Snorkeling Kata Noi Beach

Phuket Locations South East Asia Thailand

Rating: 2.5 out of 5.

Summary

By Luke

Summary

Rating: 3 out of 5.

By Luke

Not a bad place for a dip, but only if you’re staying in Kata. There are fish and some coral on the rocks along the left-hand side of Kata Noi Beach. Better snorkels on other Phuket trips including Surin Islands, Similan Islands, and Khai Islands.

Pros

  • Can see coral on the rocks
  • Fish feeding on the rocks from the beach
  • Free to Snorkel

Cons

  • Nothing too big to see
  • Not as good as other snorkel trips
  • Rock and wave/current hazard
Action Camera Icon

Snorkel Video

Snorkeling Kata Noi Beach, Phuket

Underwater Camera Icon

Favourite Snorkel Snaps

Striped Surgeonfish, Kata Noi Beach
Striped Surgeonfish at Kata Noi Beach
Stoney Coral, Kata Noi Beach
Stoney Coral, Kata Noi Beach
Bluetail Mullet Feeding, Kata Beach Noi
Bluetail Mullet feeding on algae
Blue Sea Star, Kata Noi Beach
Blue Sea Star, Kata Noi Beach
Common Comet Star, Kata Beach Noi, Thailand
Common Comet Star sprawled over the rock face
Plant, Kata Noi Beach
Plant
Rocks, Kata Beach Noi
Rocks, Kata Beach Noi
Cauliflower coral, Kata Noi Beach, Phuket
Cauliflower coral at Kata Noi Beach
Review Icon

Snorkel Review

Highlights

Coral Reef Icon

Patches of Coral present

Thermometer Icon

3-5 Meters Average Depth

Australian Mado Icon

Ok to Good visibility

Snorkeling Partner Icon

Medium difficulty

Food Drink Icon

Cafe’s in town

Econonic Financial Icon

Free to snorkel

Sea Urchin Icon

Sea Urchins unlikely

Jellyfish Icon

Unlikely

When:

Who:

Tour Cost:

Star Rating:

Cost:

14:00pm, March, 2023

Luke

Free

Rating: 2.5 out of 5.

Kata is a town on the West Coast of Phuket, Thailand, home to two of the most popular sandy beaches in Phuket, Kata Beach, and Kata Beach Noi. The two beaches are separated by a headland.

I was staying in Kata, Phuket for a few days and had heard that there were snorkeling possibilities along the left-hand side of Kata Noi Beach. I made the walk across the headland to Kata Beach Noi where you’re greeted by a staircase to walk down to the beach. You can also access the beach if you are staying at one of the hotels running behind the beach.

Kata Noi Beach Snorkel Spot
Kata Noi Beach Snorkel Spot

I was staying in Kata for a few days and had heard that there were snorkeling possibilities along the left-hand side of Kata Noi Beach. I made the walk across the headland which splits the two beaches at Kata, where you’re greeted by a staircase to walk down to the beach. You can also access the beach if you are staying at one of the hotels running behind the beach.

The South end of the beach, or left-hand side if you’re looking out to the ocean was where there was the opportunity to snorkel along the rocky shoreline. As shown in the images below there is a rock formation that runs along the left shoreline. Be aware of the waves and weather conditions as it can be dangerous snorkeling on a rocky shoreline. The conditions were calm when I went snorkeling in the early Afternoon.

Snorkel Spot

Kata Beach Noi Left-Hand Side
Large boulder rocky snorkel spot
Snorkel Spot, Kata Beach Noi
Snorkeling along the rocky shoreline
Snorkel Spot Kata Noi 7
Left-Hand Side of the snorkel spot
Snorkel Spot Kata Noi Beach
Looking back at the beach

As you enter the water you will see the rocks have an algae coating underneath the water, this is where you’ll see fish feeding on the algae. There are Bluetail Mullets, Moorish Idols, and other reef fish feeding. As I started my snorkel and moved further along the rocks you’ll start to see small patches of coral attached to the rock. These vary from Stoney (Acroporidae) coral, to other encrusting corals.

Rocks, Kata Beach Noi
large rocks when entering
Rocks, Kata Noi
Large rocks 5 meters deep

Coral Reef

Stoney Coral on rockface
Stoney Acroporidae Coral on rockface
Multiple corals on rocks
Multiple corals species on rocks
Coral growing on rocks
Coral growing on rocks

There were Striped Surgeonfish along the rocks feeding. These fish have a distinctive blue and yellow lined pattern running along its body. There were also many Common Comet Stars (shown below), and Blue Sea Stars sprawled over the rock face, sometimes in strange positions and in between rocks.

Star Fish, Kata Beach Noi
Common Comet Star
Star Fish Kata Noi 4
Blue Sea Star
Common Comet Star, Kata Beach Noi
Common Comet Star on rockface

Safety Tip:

As I made my way further along the rocky shoreline I encountered a school of large parrotfish spiralling in a circular formation. I think they were feeding off of the rocks and then other parrotfish and surgeonfish were feeding on the algae in the water. This was a very cool experience!

School of Parrotfish
School of large Parrotfish
School of Parrotfish, Kata Beach Noi
Parrotfish swarming whilst feeding on the rocks
School of Parrotfish
Water visibility was cloudy due to the sediment from the Parrotfish feeding

Top Tip:

Checkerboard Wrasse, Redfin Butterflyfish, Kata Noi Beach
Checkerboard Wrasse and Redfin Butterflyfish

There were a few surprises along the rocks including Boulder Star coral (below), and some cool marine species including Butterflyfish, Surgeonfish, Wrasse, Parrotfish, Mullet, and Goatfish. There were also some large rocks just off the rocks in the sandy sea bed, but apart from a few Starfishes, there wasn’t much more to see.

Boulder Star Coral
Boulder Star Coral
Orange Coral
Orange encrusted coral
Coral On Rocks Kata Noi Beach 4
Pale yellow Encrusted coral

Summary

Overall this snorkel spot was good for a 30-minute snorkel. I would probably only snorkel at Kata Noi Beach if you’re staying in Kata and fancy a quick snorkel and chill on the beach. You can see corals, Starfish, and reef fish on the rocks on the left-hand side of the beach. If you’re looking for a more comprehensive snorkel in Phuket I’d recommend the Surin Islands. If you’re more interested in stunning beaches then the Similan Islands or Bon Island.

Marine Plants Kata Noi 1
Plants growing on the rockface along Kata Noi Beach
Stoney Coral, Kata Noi Beach
Stoney Acroporidae Coral grown on the rock face
Yellowfin Surgeonfish, Kata Beach Noi
Vibrant Yellowfin Surgeonfish
Fish Feeding On Rocks, Kata Beach Noi
Whitespotted Rabbitfish Feeding On Algae
Freckled Goatfish, Kata Beach Noi
Freckled Goatfish
Bluetail Mullet Feeding, Kata Beach Noi
Bluetail Mullet feeding on algae
Moorish Idol, Kata Beach Noi
Pair of Moorish Idol

Tour Guide Options

It is free to swim off the beach, I do not believe any tours go to this beach, as there are better snorkel locations off of Phuket, including Koh Phi Phi and Surin Islands. However, these tours can be more expensive ranging from $70.00-$100.00.

Best Snorkel Spot

The best snorkel spot was about 20-30 meters along the rock formation where there were many corals and fish on the large rock face.

Kata Beach Noi Left-Hand Side
Kata Beach Noi Left-Hand Side
Coral Kata Noi Beach
Different species of coral
Stoney Coral on rockface
Patches of Stoney Acroporidae Coral on rockface

Best Time Of Year

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

Coral Reef Icon

Popular Marine Life

Parrotfish Icon

Parrotfish

Sea Star Icon

Starfish

Grey Mullet Icon

Bluetail Mullet

Moorish Idol Icon

Moorish Idol

Striped Surgeonfish Icon

Striped Surgeonfish

Giant Clam Icon

Giant Clam

Butterflyfish Icon

Butterflyfish

Freckled Goatfish Icon

Freckled Goatfish


Rare Marine Life Icon

Coral Reef

Acroporidae Coral Icon

Acroporidae Stoney Coral

Boulder Star Coral Icon

Boulder Star Coral

Brain Coral Icon

Brain Coral

Cauliflower Coral Icon

Cauliflower Coral

Encrusted Coral Icon

Encrusted Coral

Coral Reef Icon

What We Saw

(Seen on March, 2023)

Striped SurgeonfishYellowfin Surgeonfish
Collared ButterflyfishRedfin Butterflyfish
Jansen’s WrasseWhitespotted Rabbitfish
Common Comet StarBlue Sea Star
Checkerboard WrasseIndian Ocean Bird Wrasse
Freckled GoatfishBluetail Mullet
Giant ClamSurge Demoiselle
Moorish IdolGreenthroat Parrotfish
Black Sea UrchinFeatherstar Coral
Stoney Acroporidae CoralBoulder Star Coral
Cauliflower CoralBrain Coral
World Icon

Where is Kata Noi Beach?

The beach is located on the West side of Phuket, which is the largest island of Thailand, on the South West of Thailand. Kata has two popular beaches, Kata and Kata Noi.

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.

Phuket Snorkel Reviews

Snorkelverse

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: