I suspect was from a hunt that night. The visibility dropped slightly, the sharks only came within 4-5 meters after that encounter.

Blacktip Head On Shark Point
Head On With A Blacktip Reef Shark

I then got back onto the boat, and as soon as I did another boat turned up with tourists, so I timed it well. I then headed back for the 45-minute walk, where you do get some stunning viewpoints of the island and beaches. You can opt to pay for a sea taxi to take you back to the pier.

Overall in my opinion, if you want to see Blacktip Reef Sharks, get to Shark Point early in the morning to beat the crowds. I did have to wait a good 20 minutes before the sharks arrived, so be patient. Shark Point is one of the few snorkel spots on the main Phi Phi island, so if you hire a longtail boat or go on a tour, it can run either south to the island of Koh Phi Phi Leh to Maya Bay, or Pileh Lagoon, or North to Bamboo island.

Tour Guide Options

Some tours that run from Phi Phi Don’s main island which are pretty cost-effective, you can hire private long boats on the main beach to take you out to the islands and you can decide where you go and negotiate the price, we paid approx $45.00 for 2 people, 3-4hrs. If you are staying in Krabi or Phuket there are Fast boat day trips to the Phi Phi islands to Pileh Lagoon / Bay, as well as Maya Bay just around the corner and Shark Point on Phi Phi Don.

Best Snorkel Spot

If you’re looking from the beach, the best spot is about 50 meters from shore and 5 meters to the left of the rock formation. Do not get too close to the rocks as there is a strong current pushing you into the rocks, flippers are required.

Best Time Of Year

The best time of year to snorkel in Thailand is it’s dry season which runs from October to April.

Marine Life Icon

Popular Marine Life

Blacktip Reef Shark Icon

Blacktip Reef Shark

Parrotfish Icon

Parrotfish

Moorish Idol Icon

Moorish Idol

Sergeant Major Damselfish Icon

Sergeant Major Damselfish

Sea Star Icon

Common Comet star

Sea Star Icon

Blue Sea Star


Rare Marine Life Icon

Rare Marine Life

Barracuda Icon

Barracuda

Pufferfish Icon

Pufferfish

Lined Butterflyfish Icon

Butterflyfish


Rare Marine Life Icon

Coral

Boulder Coral Icon

Boulder Coral

Acroporidae Coral Icon

Acroporidae Stoney Coral

Lettuce Coral Icon

Lettuce Coral

Table Coral Icon

Table Coral

Staghorn Branch Coral Icon

Staghorn Branch Coral

Marine Life Icon

What I Saw

(Seen on March, 2023)

Blacktip Reef SharkSingular Bannerfish
Moorish IdolBlue Sea Star
NeedlefishBluetail Mullet
Honeycomb GrouperCheckered Snapper
Sergeant Major DamselfishBlackedge Thicklip Wrasse
Chinese DemoiselleVariegated Lizardfish
Eastern Triangle Butterfly FishSlender Suckerfish
Smallspotted Dart FishQuoy’s Parrot Fish
Redlip ParrotfishSpineytooth Parrotfish
Blackspotted PufferfishWhitespotted Rabbitfish
Giant ClamCommon Comet Starfish
Blue Sea StarDusky Rabbitfish
Double Spined Sea UrchinBlack Sea Urchin
Table CoralBrain Coral
Lettuce CoralStaghorn Branch Coral
Boulder CoralHoneycomb Coral

Phi Phi Islands Snorkel Reviews

Snorkelverse
World Icon

Where is the Phi Phi Islands?

The Phi Phi Islands are located in the Adaman sea, in the South of Thailand. The Phi Phi Islands are made up of six islands, Koh Phi Phi Don is the largest and most developed island.

FAQ Icon

Frequently Asked Questions

Luke Snorkeling Nusa Lembongan

Luke

FOUNDER

Luke is a passionate snorkeler who started Snorkelverse to live his dream of combining his passions for snorkeling, marine life, protecting marine ecosystems, and helping others.

Disclaimer

Please read our terms of use for information regarding our disclaimer.

Share with snorkelers:

Snorkelverse Icon

Latest Snorkel Reviews

Sunrise Beach

Snorkeling Sunrise Beach, Koh Lipe

Snorkeling the sandy beaches of Sunrise Beach, Koh Lipe. A healthy coral reef, and many Clownfish, Giant Clams, and Anemonefish!
Snorkel spot at Shelly Beach, Manly, Sydney, NSW

Snorkeling Shelly Beach and Cabbage Tree Bay at Manly, Sydney

Brilliant snorkel spot where you can see Giant Cuttlefish, large Wrasse, Stingrays, and Sharks. The nature reserve Manly in North Sydney.
Nusa Lembongan Beach, Bali

Snorkeling With Manta Rays At Nusa Lembongan

Snorkeling with Manta Rays at Nusa Lembongan, Bali. We swam with these majestic beauty's at Manta Bay on a snorkel trip around Lembongan, aswell as Clownfish, Turtles, and Pufferfish!
DISCLAIMER: SNORKEL AT YOUR OWN RISK
Snorkelverse Copyright © 2024 All Rights Reserved
Share: