Hi SuRFeRGiRL ,
Me are not a snorkeling expert , but i think "paradise beach" can be wery good for snorkeling just around Patong ....or just rent a longtail boat for some ours ...
But i´m sure you soon gonna have some proposal from outher bm
in all differnet ways ....
But if you go out to Phi Phi island you should definitely take a contrated tour
around the island , i have done that before and its wery good and cheap !!
You will not be disappointed .