Maya Bay records 451 blacktip reef sharks on 3 November

Maya Bay on Ko Phi Phi Leh in Thailand recorded 451 blacktip reef sharks on 3 November 2026, giving the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation a new high for its monitoring programme. The result came from a survey that ran from 3 to 9 November and was reported on 13 November.

Blacktip reef shark survey sets a new record

The count is the highest recorded since monitoring began in 2023. A research team from the Marine National Park Study and Research Centre 3 in Trang worked with students from the Faculty of Natural Resources at Prince of Songkla University.

The team used drones, underwater cameras and seawater tests during the seven-day survey. Sharks were most active in the early morning, when the average count was nearly 329. Both adult and young blacktip reef sharks were seen in shallow water. The government report on the survey says the findings will support continued research and the balance between biodiversity protection and ecotourism.

Maya Bay links marine recovery with visitor controls

The survey places a measurable wildlife result alongside the management changes that have shaped visits to the bay. The public report links the shark count with area closures for ecological recovery and strict tourism management, while asking visitors to avoid disturbing marine life.

Maya Bay lies in Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park in Krabi province. It is on the uninhabited island of Phi Phi Leh, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand describes the site as a former visitor destination affected by coral and marine-life damage from heavy tourism. Its reopening and access background records a new jetty at Loh Samah Bay on the opposite side of the island.

That arrangement matters to the November result because the survey concerns a protected marine site rather than an unrestricted beach. The same TAT account says visitor numbers are controlled and that boats use the Loh Samah side, keeping the main bay connected to a managed national-park system.

What the November findings mean for the bay

The 451-shark count does not turn the animals into a visitor attraction or guarantee that they will be visible on a particular trip. It does show why the bay remains relevant to conservation planning: the survey recorded adults and young animals in different parts of the shallow water.

The research also gives park managers information beyond a single number. Drone observations provide counts, underwater cameras record behaviour, and seawater tests describe the conditions in which the sharks were found. Officials have instructed the national parks department to continue monitoring the population.

Visiting Maya Bay: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The survey took place at Maya Bay on Ko Phi Phi Leh from 3 to 9 November 2026, with the peak count recorded on 3 November 2026.
• The findings concern a protected national-park site with controlled tourism management; a shark sighting is not guaranteed during a visit.
• The TAT access plan identifies Loh Samah Bay, on the opposite side of Phi Phi Leh, as the jetty used for visits to Maya Bay.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Maya Bay

When was the blacktip reef shark record set at Maya Bay?

The peak count of 451 sharks was recorded on 3 November 2026 during a survey that ran from 3 to 9 November 2026.

What is Maya Bay?

Maya Bay is a protected marine site on Phi Phi Leh in Krabi province, within Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park.

Where is Maya Bay and how do you get there?

Maya Bay is on Phi Phi Leh in Thailand. The Tourism Authority of Thailand identifies Loh Samah Bay on the opposite side of the island as the access point for boats.