Yes there's not much snorkelling off the beach at Railey at all....plus there are too many longtail boats there to make swimming very pleasant (or safe). I didn't think the islands around there that great either, though there is a bit of snorkelling off them. They get rather crowded with day trippers....

If you want snorkelling off the beach it's better to go further south. Depending on the season, Ko Tao (if you're going during the European summer) or the Trang islands or Ko Lipe maybe if you're going during the winter.

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“Not all those who wander are lost.” Tolkien.
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.