Low tide at Rawai Beach is the perfect time to explore marine life without the need of a snorkel mask or even getting wet (well except wet feet I guess). Choose the day of the full moon or the two days following the full moon and you will have the best time for a visit as the water will be at its lowest late afternoon.
You will see the locals out catching fish, crabs, small octopus and shellfish so there are some great photo opportunities and as it gets nearer to sunset some great skies too!
Be patient, stand still and see what swims or crawls past!
If you want to cheat a bit and find a photo subject that is not frantically swimming around (as they say never work with animals!) then stop by at one of the fishing nets and your sure to find something.
Be careful as you walk as there can be a few dangers such as small stingrays that hide in the sand and sea urchins that hide under the rocks that seem to be watching you with one orange eye!
Be careful too not to tread on the newly sprouting coral - it has taken a while for things to grow back after the 2004 Tsunami Disaster as coral grows very slowly. Although Rawai was not hit so badly by the Tsunami there was still a lot of damage to the coral reef, partly caused by larger pieces of coral that washed in from the deeper waters and were left stranded along the shallows. These large lumps of dead coral now present a problem for boats at low water but at the same time make a good hiding place for some of the marine life.
Also look out for the different types of sea grasses that add a bit of colour to the sand coloured rocks
Before you know it, it will be sunset - time for a nice cold beer at one of the beach-side restaurants!
Oh and one last thing....if you're unlucky with the weather, snorkelling could become something completely different!
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