Ultimate Snorkel Review: Bon Island, Thailand

Phuket Locations South East Asia Thailand

Rating: 2.5 out of 5.

Summary

By Luke

Summary

Rating: 2.5 out of 5.

By Luke

Bon Island or Ko Bon was a great day out to visit a paradise island off the South coast of Phuket, Thailand. Incredible Honeymoon Beach with very few tourists and crystal waters. The snorkeling was ok, a lot of Staghorn Branch coral, but not a lot of reef fish or anything big.

Pros

  • Abundance of Branch coral
  • Incredible beach
  • Very few tourists

Cons

  • Nothing too big to see
  • Shallow coral reef
  • Not that many fish
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Snorkel Video

Snorkeling Bon Island, Phuket

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Favourite Snorkel Snaps

Honeycomb Grouper
Honeycomb Grouper
Soft Coral Bon Island
Soft Coral Bon Island
Branch and soft coral, Bon Island
Branch and soft coral
Latticed Sandperch
Latticed Sandperch
Damselfish swimming above coral
Damselfish swimming above coral, Bon Island
Coral Reef, Bon Island
Coral Reef, Bon Island
Jeweled Blenny Gobyfish
Jeweled Blenny Gobyfish
Damselfish swimming above coral, Bon Island
Damselfish swimming above coral
Dead Coral, Bon Island, Phuket, Thailand
Dead Coral
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Snorkel Review

Highlights

Coral Reef Icon

Coral present

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1-2 Meters Average Depth

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Good visibility

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Medium difficulty

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Cafe at Islands

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Tours approx $40 USD

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Sea Urchins Present

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Unlikely

When:

Who:

Tour Cost:

Star Rating:

Cost:

14:00pm, March, 2023

Luke

$45.00 US Dollars (฿1,900 Thai Baht)

Rating: 2.5 out of 5.

I booked a trip to Bon Island as it was a small trip to the paradise island for the morning and early Afternoon. I had a transfer to Ra Wai Beach at the South of Phuket, and then from the Beach to Ko Bon by Longtail Boat. Ko Bon is a small uninhabited island a 15 minute boat ride from Ra Wai Beach. We made our way to the south side of the island to Honeymoon Beach, also known as Long Beach.

Snorkel Spot

Snorkel Spot Bon Island
Snorkel Spot at Long Beach at Bon Island (Honeymoon Beach)
Snorkel Bon Island
Snorkeling Honeymoon Beach at Bon Island
Snorkelers Bon Island
Looking out from Honeymoon Beach
Snorkel Bon island
Turquoise waters
Buoy Snorkel Spot, Bon Island
Buoy about 100 meters from the beach

The picturesque beach was very quiet. The beach had a very large field of Staghorn Branch Coral which ran for the first 20 meters or so from the beach. The coral was very shallow with the water depth being about 1-1.5meters deep.

Coral Reef

Coral Reef Bon Island 1
Damselfish and Chromis swimming over the coral reef
Coral Reef Bon Island 2
Bluespot Butterflyfish and Damselfish

Throughout the Staghorn Branch coral there was also patches of soft coral and marine life. There were many damselfish hovering above the branch coral and then darting in and hiding if you get close.

Soft Coral, Ko Bon
Pink and white soft coral
Coral Reef, Bon Island
Stunning contrasting coral
Soft Coral Bon Island
Pink Soft patch

Safety Tip:

There are Sea Urchins in the coral reef, so be careful. The shallow water means the coral reef is close to your waistline and there isn’t really any opportunity to stand up.

Sea Urchin, Ko Bon

There were a few unusual marine species that I spotted in the Coral Reef and just beyond the coral reef near the Buoy. These included the Honeycomb Grouper, Jeweled Blenny Goby Fish, and Latticed Sand Perch. These were hard to spot due to their distinct camouflaged patterns.

Honeycomb Grouper
Honeycomb Grouper
Jeweled Blenny Gobyfish
Jeweled Blenny Gobyfish
Latticed Sandperch
Latticed Sandperch

Top Tip:

One of the frustrations was the territorial Honeyhead Damselfish that swims within a sandy section and will swim towards you if you go close. They can give a little nip, but can be a bit annoying.

Giant Clam
Mesmorising Blue Giant Clam

After the Branch coral reef there was a section of dead coral with very little to see. There is a Buoy which sits out about 40 meters off of the center of Honeymoon Beach. There were some reef fish swimming around this section including Parrotfish, Moorish Idol, and other reef fish feeding on the algae on the rocks. However I don’t think it is worth swimming that far out.

Dead Coral Bon Island
Dead coral towards the outer coral reef

There isn’t a marked out snorkel area at Honeymoon Beach, Bon Island. But there is a large plastic Buoy that sits out 40 meters from the center of the beach. This is a good landmark to navigate your snorkel. I snorkeled in line with the buoy from the beach and did go out to the Buoy.

However the coral reef stops 5 meters before the Buoy and then there is dead coral and a rocky sea bed. You can see some reef fish feeding on algae on the rocks, but I didn’t think it was worthwhile swimming out to the Buoy. I definitely wouldn’t go beyond the Buoy as there is a current and passing boats.

Buoy Snorkel Spot, Bon Island
Buoy 100m from Long Beach
Buoy, Honeymoon Beach, Bon Island
The coral reef finished about 25 meters before the Buoy
Longtail Boat Bon Island
Local Longtail Boat

There are two main beaches at Ko Bon (Bon Island), the landing Beach at Bon Island Restaurant, and Long Beach (Honeymoon Beach) on the North East of the island. The landing spot near Bon Island Restuarant has a smaller sandy beach with an area of water to swim off. I didn’t snorkel this section as the guide didn’t recommend it, and there were very small patches of rocks which didn’t offer much snorkeling opportunity. However it was a nice beach for a chill.

Bon Island Restaurant Beach
Bon Island Restaurant Beach
Ko Bon Island
Deck chairs outside the restaurant
Bon Island Snorkel Spot
View from Bon Island’s Restaurant Beach

Summary

In summary, Bon Island is a fantastic trip to a quiet paradise island off the South coast of Phuket. I wouldn’t book this trip for the snorkeling, however it isn’t bad for a quick dip in the water. The better snorkel and beach opportunity is Honeymoon Beach on the West side of the island.

Tour Guide Options

There are very few tours available, I booked a trip through Klook and at the time (March, 2023) there was only one longtail tour on offer. I wouldn’t book this trip for the snorkeling, there were better snorkel trips running from Phuket including the Surin Islands, and Phi Phi Islands.

Best Snorkel Spot

In my opinion the best snorkel spot was about 15 meters from the beach in line with the floating buoy. The coral reef lasts for about 25 meters then turns to dead coral and a rocky sea bed.

Coral Reef Bon Island 2
Bluespot Butterflyfish and Sergeant Major Damselfish
Snorkel Ko Bon
looking back at the beach while snorkeling
Snorkelers Bon Island
Snorkelers at Honeymoon Beach

Best Time Of Year

If you are visiting Phuket, the dry season will give you the best weather for snorkeling in October-May.

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Popular Marine Life

Moorish Idol Icon

Moorish Idol

Parrotfish Icon

Parrotfish

Sea Star Icon

Blue Sea Star

Giant Clam Icon

Giant Clam

Sergeant Major Damselfish Icon

Sergeant Major Damselfish

Golden Gregory Icon

Blue-Green Chromis


Rare Marine Life Icon

Coral Reef

Staghorn Branch Coral Icon

Staghorn Branch Coral

Mushroom Coral Icon

Mushroom Coral

Boulder Coral Icon

Boulder Coral

Encrusted Coral Icon

Encrusted Coral

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What We Saw

(Seen on March, 2023)

Hawksbill TurtleGreen Turtle
Oscellaris ClownfishZebra Lionfish
Picasso TriggerfishLatticed Butterflyfish
Schlegel’s ParrotfishPalenose Parrotfish
Red-Lip ParrotfishBullethead Parrotfish
Eastern Triangle ButterflyfishWhite-And-Black Spinecheek
Porcupine PufferfishTwoline Spinecheek
Checkerboard WrasseBlack Triggerfish
Orangestriped TriggerfishKlein’s Butterflyfish
Moorish IdolYellowbar Sandperch
Teardrop ButterflyfishBlackspotted Pufferfish
Titan TriggerfishBarred Thicklip Wrasse
Sixbar WrasseNeon Damselfish
Golden GregoryPhantom Bannerfish
Black SurgeonfishBluestreak Cleaner Wrasse
Sergeant Major DamselfishCrescent Wrasse
UnicornfishBrackish Damselfish
Black Sea CucumberNeedlefish
Blue Ridge CoralLettuce Coral
Branch CoralTable Coral
Massive Boulder CoralStoney Acroporidae Coral
Brain CoralCauliflower Coral
Boulder CoralHoneycomb Coral
Soft CoralEncrusted Coral
Humbug DamselfishSergeant Major Damselfish
Jeweled Blenny FishLatticed Sandperch
Bluespot ButterflyfishSergeant Major Damselfish
Blue-Green ChromisBlue Sea Star
Giant ClamParrotfish
Moorish IdolJeweled Blenny Goby Fish
Black Sea UrchinSea Cucumber
Staghorn Branch CoralBoulder Coral
Soft CoralMushroom Coral
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Where is Bon Island, Thailand?

Bon Island (Ko Bon) is located south of the larger island of Phuket. It is a 15 minute Longtail boat ride from Rawai Beach, which is at the South-East of Phuket.

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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.

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