The Best Natural Coral Reefs for Snorkeling & Scuba Diving In Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam (Updated Periodically)

You find no sea-walking or so-called “Coral Park” related things in this post as this is the most reliable information about natural coral reefs & snorkeling & diving spots provided by OnBird Phu Quoc, the professional boat & yacht & discovery snorkeling & scuba diving operator based in Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam.

The Post updates history:

1. By OnBird Phu Quoc (Dec 30 2021)
2. By OnBird Phu Quoc (Mar 03 2022)
3. By OnBird Phu Quoc (July 13 2022)
4. By OnBird Phu Quoc (Dec 2022)
5. By OnBird Phu Quoc (Feb 05 2023)
6. By OnBird Phu Quoc (Mar 01 2023)
7. By OnBird Phu Quoc (Mar 18 2023)
8. By OnBird Phu Quoc (May 05 2023)
9. By OnBird Phu Quoc (Sep 09 2023)
10. By OnBird Phu Quoc (Sep 09 2024)

OnBird Phu Quoc, a brand under CORAL MOUNTAIN TRAVEL SERVICES AND TRADING Co. Ltd, is at the forefront of fostering a profound comprehension of Phu Quoc’s coral reefs and marine life. The company aims to establish itself as a Water Expert by orchestrating immersive coral exploration experiences that adhere to sustainable tourism practices, environmental conservation standards, and minimal reef impact. Pioneering in Phu Quoc, Vietnam, OnBird Phu Quoc has embarked on a groundbreaking initiative to amass data on coral reefs, including species diversity, distribution density, health status, and water quality within the region since 2018.

Leveraging this comprehensive data, the company curates marine life-centered activities such as Discovery Snorkeling, Reef Builders and Scuba Diving, or crowded-avoiding island hopping offering guests an educational and enriching experience. The primary objective is to deepen the understanding of Phu Quoc’s coral reef ecosystem and monitor the evolving conditions of the coral reefs on Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam. Notably, the organization is compelled to address the degradation of coral reefs in Phu Quoc attributed to human impact and illicit fishing practices.

OnBird presents our documentation of the coral reefs and marine biodiversity in Phu Quoc, along with our initiatives to preserve the coral reefs through Coral Restoration efforts.

Phu Quoc Island, a tropical paradise, is renowned for its lush rainforests and diverse marine ecosystems. One of its standout features is the vibrant coral reefs, which position it as a premier destination in Vietnam for snorkeling and diving enthusiasts. Other notable locations for such activities include Con Dao, Nha Trang, the Tho Chu Archipelago, the Hoang Sa Archipelago (Paracel Islands), and the Truong Sa Archipelago (Spratly Islands). Home to an impressive 260 coral species, Phu Quoc accounts for 32.5% (read more about coral species in Phu Quoc listed by OnBird) of the world’s coral species, with 252 species of hard coral and 8 species of soft coral across 49 genera within 14 families. Predominant varieties include Porites, Pocillopora, Acropora, Montipora, Pavona, Echinopora, and Diploastrea… Coral coverage in the region averages an impressive 44.5%, with certain areas, such as the Coral Jungle Reef in North Phu Quoc, reaching as high as 82.5%. The waters surrounding Phu Quoc are rich in coral reefs, providing exceptional opportunities for snorkeling and scuba diving. Our comprehensive guide details the premier locations for snorkeling, free diving, and scuba diving on Phu Quoc Island, drawing from firsthand experiences of its underwater wonders. It is important to recognize the critical role that coral reefs play in supporting the biodiversity of Phu Quoc.

Phu Quoc is renowned for possessing the healthiest coral ecosystem in Vietnam, demonstrating significantly lower rates of coral bleaching relative to other regions. Data reveals that nearly 0% of soft coral and only 7.3% of hard coral have been affected by bleaching, a stark contrast to Nha Trang, where 65.8% of soft coral and 39.5% of hard coral have experienced bleaching, and Con Dao, which has seen 79.5% of soft coral and 25% of hard coral affected. It is worth noting that a significant bleaching event occurred in Phu Quoc in 2010, impacting 56.6% of hard coral areas, and the effects of this event are still observable today.

All photographs depicting corals, snorkeling, and diving featured on the website are copyrighted by OnBird Phu Quoc.

Note: The specific locations of coral reefs are not disclosed publicly to safeguard coral spots from excessive tourism.

Introduction to Snorkeling and Diving spots in Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam

Through numerous observations during our snorkeling and scuba diving expeditions in Phu Quoc, we have determined that coral growth thrives at depths ranging from 0.5 to 6 meters. The shallow, pristine waters have fostered robust colonies of table corals, notably flourishing in key locations such as the Shallow Reef, Crystal Reef, North-east Coral Reef, and Coral Steep. Impressively, we have discovered expansive areas of table coral reefs spanning hundreds of square meters, a striking sight to behold.

Most of the coral reefs surrounding Phu Quoc Island are categorized as fringing reefs, with depths varying between 1 and 16 meters. Some reefs are densely covered with hard corals, while others exhibit a diverse array of soft coral species. Accessibility to these coral reefs is contingent upon prevailing water conditions, with some being ideal for exploration during the dry season, while others are best visited in the summer, known as the rainy season on Phu Quoc Island.

The subsequent sections highlight core-zone coral spots discovered by OnBird and concealed coral spots within the waters of Phu Quoc, locations that remain undiscovered by a vast majority of travelers. It is recommended to thoroughly examine the detailed weather conditions in Phu Quoc and determine the optimal time for snorkeling and diving activities on Phu Quoc Island in advance. For tailored advice on navigating the waters and understanding the weather patterns in Phu Quoc at different times of the year, feel free to seek our expert consultation.

I. South Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam

1. The Undersea Coral Mountain: The largest cactus coral colony in all of Phu Quoc

• Coral Species: Cactus Coral (Pavona Coral), Button Coral (Button Polys hay Zoanthids)
• Depth range: 0.5 – 3m
• Type of coral reef: Fringing Coral Reef
• Proper diving experience: Snorkeling – Try-dive (Scuba Diving)
• Coral health status: live coral, some spots are damaged by people, surrounding coral colonies are heavily damaged or dead
• Exploring time: All year round (except in very wavy water)

Phu Quoc Coral Mountain stands out as a breathtaking snorkeling destination on Phu Quoc Island. The sheer scale of the Coral Mountain is truly astounding, with cactus corals spanning an impressive area of approximately 200 to 300 square meters at the Crystal Reef in the southern region of Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam.

The uniqueness of Coral Mountain lies in its remarkable size, depth, and the diversity of coral species it harbors. The cactus corals spanning 30 to 40 meters in length and 7-8 meters in width within shallow waters. The highest tide documented by OnBird reached 1 meter from the summit of Coral Mountain, while the typical low tide measures 0.2 meters. On rare occasions, an exceptionally low tide has even exposed the coral head.

The Coral Mountain enhances the untamed beauty of the underwater terrain in Crystal Reef, justifying its title as the “Coral Paradise of Phu Quoc Island.”

However, across an expansive area spanning thousands of square meters within the Crystal Reef, a concerning discovery has been made. Approximately 80-85% of the coral reefs are either in a state of decline or are facing deterioration in their health. Exploring the beauty of the coral paradise may lose its appeal if the sight of vibrant, healthy coral is scarce. For further information on this topic, you may refer to the following link

Fortunately, after extensive exploration, we have identified the largest known colony of Cactus coral (Pavona Cactus) here, aptly named the “Undersea Coral Mountain,” which thrives and remains healthy. This discovery brought us immense joy, especially after the disappointment of witnessing the deteriorating coral conditions at Phu Quoc Crystal Reef. Of particular interest are the Button Polyps Corals interspersed among the Cactus corals, creating mesmerizing moments. When gently agitated, the Button corals retract their tentacles, producing a visual effect akin to a color change on the corals. Regrettably, the gradual invasion and encroachment of Button Polyps Corals on Coral Mountain (read more) necessitate our immediate intervention to impede their spread.

In the video below, we recorded a Nudibranch swimming at next to the Coral Mountain

2. Coral Hill: The Phu Quoc’s second largest Flowerpot Coral Cluster in Phu Quoc

Coral Hill is a huge Flowerpot coral (Goniopora) cluster located in South Phu Quoc Island which is the Phu Quoc’s second largest flowerpot coral cluster that OnBird has ever observed. Flowerpot coral is known as Goniopora stokesi is ball shaped with very long tentacles, is a genus of colonial stony coral found in lagoons and turbid water conditions. Flowerpot corals have numerous daisy-like polyps that extend outward from the base, each tipped with 24 stinging tentacles which surrounds a mouth.

This flowerpot coral cluster has been growing into a huge size with a hill-like outward appearance. We estimate that the area of this flowerpot coral cluster is around 40 – 45 sq meter which is much more smaller than the Coral Mountain (the largest cactus coral colony in Phu Quoc). Depth ranges to explore the Coral Hill is 3 – 6m, very ideal depth to try skindiving.

3. Half-moon Reef: A Snorkeling & Diving spot in Phu Quoc with an attractive underwater Soft corals-covered ridges of jagged material

• Coral Species (around 20 different speices of corals): Cactus Coral, Leaf coral, Table coral, Cauliflower coral, Plate coral, Mushroom coral, Plate and Pillar coral, Pillar coral, Finger coral, Sinularia Leather Coral, Toadstool coral, Honeycomb coral, Pore Coral, Flowerpot coral, Orange cup coral, Button coral, Brain coral, Giant tube sponge, Big Yellow Rope sponge, Staghorn coral, Anemone…
• Depth range: 0.5 – 10m
• Type of coral reef: Non-fringing Reef
• Proper diving experience: Snorkeling – Fun-dive (Scuba Diving) – Free-diving
• Coral health status: live coral, some closeshore spots are damaged by anchor of speedboats recently, some corals are cutted to be taken to bring to sea-walking clubs in Phu Quoc
• Exploring time: in the Dry Season (October – April), sometimes between April – August we can still explore

The video below was recorded in Phu Quoc Half-moon Reef on our snorkeling trip in 2022

Phu Quoc Half-moon Reef is one of the best spots for either scuba diving (fun-dive), snorkeling and free-diving, possess a great variety of coral species, you find here most coral species of Phu Quoc. Especially the underwater terrain make it an attractive spot to those who are keen on coral reefs and marine life. We find here coral-covered cliffs, canyons, anemone gardens, coral-covered walls, rocks and especially we find here the largest dome-shaped honeycomb coral in Phu Quoc. This is a proper site for those who are interested in free-diving, fun-dive to see a diversified marine world while swimming, diving through, over high cliff of corals and big walls. Easy to see soft corals here, with 2 popular ones: toadstool coral and finger coral. At the depth of 8 – 9m you find many big honeycombs. Anemone living at the depth of 4 – 5 – 6 -7 m. You find largest anemone populations of Phu Quoc here beside North-east Coral Reef. Descend down the depth of just 4 m, walls, cliffs or big rocks covered fully with finger corals begin to appear and surprise you. We do list out some amazing spots you can see at the Phu Quoc Half-moon Reef:

* Golden Anemone Garden

The anemone population located at the depth of 5m with an area of about 4 -5 square meters. Anemone species here is Ritteri Anemone is also referred to as the Magnificent Anemone, they are naturally brown, their bases are in violet color with adhesive foot attach to a big rock and massive coral. This anemone species can almost completely retract into their base as we witnessed many time. The clownfishs living with anemone are Pink skunk clownfishs, the most popular clownfish in Phu Quoc.

The anemone garden are surrounded by some hard corals, table and leaf corals.

* Phu Quoc Finger Coral-Covered Rock

Located at the depth of 6 meters with 4 meters long and 2 meters high, this is an amazing ideal spot for either snorkeling or free-diving, this Finger coral-covered rock located close to a big rock make a small cliff between. Finger coral or Sinularia Levi coral is a one of 2 most popular soft coral species in Phu Quoc. Enjoy a fascinating feeling of swiming, snorkeling, diving along the cliff with plenty of coral covering. The close view is totally different from above, look shimmering, magical. Around the cliff are anemones, leaf corals and giant tube sponges.

In the video below there is a section of the Finger coral-covered cliff (103s) we recorded in Phu Quoc Half-moon Reef

* Phu Quoc Golden Toadstool Coral-covered Canyon

In Half-moon Reef, we find interesting ridges of jagged material below the surface. Toadstool coral-covered Canyons are around 5 – 6 m long and 5 – 7m deep and almost 3 m in height, completely covered by Toadstool Coral (a common soft coral in Phu Quoc). Live interspered with toadstool corals or capret corals are brain corals and finger coral on the seabed surface you will be seeing the presence of Montipora Monasteriata Corals and Brain Corals… We find that the toadstool corals in Half-moon reef in particular and whole Phu Quoc in gerneral will get bleaching seasonal, sometime toadstool coral get white completely and then few days or a week later the tentacle start to extend and change the coral into yellow.

* Phu Quoc Coral Continental Slope

The slope is at the depth of 4 – 5m, it is about 5 – 6 m long, an amazing spot to view the corals from an incredible new perspective underwater. The slope is fullly covered by plate and pillar corals, a big colony of giant tube sponge and anemone make the spot charming when looking up from below.

* Phu Quoc largest Dome-shaped Honeycomb Coral

A 5 – 6-meter-wide Honeycomb Coral discovered at the depth of 7 meter of Phu Quoc Half-moon Reef, with a height of 3 – 4 meter from the foot to the head. This honeycomb coral is the widest we have ever found in the Phu Quoc water. On top of that, the Honeycomb coral has a twin brother which is smaller in size.

* Phu Quoc Lettuce Coral garden

This is the largest lettuce coral colony we have found in Phu Quoc Island, located at the depth of 2.5 – 4m in Phu Quoc Half-moon Reef. We document the lettuce coral garden in April 2022 for the first time, corals are healthy. Growth right at the shore the the colony is easily damaged by irresponsible speedboats if they drop down the anchors on.

Check out professional snorkeling tours by OnBird: Private tour or Small-group tour (Max 6 – 8 Pax) with underwater guides to explore this beautiful coral reef of Phu Quoc Island.

In the Phu Quoc Half-moon Reef, we can also observe an uncomon soft coral in Phu Quoc is Finger Leather Coral(Sinularia or Nepthea Coral), it is usually found at the depth of more than 8 – 12 m but we found somes at the depth of around 4 – 5m.

4. Shallow Reef: the kingdom of big-sized Table Corals in Phu Quoc Island

• Coral Species (around 12 different speices of corals): Table coral, Leaf coral, Cauliflower coral, Plate coral, Mushroom coral, Toadstool coral, Pore Coral, Button coral, Brain coral, Staghorn coral, Octopus coral, Anemone…
• Depth range: 0.3 – 6m
• Type of coral reef: Fringing Reef
• Proper diving experience: Snorkeling – Try-dive (Scuba Diving)
• Coral health status: both live and dead corals, some biggest table coral colonies were damaged by anchor of speedboats recently
• Exploring time: in the summer or Rainy Season (May – October) or even November

This is truly home to Table corals acrross whole Phu Quoc Island, you dont find here a great variety of coral species with just only around 12 different coral species among that, the reef is dominated by table corals the most. Thanks to the shallow water that Table corals here have been growing into very large in size. We found here largest table coral colony of Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam with 7 – 8 m arross and 1.5 m high separated into 3 – 4 floor. Please see the photos below of the largest table coral colony ever found in Phu Quoc Island.

The largest table coral colony growths into a flower-shaped colony, with the foot located at the depth of 4 – 5m.

To explore the Phu Quoc Shallow reef, a skilful snorkeling skill is a must, as you might get stuck and damage table corals when getting closer to the shore at where the depth is only 0.3 – 0.4m. Toadstool corals located close to the shore at the depth of just 1m.

Table corals live on pore corals and stony coral species

Video of snorkeling and corals in Phu Quoc Shallow Reef

However the reef is now under serious threat by speed boats as we found the largest table coral colony aforementioned damaged 80%. Besides that we find here many “ghost nets” left by fishermen and brought here by the waves, we sometimes make clean up snorkeling trip to clean “ghost nets” in Phu Quoc but we still find them sometime.

5. Coral Steep: A coral garden in South Phu Quoc

• Coral Species (around 12 different speices of corals): Table coral, Cactus coral, Plate coral, Cauliflower coral, Mushroom coral, Pore Coral, Button coral, Brain coral, Orange Cup coral, Giant tube sponge, Starghorn coral, Flowerspot coral, Anemone…
• Depth range: 0.5 – 8 m
• Type of coral reef: Fringing Reef
• Proper diving experience: Snorkeling – Try-dive – Fundive (Scuba Diving)
• Coral health status: both live and dead corals, a large cactus coral grove was damaged by anchor of speedboats recently (updated on 15/7/2022)
• Exploring time: All year around

The terrain is gently sloping coral with a depth of 0.5 – 8m, in which coral grows strongly in the range of 0.5 – 3.5m. The main group of coral species are Porite Corals, Table corals, Cactus corals and Cauliflower corals. This is one of the fringing reefs still preserve it’s pristine beauty and easy to explore for snorkelers (snorkeling). It can be likened to a miniature coral garden, although not too diverse in coral species, corals grow densely to form a large coral carpet. Cauliflower coral here is quite special when mostly purple cauliflower coral.

At a depth of 1-1.5m, large populations of table corals with coral diameters up to 1.5m are formed. Coral grows densely in the depth of 0.5 – 3m. The snorkeling experience here is like walking in a small garden, the coral color is quite fresh, updated to July 10, 2022, the coral here is hardly affected by humans compared to other places. other coral reefs in Phu Quoc due to being surrounded by large coral reefs.

At a depth of 1-1.5m, large populations of table corals with coral diameters up to 1.5m are formed. Coral grows densely in the depth of 0.5 – 3m. The snorkeling experience here is like walking in a small garden, the coral color is quite fresh, updated to July 10, 2022, the coral here is hardly affected by humans compared to other places, other coral reefs in Phu Quoc thank to being surrounded by large massive corals.

We find here only one small anemone across whole the Coral Steep.

However: latest update on 15/7/2022 we are shocked to see a heavy damage on the cactus coral colony and cauliflower at the Coral Steep. We found the same situation at Coral Mountain at the same time. We are not sure what cause the terrible damage on the corals but it must be strong as we saw even some stony corals found in an overturned state and broken in half.

6. U-Turn: A small bay for Snorkeling and Scuba Diving in Phu Quoc Island 

• Coral Species (around 13 – 14 different speices of corals): Table coral, Leaf coral, Cauliflower coral, Plate coral, Mushroom coral, Toadstool coral, Pore Coral, Button coral, Brain coral, Giant tube sponge, Anemone…
• Depth range: 0.5 – 12 m
• Type of coral reef: Non-fringing Reef
• Proper diving experience: Snorkeling – Try-dive – Fundive (Scuba Diving)
• Coral health status: both live and dead corals, some biggest table coral colonies were damaged by anchor of speedboats recently
• Exploring time: in the Drys season (October – April)

Phu Quoc U-Turn is another good choice for people who are keen on free-diving as well as snorkeling. The coral populations here are not large and not as dense as Half-moon Reef, North-east Coral Reef. The average depth here is deeper than Half-moon Reef and North-east Coral Reef, average depth is about 4 – 6m. If you are not used to the sea then U-Turn will scare you as the reef is to drop down 12 – 13m suddenly in certain places.

For snorkeling you could do near to the shore and for scuba diving just need to descend down and get further a little bit from the shore to reach a depth of 12 m. You dont see here many anemones and finger corals like Half-moon Reef, but it is great to dive in a vast seabed right at the foot of the shore.

The photos below are a giant clam that you will be able to see when proceeding snorkeling at U-Turn and Half-moon coral reef

7. North-east Coral Reef: a Coral City in South Phu Quoc (the most beautiful coral reef in Phu Quoc – best choice in the rainy season)

• Coral Species (around 22- 23 different species of corals): Cactus Coral, Leaf coral, Table coral, Cauliflower coral, Plate coral, Mushroom coral, Plate and Pillar coral, Pillar coral, Finger coral, Toadstool coral, Pore Coral, Flowerpot coral, Orange cup coral, Button coral, Fan coral, Brain coral, Giant tube sponge, Big Yellow Rope sponge, Staghorn coral, Anemone…
• Depth range: 0.5 – 9 m – 16 m
• Type of coral reef: Non-fringing Reef
• Proper diving experience: Snorkeling – Drift Snorkeling – Scuba Diving (either Fun-dive and Try-dive) – Free-diving
• Coral health status:  Live coral reefs in proximity to the shore have been adversely affected by the anchoring of speedboats in the last few years. Some corals have been damaged or removed to supply sea-walking clubs in Phu Quoc.
• Exploring time: in the rainy season (April – October), sometimes between October – April we can still explore

Northeast Reef is a kind of coral field with a great diversification of coral species, the reef depth ranges from 1 – 16m, going further to the outer reef it could descend 16m, the coral reef develops a hundred meters along the foot of an island, at Phu Quoc Northeast Reef you could find anemone gardens at the depth of 1.5 – 5m and big table corals with a diameter of 3m…

We have found the existence of 20 coral species there. Due to the special location it is not easy to reach the coral reef as the water is usually wavy and strong current thereby we always check the water conditions to find dates and proper timeframe to explore this coral reef. Besides that this coral reef is also the best choice for snorkeling in the rainy season (summer time) in Phu Quoc island, a good place to enjoy drift snorkeling in Phu Quoc Island.

A video recorded by our guests on their snorkeling and scuba-diving trip to Phu Quoc Northeast Coral Reef

Make reference to our snorkeling trips in Phu Quoc Island for the summer and rainy season which is considered the best time to explore coral reefs in South Phu Quoc.

II. North Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam: Snorkeling and Diving Report

Not like the South of Phu Quoc Island, in the North there are less coral spots to explore. However the coral reefs in North Phu Quoc Island are less spoiled, less vulnerable than South Phu Quoc Island.

1. CORAL JUNGLE REEF: DECENT & THE HEALTHIEST CORAL REEF IN PHU QUOC

• Coral Species (around 19 – 20 different species of corals): Cactus Coral, Leaf coral, Table coral gardens, Cauliflower coral gardens, Plate coral, Mushroom coral, Plate and Pillar coral, Pillar coral, Finger coral, Toadstool coral, Pore Coral, Flowerpot coral, Orange cup coral, Button coral, Fan coral, Brain coral, Giant tube sponge, Big Yellow Rope sponge, Staghorn coral, Anemone…
• Depth range: 0.5 – 9 m – 9 m
• Coverage of coral: 80 – 82.5%
• Type of coral reef: Fringing Reef
• Proper diving experience: Snorkeling – Scuba Diving (either Fun-dive and Try-dive) – Free-diving
• Coral health status: live coral, some close shore spots are damaged by anchor of speedboats recently
• Exploring time: in the dry season (October – April), the best coral reef for diving & snorkeling in whole Vietnam during December and January

Coral Jungle is the healthiest coral reef in Phu Quoc Island with a extremely high coverage of coral up to 82.5%. If you want to immerse into the world of coral, this is the top choices in Phu Quoc, very different from coral view in Southern Phu Quoc Island coral reefs. This is the best coral reef for diving & snorkeling during December and January in Phu Quoc in terms of water conditions and biodiversity. 

Alive corals account for 99% at the Coral Jungle Reef, the reason is that there are usually strong current here which prevent most of people to reach the reefs and help to spread coral eggs easier and stronger to build the reef. Need to very high accuracy water condition tracker to find the good time to visit here. Make reference to our soft-adventure small-group discovery snorkeling trip by speedboat or a Private Snorkeling Excursion by speedboat to explore the Coral Jungle, Phu Quoc and sunset in North Phu Quoc.

2. Border Reef: An amazing reef in North Phu Quoc

3. Nudibranch Garden: A spot for macro diving

III. CORAL REEFS IN PHU QUOC ARE UNDER EXTREME THREATS

Coral Reefs in Phu Quoc are now invaded by “Sea Mats” or Button Polyps Coral in particular, Button Polyp Corals grow rapidly and will crowd out their neighbors including any sessile life, corals. Many of coral reefs in Phu Quoc now are being invaded up to 20 – 30% area.

INVASIVE CORALS ARE PUTTING PHU QUOC CORAL REEFS UNDER THREATS | FIGHTING HARMFUL CORALS