Diving Sites at Racha Islands
Racha Yai and Racha Noi are two islands directly south of Phuket. Racha Yai (Big Racha) is about 12 nautical miles from Chalong Pier, roughly 90 minutes by dive boat. Racha Noi (Small Racha) is further out at around 20 nautical miles. You will sometimes see the name spelt as Raja or Raya. Together, these two islands are Phuket’s most popular local dive destination and can be dived year-round.
Racha Yai Dive Sites
Racha Yai is the go-to location for beginner divers and PADI Open Water courses. The island is about 3.5 km long and 1.5 km wide, with most dive sites along the sheltered east coast. This is important because during the monsoon season (May to October), when winds blow from the west, the east side stays calm. During the dry season, the north bays provide shelter from east winds. This means there is always somewhere to dive regardless of the weather.
There are around six named dive sites. Siam Bay (Bay 1) to the north is the most popular, with an average depth of 12 to 18 metres. The bottom is mostly white sand with scattered hard corals. This is where most training dives happen. The marine life includes parrotfish, butterflyfish, cuttlefish, Kuhl’s stingrays and the occasional turtle. At night, Siam Bay is excellent for macro diving, with small crabs, shrimps and nudibranchs hiding in crevices and feather stars.
Between Bay 1 and Bay 2, divers can explore the Harruby wreck, a former liveaboard sunk in 2011. The bottom sits at about 20 metres with the top at 10 metres, making it accessible to all certified divers. Large schools of batfish have made the wreck their home, and barracuda, scorpionfish and bannerfish are common. About 200 metres south of the Harruby is the MV Meditation, a larger vessel sunk in 2023. It rests between 14 and 22 metres and is already attracting plenty of marine life.
Racha Noi Dive Sites
Racha Noi is uninhabited and feels wilder than its neighbour. The underwater landscape is different too. Instead of sandy bays, you get large granite boulders, deeper walls and stronger currents at some sites. Visibility is often better here, regularly exceeding 25 metres.
Banana Bay on the east side is the most popular spot, with gently sloping sand and coral bommies. The South Tip of Racha Noi is considered one of the best dive sites in the Phuket area, on a good day comparable to sites in the Similan Islands. Racha Noi is also the only local Phuket dive area where manta rays are regularly seen. Most sightings happen between November and April, but they can appear at any time of year.
Other marine life at Racha Noi includes Jenkins whip rays, stonefish, frogfish, banded sea kraits, moray eels and blue-spotted stingrays. The site is more suited to intermediate and advanced divers, though some areas like Banana Bay are fine for beginners.
How Day Trips Work
Most dive operators run day trips from Chalong Pier. A typical three-dive trip does two dives at Racha Noi in the morning, then a final dive at Racha Yai on the way back. Boats depart around 8 am and return by 5 to 5.30 pm. Breakfast and lunch are usually included. Unlike Phi Phi day trips, there is no national park fee at the Racha Islands. Hotel transfers from Patong, Karon, Kata, Rawai and Chalong are normally included in the price.
Visibility is good year-round, averaging 15 to 20 metres at Racha Yai and often better at Racha Noi. The best visibility tends to be during the rainy season from May to October, which surprises many people. The corals at Racha Yai were affected by bleaching events over the past decade but are gradually recovering.
The Racha Islands Info
Maximum depth: 25 metres (Racha Yai), 40+ metres (Racha Noi South Tip)
Difficulty level: Beginner (Racha Yai) to advanced (Racha Noi South Tip)
Visibility: 10 to 30+ metres
Wrecks: Harruby (sunk 2011), MV Meditation (sunk 2023)
Manta season: November to April (Racha Noi)
Day trip departure: Chalong Pier
