Published on Dec, 2022
This was a great tour once we were out on the long boat! We had a ship captain steering the boat and then our guide, who spoke good English and made the trip very fun.
Note that a driver picks you up from your hotel (does not necessarily speak much English) and drives you to the pier. All the drivers seem to linger with no explanation on the pier, insisting that you need to go and buy tickets. THIS IS A SCAM. You do not need to buy anything at the pier. They are selling tickets for "cleaning the beach" that they will push you to buy, and then when you walk up the pier a man will come and tear them in half as if admitting you. This was not detailed in any of the trip's information and IS NOT REQUIRED. Half of our group refused and had no issue getting on their longboat. This is the only part of the tour that left a sour taste in our mouths, as the drivers refused to explain what the tickets were for and made it seem like you HAD to buy them. You do not.
Once we got through that, it was a great experience. The snorkeling was awesome - we saw a moray eel, pufferfish, sea cucumbers, and all sorts of colorful fish. It was not the most clear water, but we saw a lot still. They stop at 2 locations for snorkeling, one before the cave and one after. Emerald cave was a fun experience to swim through, and the lagoon is beautiful inside. Finally, the last stop is on a beach near a village where they provide a tasty picnic lunch (stir fried veggies and a chicken potato curry with rice). Please note that bathrooms are available at this stop for 10 bht. Also, you can buy more drinks and food from the villagers right on the beach.
We were picked up at 8am, got to the pier at 9:20, and returned around 4.