Phu Quoc Speedboat Pro Snorkeling: 4 Islands-2 Reefs & Meal

Quick boats, quiet reefs, proper guidance. OnBird’s Phu Quoc trip combines small-group snorkeling with four island stops, two selected coral reefs, and a sunset meal. I like the careful planning around sea conditions, and I like that instructors stay with you in the water rather than simply pointing from the boat. The main consideration is that weather and group numbers can affect the plan, including the included meal.

The $61 price is fair for Phu Quoc if you value good equipment, hotel transport in covered areas, a speedboat, professional water support, fruit and juice, and dinner. You should also prepare properly: eat before departure, take seasickness medicine at least 30 minutes ahead, and bring a dry change of clothes.

Key points at a glance

• Two selected coral reefs: Expect about 1.5 to 1.8 hours of total snorkeling at less crowded southern Phu Quoc sites.
• Small group, capped at 10 in the detailed tour plan: Fewer people make safety instructions and in-water support easier to manage.
• Scientific Snorkeling approach: OnBird uses water conditions, weather, and lighting to choose the better morning or afternoon time.
• Five-stop route: The day includes a calm practice beach, two reef visits, a relaxing island beach, and a sea-view restaurant.
• Strong equipment and instruction: Sanitized masks, soft-mouthpiece snorkels, open-heeled fins, flotation aids, and underwater instructors are included.
• Dinner with an ocean-friendly reason: The meal is served on the main island, not a small reef islet, to keep food waste away from coral areas.

Why this Phu Quoc tour feels different

Many island trips treat snorkeling as one quick stop between beach visits. This outing gives it more weight. The two reef sessions together last around 1.5 to 1.8 hours, and the crew provides a safety briefing, equipment help, coral information, and support in the water.

The company calls its method Scientific Snorkeling. The useful idea is simple: sea conditions and sunlight change during the day, so the best departure time is not always fixed. OnBird uses its own forecasts to decide whether a morning or afternoon outing should provide the better conditions.

That approach matters in Phu Quoc. Clear water is not guaranteed at every hour, and a good snorkeling trip depends on visibility, wind, waves, and light. You are not promised perfect water, but the planning aims to avoid choosing a reef simply because it appears on a standard schedule.

The route also aims to avoid the busiest island-hopping pattern. You will still be visiting popular southern Phu Quoc waters, but the focus is on selected reefs and a manageable group rather than a large boat unloading everyone at once.

A small boat with a useful group limit

The detailed information gives a maximum of 10 people on the open speedboat, while the general overview refers to a maximum of 12. I would confirm the exact cap when booking, but the specific tour details repeatedly describe a 10-person group.

That size is one of the trip’s best features. Three instructors can give clearer help when fewer people are in the water. It is also easier to ask for help with a mask, fins, flotation device, or swimming confidence without waiting behind a large crowd.

The speedboat is open, so you will feel the wind and sea spray. That is part of the fun, but it is not a sheltered cruise. Eat before departure, take seasickness tablets at least 30 minutes beforehand if you need them, and keep towels and dry clothes in a protected bag.

Hotel pickup and drop-off in air-conditioned vehicles are free for hotels along Duong Dong Center and certain specified areas. Transfers outside the included zone cost extra: 250,000 VND per group from Ong Lang, 350,000 VND from Cua Can, 450,000 VND from Vinpearl, and 500,000 VND from Ganh Dau.

Stop one: calm water and a proper start

The first stop is not the main snorkeling event. It is a calm beach used for safety instructions, coral information, equipment fitting, and a short period to get comfortable in the water.

I appreciate this pause. You do not have to jump straight from a moving speedboat into open water while trying to adjust a mask or learn how the fins feel. The crew can check your equipment and explain how to avoid touching marine life or damaging coral with your fins.

This stop should suit beginners especially well. The trip is not only for confident swimmers, since flotation support devices and in-water instructors are provided. Still, you need to be comfortable taking part in a boat-based water activity, and the tour is not suitable for children under five, wheelchair users, or people with certain heart or respiratory conditions.

Bring your swimsuit already under your clothes. The boat heads toward water activities quickly, so changing beforehand saves time and avoids an awkward scramble on board.

Stops two and three: two reefs with instructor support

The second and third stops are the heart of the outing. You visit two selected coral reefs around the small southern islets, with the exact timing chosen around sea and light conditions.

The total snorkeling time is approximately 1.5 to 1.8 hours. That is enough time to look for different coral shapes and fish without making the entire day one long session in the water. The reefs are described as selected and less crowded, but conditions can still vary from one date to another.

The instructors remain involved during this part. They explain what you are seeing, help with safety, and support less confident swimmers. Colin and Edward are specifically praised for their guidance, while the wider crew is noted for being attentive, careful, and fun.

The equipment is another strong point. You receive a sanitized diving mask with anti-fog treatment, a soft-mouthpiece snorkel, open-heeled fins, and flotation support. Prescription masks are available, which is a useful detail if ordinary lenses leave you struggling to see underwater.

The rules are straightforward and worth following. Do not touch coral or marine life, do not feed fish, and control your fins near the reef. Use ocean-friendly sunscreen and avoid chemical sunscreen containing oxybenzone, benzydilene, and octinoxate, which the operator identifies as harmful to coral.

Long-sleeved swimwear is recommended. It helps protect you from the sun and reduces the need for sunscreen while you are in the water. A rash vest may also be useful, although availability and any rental arrangement should be checked before departure.

One honest point: an open speedboat and changing sea conditions can mean some wave movement. Good instruction helps, but it does not remove the possibility of seasickness. If you know you are sensitive, preparation is more important than usual.

Stop four: beach time after the reefs

After snorkeling, the boat heads to a beautiful island beach for sunbathing and a slower break. Beach chairs give you somewhere to rest, and fruit and juice are provided.

This stop gives the afternoon a sensible rhythm. You have time to dry off, sit in the shade or sun, and let your body recover before the meal. It also means you are not rushed from one water session straight into dinner.

The beach is a relaxation stop rather than another major snorkeling site. If you want constant activity, this may feel like downtime. If you want a break after fins, salt water, and sun, it is exactly the right pause.

Fresh water is limited on the small islet. If you want to rinse off after snorkeling, the beach bar charges 30,000 VND. Pack a towel and dry clothing, and do not assume you will have a full freshwater shower included.

Stop five: sunset dinner on the main island

The final stop is dinner at a sea-view restaurant on the main island. On an afternoon departure, this is intended to coincide with sunset, making a relaxed finish after the boat and reef sessions.

Serving the meal on the main island is a thoughtful environmental choice. Small reef islets have limited facilities, and grease or food scraps can harm the surrounding water and coral. Moving dinner to a proper restaurant keeps the reef stops focused on snorkeling rather than food service.

The meal is included, and you should tell the operator about allergies or dietary restrictions in advance. The package is designed around a sunset dinner, but plans can change if too few people take up the meal option. One past change involved replacing the meal with a rash vest rental, a photo package, and free out-of-area pickup.

That kind of substitution may be useful, but it is not the same as choosing a refund. If dinner is important to you, confirm that part of the arrangement before departure. It is the one notable uncertainty in an otherwise clearly planned experience.

What the $61 price really covers

At $61 per person, this is not the cheapest way to reach Phu Quoc’s southern islands. You are paying more than just for boat transport and a few hours at the beach.

The price includes an open speedboat, a maximum group stated as 10 in the detailed tour information, hotel transfers in covered areas, professional in-water instructors, equipment, flotation aids, cold water, fruit, juice, and dinner. The equipment and staffing are particularly important for beginners or anyone who dislikes the usual grab-a-mask-and-follow-the-crowd arrangement.

The environmental briefing also has practical value. You are told how to avoid touching coral, feeding fish, or scraping the reef with your fins. A healthy reef depends on many small choices, and the crew treats those rules as part of the experience rather than an afterthought.

Extra costs are clear. Transfers outside the included area are charged by group, and holiday dates add 150,000 VND per person on December 24 and 25, December 31, January 1, September 1 and 2, and April 30 to May 1.

For a first-time snorkeler, a family with older children, or anyone who wants staff nearby in the water, I think the price is sensible. Strong swimmers who already own equipment and only want a cheap boat ride may find better value elsewhere.

Safety and comfort details you should take seriously

The safety system is one of the most praised parts of the trip. The company uses internal forecasts for water conditions and can select a different time frame based on the day’s sea and light. The briefings cover equipment, water behavior, coral protection, and what you are likely to see.

The tour is not suitable for people over 70, people over 130 kilograms, children under five, wheelchair users, or people with heart or respiratory problems. Children aged 10 or older who are over 155 centimeters tall pay the adult price.

You should bring:

• A swimsuit worn under your clothes
• A towel and dry clothing
• Seasickness medicine if needed
• Sun protection that does not contain the listed coral-harming chemicals
• Information about any food allergy or dietary restriction

Smoking, alcohol, and drugs are not allowed. The no-touch rule applies to all marine life, not only coral.

Who should book this experience?

I would choose this trip if you want more help than a basic island boat provides. It suits beginners, cautious swimmers, families with older children, and anyone who values clean equipment and calm explanations.

It also works well for experienced snorkelers who care about reef protection and prefer a small group. The two reef visits give you meaningful time in the water, while the beach stop and dinner prevent the outing from becoming tiring.

I would hesitate if you need guaranteed meal arrangements, dislike open-boat rides, or want a fully accessible activity. I would also think twice if your main goal is simply the lowest possible price.

The tour is offered in English and Vietnamese. You can reserve now and pay later, and cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. A holiday surcharge applies on the listed dates.

Should you book OnBird’s Phu Quoc speedboat tour?

Yes, if you want a carefully supervised snorkeling day rather than a crowded boat transfer with a mask thrown into your hands. The best reasons to book are the small group, two reef sessions, capable in-water instruction, good equipment, and clear coral protection rules.

The main cautions are the open speedboat, possible sea movement, extra transfer fees, and the need to confirm the dinner arrangement if that meal matters to you. For $61, the package offers good value when you use the included transport, equipment, instructors, beach refreshments, and dinner.

FAQ

How long is the snorkeling portion of the tour?

The two reef stops provide approximately 1.5 to 1.8 hours of total snorkeling time.

How many people are on the speedboat?

The detailed tour information states a maximum of 10 people, although the general overview refers to a maximum of 12. Confirm the exact group limit when booking.

Is hotel pickup included?

Free pickup and drop-off are available for hotels along Duong Dong Center and certain specified areas. Transfers from Ong Lang, Cua Can, Vinpearl, and Ganh Dau require additional group fees.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. The package includes sanitized masks with anti-fog treatment, soft-mouthpiece snorkels, open-heeled fins, and flotation support devices. Prescription masks are available.

Is dinner included?

Yes. Dinner at a sea-view restaurant on the main island is included, normally as part of the afternoon tour. Tell the operator about allergies or dietary restrictions in advance.

Who should not join this activity?

The tour is not suitable for children under five, wheelchair users, people with heart or respiratory problems, people over 130 kilograms, or people over 70 years old. Smoking, alcohol, drugs, and touching marine life are not allowed.