We want to spend a few days snorkeling at Koh Phangan. I was hoping to get some advice on the best areas to snorkel from the shore. I have read that the best spots are in the NW area, BUT I also have read a lot about the tides being a problem during certain times of the year. If someone could explain the tide thing to me?? I live by the ocean and we have hi/lo but apparently there's something special about the tides around Phangan. We will be there in June.

Also any input on accomadations would be nice. Looking for quiet, beachfront, restaurants nearby, not fancy but would like our own bathroom.

thanks!

I second that - NW of the island is sweet little snorkeling action. I rarely go to southern Thailand because it's so quickly getting messed up - mostly by locals who don't know/care about the environment. Right after I was snorkling the little space mentioned above, a fishing boat came along and dragged nets through it - that was years ago. I also saw the only large wild reptile I'd ever seen in Thailand - a 2.5' long monitor lizard raiding a garbage heap. Him and his brood are probably gone too. There's a bit on meat on a lizard, and locals surely know that. We need to help create an acknowledgement that a thriving natural environment is worth more [yes, even monetarily] than the resources that can be exploited from it. Good luck finding your little snorkling paradise. It may be out there, but such things are getting few and far between.