Tides on Koh Samui: Why the Sea Sometimes 'Disappears'

Summary

The Gulf of Thailand has an unusual tide: on many days there is only one high tide and one low tide, so when the water goes out it can stay out for much of the day. Koh Samui's north and west coast beaches (Maenam, Bang Por, Bophut, Bang Rak, Lipa Noi, Taling Ngam) are very flat, so at low tide the sea can retreat far out and leave only ankle-deep water. Central and south Chaweng and central Lamai keep swimmable water best. Sea level is also seasonally lower around mid-year, making the effect strongest roughly May to September.

Key points

• Check a local tide table if swimming matters to you; plan proper swims around high tide on flat beaches.
• East coast beaches (Chaweng, Lamai) are the most reliable for swimming at low tide.
• Low tide is good for long beach walks, sandbars and wading to small islands, for example off Choeng Mon.
• West coast beaches have soft, silty bottoms in places - pleasant for sunsets, less so for swimming.