Dive Sites Around Phuket
Racha Yai Island
Not everyone spells the Thai names of the islands the same way. Racha is often spelled Rajah and Raya. When reading about local dive-sites, it helps to learn a few Thai words. Ao means beach, Ko (or Koh) means island, Hin means rock, Yai means large, and Noi means small.
Racha Yai offers some of the best local year around dive-sites but the visibility varies as to the season. On the north end of the island are two beautiful little bays famous for their deep clear water and colorful coral formations. Both of them have almost swimming pool features as they gradually drop to a depth of 12 meters/40 feet onto a sandy seabed, providing ample opportunities for both snorkeling and scuba diving. The best diving is off the east coast where the current allows a gentle drift dive along a sloping rocky face that is covered with an amazing array of hard corals and the nutrient rich water draws large schools of tropical fish.
Racha Yai offers some of the best local year around dive-sites but the visibility varies as to the season. On the north end of the island are two beautiful little bays famous for their deep clear water and colorful coral formations. Both of them have almost swimming pool features as they gradually drop to a depth of 12 meters/40 feet onto a sandy seabed, providing ample opportunities for both snorkeling and scuba diving. The best diving is off the east coast where the current allows a gentle drift dive along a sloping rocky face that is covered with an amazing array of hard corals and the nutrient rich water draws large schools of tropical fish.
Racha Noi Island
Racha Noi is the more isolated of the two islands and is a popular dive-site for more experienced divers, as the depths are generally greater and the currents frequently stronger than at its sister island to the North. You will encounter huge underwater boulders that offer a good chance to see manta rays and whale sharks. The northern tip of the island offers an opportunity for a good multilevel dive along a large pinnacle where spotting larger marine life like reef sharks and stingrays is common.
Off the southern point is a nice drift dive along some spectacular scenery as you find yourself on top of a large rock formation surrounded by deep water. Racha Noi offers many opportunities for an enjoyable and rewarding deep-dive but due to the potential for strong currents here many of the dive shops will only bring divers here who have an advanced certification.
Learn about dive sites in Phi Phi Islands.
Off the southern point is a nice drift dive along some spectacular scenery as you find yourself on top of a large rock formation surrounded by deep water. Racha Noi offers many opportunities for an enjoyable and rewarding deep-dive but due to the potential for strong currents here many of the dive shops will only bring divers here who have an advanced certification.
Learn about dive sites in Phi Phi Islands.
Map of Dive Sites
