Blacktip Reef Sharks Are Thriving at Maya Bay
Maya Bay is best known as a straight out of a movie postcard (The) Beach, but its most important residents live in the water.
Surveys by Thailand's Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) show the bay's blacktip reef sharks are doing well, and the numbers are the highest the team has recorded this year.
A record count during the closure
Between 1 August and 30 September 2026, Maya Bay was closed for its annual rest. During that time, the DNP's Marine National Park Research Center 3 (Trang), working with Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, ran a month of surveys.
At dawn on 2 September, drones counted 278 adult blacktip reef sharks gathered near the beach. That is the highest figure in the center's data for the 2026 fiscal year.
The team used three methods:
- Drones: 15 flights counted sharks from above.
- Baited underwater cameras: 23 deployments identified individual sharks and recorded their behaviour.
- Water testing: 22 checks found an average sea temperature of 30.25°C and average salinity of 33.10 ppt, which the DNP says suit marine life.
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Read the DNP's own report (in Thai).
A nursery for baby sharks
The surveys also point to the bay being a nursery. Young sharks under one metre long were seen in the shallows along the beach, and the cameras recorded up to four juveniles in a single frame.
An earlier DNP survey from 1 to 7 June 2026 found 4–5 newborns under 30 cm swimming in ankle-deep water, and counted up to 102 sharks in one day.
What the numbers show
Early morning is when the most sharks are around. The September drone counts averaged about 252 sharks at dawn and 57 in the evening. In June, the dawn average was about 92, falling to around 36 at midday and in the evening.
Dawn is also the quietest time, with no tourist boats or visitors. DNP official Chinda Srisuphatphong said the annual closure reduces disturbance and lets the sharks use the bay for resting, social behaviour and possibly breeding.
The closure also serves a second purpose. The DNP notes it keeps visitors safe during the southwest monsoon, when the seas are at their roughest.
A longer recovery story
Shark numbers have been rising since the bay's first closure:
- November 2021: DNP drone footage showed roughly 100 sharks, after the bay had been closed since 2018.
- July 2025: The Shark Watch Project counted 158 sharks at once, the highest at that time.
- September 2026: 278 sharks at dawn.
These counts used different methods at different times of day and year, so they show a general direction rather than an exact trend.
Before you visit, read our guide to Phi Phi Island rules.
What this means for visitors
Maya Bay is open for visits, but the bay's rules protect the sharks that live there. Swimming is not allowed, and visitors can only wade in the shallows.
If you visit later in the day, expect to see far fewer sharks than the dawn counts suggest, and sightings are never guaranteed. Juvenile sharks sometimes come close to the beach, so keep your distance and let them swim past.
Seeing Maya Bay responsibly is part of how the recovery continues. You can visit on our Phi Phi Island and Bamboo Island tour, or explore all our Phi Phi Islands trips.
For the latest, see our Maya Bay reopening update.
Planning a visit? Our Maya Bay visitor guide covers what to expect.
Sources: DNP news report on the June 2026 survey; Thai Post (14 September 2026) on the DNP's September survey; Khaosod English (July 2025) on the Shark Watch Project survey; Thai PBS (November 2021) on the DNP drone footage.
Blacktip reef sharks at Maya Bay: frequently asked questions
How many blacktip reef sharks were counted at Maya Bay in 2026?
Drones counted 278 adult blacktip reef sharks near the beach at dawn on 2 September 2026. It is the highest figure in the research center's data for the 2026 fiscal year.
Can you swim with blacktip reef sharks at Maya Bay?
No. Swimming is not allowed at Maya Bay. Juvenile sharks sometimes come close to the beach, so visitors should keep their distance and let them swim past.
Are blacktip reef sharks dangerous?
Blacktip reef sharks at Phi Phi are typically under one metre long and are described as harmless to snorkelers. Sightings are never guaranteed, and fewer sharks are present later in the day.
