Koh Usen and Koh Kra are the two small islands you can see from Sunrise Beach, and they hold some of the easiest snorkelling on Koh Lipe. On a calm morning you can leave the sand and be floating above coral within minutes.
Getting out there
When the sea is calm, most guests reach the islands by kayak. The crossing is short, the water is shallow in places, and you can tie off or hold the kayak while you snorkel. Confident swimmers do make the crossing on very settled days, but a kayak gives you somewhere to rest and a place for your dry bag.
If you would rather not paddle, we can arrange a longtail boat with a local boatman. Please ask at reception the day before so we can check the tide and the weather, and agree a pick-up time. We keep a small selection of masks, snorkels and fins at the resort if you do not have your own.
Koh Usen: the gentle one
Koh Usen is the closer of the two and the friendlier for first-timers. The reef sits in shallow, sheltered water, so you can take your time over the coral heads without worrying about depth or drift. Go slowly, stay horizontal, and let the fish come back to you once you stop moving.
Koh Kra: clearer water, livelier current
Koh Kra tends to have the clearer water of the pair, with a touch more current running around it. That suits confident snorkellers who like a longer drift along the reef edge. Keep your buddy in sight, be honest about your fitness, and agree a plan before you get in.
The best conditions are usually early in the morning, before the wind picks up and the day boats arrive.
What you will see
The two islands share the same living reef system that runs along Sunrise Beach: clownfish in the anemones, parrotfish scraping at the coral, and, if you are patient, a turtle or a ray passing by. Our look at the reef beneath the surface introduces the regulars by name.
Whatever you find, leave it exactly where it is. The reef around these islands is fragile, and a single careless fin kick can break coral that took years to grow.
Take your time out there, stay close to your buddy, and come back with nothing but photographs. If you tell us what you saw, we will probably know its name.