Driving out of BKK today. Want to do a lot of sea bathing and swimming and snorkeling to help with a wound on one foot. This will be our first trip down there. Can not do the bigger, expensive liveaboards. Hoping to find some more reasonable option with local boat unless someone knows of any company right now willing to offer super discount.

Will spend the first night or 3 at a small resort on the coast in southernmost part of Ranong then continue down to perhaps the Khao Lak area and might go even further in search of beautiful beaches and snorkeling.

If you have any favorite spots or hotels down that way would love the heads up on that as well

Thanks all!

Plenty of hotels/resorts/guesthouses in Khao Lak. In Khao Lak, there is hardly any snorkeling to be done straight from the beach. You might be able though, to book a snorkeling tour to the Similan Islands, enquire at any travel agency. They might also be able to arrange a longtailboat for you to do some snorkeling close to the coast.

if its not to far check out Ao Nang area - about 3 / 4 hours by road from Khao Lak