In my previous post, I introduced how diving works in Phuket.
Today, let me take you on a diving day trip to one of the most popular destinations—Racha Island!
Racha Islands are located south of Phuket and are made up of two islands: Racha Yai and Racha Noi.
Racha Yai is the closer one to Chalong Pier, while Racha Noi lies farther south.
In Thai, racha means “emperor,” yai means “big,” and noi means “small”—so they’re known as the Big and Small Emperor Islands.
1. Diving Route
(1) Racha Noi Island + Racha Yai Island
Depending on the boat schedule, you might visit either Racha Noi or Racha Yai first.
From Chalong Pier, it takes about 2 hour to reach Racha Noi,
and about 1 hour 20mins to reach Racha Yai.
(2) Racha Yai Island Only
Some trips only go to Racha Yai, depending on the day’s schedule.
2. Features of Racha Island diving
Racha is a sloping island where the seafloor gently deepens as you move away from shore.
The shallow waters are sandy, while coral and rocks become more common in deeper areas. Both Racha Noi and Racha Yai generally offer great visibility—especially on the east side—though the west can sometimes be slightly less clear. You’ll find vibrant coral reefs and a wide variety of marine life.
Dive sites are selected daily based on wind and wave conditions, and are usually located in sheltered areas for a calm, safe dive. Thanks to moderate currents and excellent visibility, Racha is a comfortable place to dive. It’s ideal for both scuba diving students and fun divers. You can start in shallow water, which helps beginners feel more relaxed, and it’s also a great location to check your buoyancy and gear on your first day out.
If I had to describe Racha diving in one word, it would be: peaceful.
In these calm waters, you might meet amazing creatures like hidden octopuses, nudibranchs, tiny damselfish, glassfish, barracudas—and even the occasional leopard shark or manta ray! As I write this, I can’t help but feel: it’s truly a perfect place to dive.
So why not come with the mindset:
“Phuket is the kind of place where I just might see it all if I’m lucky!” 😊
3. Racha Noi
Racha Noi is a surprisingly long island!
From Phuket, it might look small because only the northern part is visible—but don’t be fooled. It stretches far south and is much bigger than it first appears. 😊
(1) Banana Bay
Banana Bay is one of the most iconic dive sites around Racha Noi.
It’s well known for its crystal-clear visibility, even better than Racha Yai in most conditions.
This spot offers great views all year round and a peaceful underwater scene.
The terrain here is similar to the rest of Racha’s dive sites, with soft sand and clusters of coral, home to adorable damselfish and shimmering schools of glassfish.
(2) Racha Noi Bay
Racha Noi Bay has a small island in the middle, connected by a sandy underwater path.
It’s absolutely beautiful—you can clearly see the shallow white-sand bottom and how the path stretches out between rocks. A perfect place to enjoy the unique seascape.
(3) South Tip
This site is for experienced divers only!
South Tip is famous for having the highest chance of manta ray encounters in Phuket.
To the south of the island lies a pinnacle—a small underwater peak—covered in soft and fan corals.
Because of the depth and strong currents, beginners aren’t allowed to dive here.
There are even occasional downward currents, so even advanced divers need to pay close attention to safety.
(4) Marina Bay
Located on the west side of Racha Noi, Marina Bay is a go-to when the east is too wavy or rough.
You’ll find huge rocks scattered underwater, starting from shallow depths and stretching into sandy flat bottoms from around 15 meters deep.
Beautiful fan corals and swim-throughs between the rocks make for an exciting dive!
4. Racha Yai
Racha Yai is the main destination for most boat tours heading to Racha Island from Phuket.
Many boats—diving boats, snorkeling tours, and even private yachts—visit Racha Yai daily.
Even though it’s an island, the internet is excellent thanks to the resorts on the island 😄
(1) Bay 1 (and Bays 2, 3, 4, 5)
Bay 1 is the most popular diving spot—nearly all dive boats go here first.
Along the east coast, you’ll find a series of bays named Bay 1 through Bay 5. Some boats start from Bay 1, others from Bay 3, depending on the plan.
The underwater terrain in Bays 1–5 is quite similar: shallow coral reefs, rocks, and gradually deepening sandy bottom.
There’s also a square-shaped artificial reef cube underwater, placed there to attract marine life.
When I first moved to Phuket, Bay 1 was pretty plain—just sand and not much else.
Now, thanks to the artificial reef, it has become a lively dive site filled with marine creatures.
In Bay 1, you can spot dragon moray eels and even schools of barracuda swimming around the reef!
The most exciting part of Bay 1 is the shipwreck!
An old fishing boat was deliberately sunk here to create a wreck diving site for certified divers.
Unfortunately, the depth here is around 20 meters, so it’s too deep for Discover Scuba Diving.
But if you’re a certified diver, it’s a great spot for wreck diving—definitely worth checking out!
If you’re planning to try Discover Scuba Diving, don’t worry—just get certified and come back later. This site will still be waiting for you 😊
Another fun feature of Bay 1 is the underwater motorcycle photo zone!
Yes, really—a real scooter was placed on the sea floor by a resort, just for divers to take pictures. It first appeared around 2015, and I remember laughing when I saw it for the first time!
The motorcycle sits at a depth of about 8–9 meters, which means even Discover Scuba Diving participants can enjoy taking photos with it.
It’s a unique and fun memory that divers love!
(2) Home Run Reef
Located on the north side of Bay 1, Home Run Reef is a popular pick-up dive spot.
Since it’s shallower and rockier than Racha Yai’s typical sites, it actually feels more like Racha Noi.
It’s an exciting spot where you can often see octopuses hiding in crevices, turtles resting on rocks, and sometimes even large schools of two-spot snappers swimming by.
A great place for underwater photographers!
(3) Bungalow Bay
If you check the map, you’ll see Bungalow Bay is located deep inside the island.
That means no matter how big the waves are outside, the bay stays calm—a great choice when the weather isn’t ideal.
Visibility here isn’t always perfect, but it’s still a comfortable dive site with no waves.
There are also various artificial reefs in fun shapes, and you might even spot a turtle or two!
(4) Siam Bay
Siam Bay features white sandy bottoms and a gentle slope.
At the usual diving depth of 11 to 15 meters, you’ll find a beautiful coral field with plenty of staghorn corals.
Go just a bit deeper and you’ll see an underwater statue garden!
There are several sculptures down there—including a stone elephant—making this site extra special and a favorite among divers.
5. Day trip schedule
Points may change depending on the weather.
(1) 2 Fun Dives at Racha Yai
07:30 Hotel pick-up (exact time may vary depending on your location)
08:30 Meet the instructor at the pier, board the boat, and enjoy breakfast onboard
10:30 First dive (Racha Yai)
11:30–12:30 Lunch and fruit served on the boat
12:30 Second dive (Racha Yai)
15:00–15:30 Return to the pier and hotel transfer
(2) 3 Fun Dives – Racha Noi & Racha Yai
07:30 Hotel pick-up (pick-up time may vary depending on region)
08:30 Meet at the pier, board the boat, and enjoy breakfast onboard
11:00 First dive (Racha Noi)
12:00–13:00 Lunch on board
13:00 Second dive (Racha Noi)
14:00–15:00 Fruit and snacks provided
15:00–16:00 Third dive (Racha Yai)
16:00–17:00 Light snack service
17:00–17:30 Return to the pier and hotel transfer
6. The Diving Boat
subject to change depending on schedule
We usually use one of these two large daytrip boats for fun diving trips in Phuket.
The boat may vary depending on the day and the number of divers, but both are comfortable and well-equipped for a full day of diving!
🗺️ Dive Sites around Racha Island
Racha Island offers a great variety of dive sites with different underwater landscapes and marine life.
Whether you’re visiting Racha Noi or Racha Yai, there are dive points for all levels of divers.
We choose the dive site each day based on:
Weather and sea conditions
Water current and visibility
Diver certification level and experience
👉 For more information on our daily fun diving trips, check our Fun Diving page 😊
💬 Ready to dive in?
Now that you know how the scuba diving system in Phuket works, you can plan your trip with more confidence!
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced diver, Phuket offers something for everyone—from stable, comfortable boats to beautiful underwater scenery.
📱 Message us on WhatsApp — we’re happy to answer your questions anytime!
✉️ Prefer email? You can Use our contact form below
We’ll help you make the most of your diving adventure in Phuket! 😊
