Sea Turtles Near Phuket: Where and When to See Them

Few things on a snorkeling trip beat a sea turtle gliding past below you. The Andaman Sea around Phuket is home to turtles, and snorkelers and divers do see them, but they are wild animals that move freely over large areas. No tour can promise a sighting. What you can do is choose the right places, go at the right time of year and know how to behave if you are lucky.

Which Turtles Live Around Phuket?

• Green turtles are the species snorkelers see most often. Adults graze on seagrass and algae, often in shallow water near reefs and sandy bays.
• Hawksbill turtles live on coral reefs, where they feed mainly on sponges. You can recognize them by their narrow, pointed beak and overlapping shell plates.
• Leatherback and olive ridley turtles are rarely seen at sea near Phuket. They are best known for the females that occasionally come ashore to nest on beaches such as Mai Khao on Phuket's northwest coast and along the Phang Nga coast.

All of these species are threatened, and sea turtles are protected under Thai law. Catching, harming or trading them, or buying products made from turtle shell, is illegal.

Where to See Sea Turtles

The Similan Islands

The Similans generally offer the best chances. The islands are a protected national park with clear water and healthy reefs, and snorkelers and divers regularly report turtles there. The park is usually open from 15 October to 15 May and closed in the monsoon. We do not sell a Similan trip, but our Similan Islands guide and Similan snorkeling guide explain how to plan one.

Racha Yai (Raya)

Racha Yai, south of Phuket, has some of the clearest water you can reach on a day trip, and turtles are seen there from time to time, more often by divers on the deeper reefs than by snorkelers in the bays. Our Raya and Coral Island snorkeling tour (2,400 THB per adult, 1,700 THB per child aged 4 to 11) includes snorkeling at Patok, Lah or Siam Bay, chosen on the day for conditions, with mask, snorkel and life jacket provided. Prices can vary by date, so check the tour page for yours. Read our Racha Island guide for more.

Phi Phi

Turtles are occasionally seen at snorkel and dive sites around the Phi Phi islands. Sightings are less predictable than at the Similans, and the popular spots are busy with boats. The Phi Phi, Maya Bay and Khai Island tour includes snorkel gear and time to snorkel during the day. See our Phi Phi Islands guide.

Coral Island and the Phuket coast

Coral Island is close to Phuket and busy with day visitors and sea sports, so turtles are much less likely there, though not impossible. Occasional sightings are also reported around headlands and reefs off Phuket itself.

The Surin Islands

Further north, the remote Surin Islands have shallow reefs and a similar park season to the Similans. They are a long way from Phuket and are usually visited from Khao Lak or from the pier near Kuraburi.

When to Go

• At sea: turtles live in these waters all year, but the dry season, roughly November to April, usually brings the calmest seas and clearest water for spotting them.
• Similan and Surin Islands: only when the parks are open, usually from mid October to mid May.
• Nesting: on Phuket's west coast beaches, nesting has mostly been recorded in the drier months, roughly November to February, and it is rare.
• Time of day: mornings often bring calmer water and better visibility.

Our snorkeling visibility calendar goes through the year month by month.

Turtle Nesting on Phuket's Beaches

When a turtle nest is found on a Phuket beach, local officials and conservation volunteers usually mark and protect the site, and the eggs hatch roughly two months later. If you are staying near a nesting beach such as Mai Khao:

• Keep well back from a turtle that has come ashore, and never shine lights or use flash near it.
• Do not touch or pick up hatchlings, and do not carry them to the sea. They need to crawl there on their own.
• Keep lights low on the beach at night, as bright lights can confuse hatchlings.
• Report a nesting turtle or fresh tracks to your hotel or the beach authorities rather than approaching.

Conservation

The Phuket Marine Biological Center at Cape Panwa, a government research center, has long cared for injured and sick sea turtles, and conservation groups in Phuket and Phang Nga help protect nests. The biggest threats to turtles here are the same as elsewhere: plastic in the sea, lost fishing nets, boat strikes and bright lights on nesting beaches. Our guide to coral reefs and conservation explains how to snorkel without harming the reef.

How to Behave Around a Turtle

• Do not touch, ride or hold a turtle. It causes stress and can spread infection.
• Keep a respectful distance of a few meters, and never block its path when it swims up to breathe.
• Do not chase it. Float calmly and let it move past at its own pace.
• Do not use flash for underwater photos.
• Do not stand on coral or seagrass, which is where turtles feed.
• Use reef-safe sunscreen, or cover up with a rash guard.
• Report a turtle tangled in fishing line or nets to your guide.

How to Improve Your Chances

• Choose clear water: Racha on a day trip or, in season, the Similans.
• Snorkel slowly and quietly along the edge of the reef and over seagrass.
• Stay close to your guide, who knows the local bays.
• Go on a calm day, and book early in your stay so you can move the trip if the sea is rough.
• Consider a dive. Divers usually see more turtles than snorkelers.

Frequently asked questions

Can you see sea turtles on a day trip from Phuket?

Sometimes. Turtles are seen around Racha and Phi Phi, but sightings are never guaranteed. The Similans usually offer the best chances.

Where is the best place to snorkel with turtles near Phuket?

The Similan Islands, when the park is open from mid October to mid May. Among the closer day trips, Racha Yai is a good choice for clear water.

Can I touch a sea turtle?

No. Watch from a few meters away and let it swim freely. Touching stresses turtles, and they are protected by law.

When do turtles nest on Phuket's beaches?

Nesting is rare and has mostly been recorded roughly from November to February, on quieter beaches such as Mai Khao.