Racha Yai Island Scuba Diving
3 Dives at 5500 THB All Inclusive
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 Homerun Bay and Siam Bay 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 20-25 metres onto a sandy seabed, providing many opportunities for both snorkeling and scuba diving. The best diving is off the east coast at Bay 1 to 5. 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. Around Racha Yai, some large rays have been seen. Leopard sharks and just recently Blacktip reef sharks have made an appearance again.
- Visibility 15-25M
- Difficulty : Easy
- Current : Moderate
- Dive Level Recommendation : All Levels
Ko Racha Yai is also the preferred scuba dive site to conduct the PADI Open Water course and learn how to dive, or just taste the diving adventure with the PADI Discover Scuba Diving program.
Racha Yai’s east coast has a bay that is fine for scuba diving even during the rainy-season. Visibility can be as good as 30m – average 15-20m all year round. Consisting mostly of hard coral reef slope and flat bottom covered with white sand, the dive site is sheltered inside the bay’s and is thus free from strong currents. This combination makes Racha Yai Island an ideal place for beginners and infrequent scuba divers. There are also deep reefs, and wrecks which are suitable for more experienced scuba divers.
BUNGALOW BAY DIVE SITE :
Bungalow Bay is situated on the western side of Racha Yai Island. It is a popular dive site during the high season when it gives protection from the easterly weather. The bay is rather long and narrow and is divided into the north side and south side. The south side has more large boulders. Depth is 5 to 22 meters, with little to no current. There is a nice white sandbottom, which makes it a perfect training site. Look for Kuhl’s stingrays, flounder, octopus, and cuttlefish here lurking in the sand. The area has a diverse range of common reef fish such as snappers, goatfish, barracuda, lionfish, scorpion fish, and surgeonfish. If you like small stuff this site will certainly keep you entertained. There are ornate and seagrass ghost pipefish and some fantastic nudibranchs that do not seem to appear anywhere else in the region.
MARINE LIFE :
Reef fish such as parrot fish, snapper, grouper, angelfish, butterfly fish and basslets are common. At the shallow waters the unusual shrimpfish are sometimes found in schools. Divers may also find some of the rarer creatures such as leaf fish, razor fish and ghost pipefish and whale sharks. Beginners will enjoy with sea turtles and giant morays.
SIAM BAY DIVE SITE :
The Siam bay lies near the northern tip of Racha Yai. The bay consists of scattered hard coral patches along the sandy bottom at depths from 12 to 18 meters. In the center of the bay at 18 metres, marked by a mooring line, they sunk 2 elephant statues and a big temple gate guarded by a mythical giant sentry, known in Thai as Yak, who is believed to protect the gate from evil spirits. Butterfly fish, triggerfish, parrotfish, and barracuda are common to these waters. Hiding in the sand, blue spotted stingray and peacock flounders come along. For the eagle eyed divers, have a look for stonefish. Octopus and cuttlefish also make an appearance here.
Siam bay is popular all year round as it offers protection from both the easterly and westerly winds. Currents are generally mild to make this an easy dive, although you can encounter stronger flow if you go beyond the cape.
MARINE LIFE :
Parrotfish, butterflyfish and basslets are common. Cuttlefish and Kuhl’s stingrays are often found at the sandy bottom. At night, Siam bay is a heaven for macro lovers. Small crabs and shrimps can often be found on top of corals, in crevices and inside feather stars.
HOME RUN REEF DIVE SITE :
This popular reef runs along the east side of the northern tip of Racha Yai at 5 metres and slopes down to 20 metres where it becomes a sandy bottom. Most of the features are found at a depth of 10 to 20 meters. Currents can be strong in the north-south direction. The diving here is generally drift diving so it allows a diver relax full viewing of all the splendors that this site has to offer.
Homerun Reef is made up of mostly hard corals including staghorn, branch and pore coral. The site has some lovely schools of snappers and goatfish including the two spot snapper and yellow snapper. Trumpetfish and cornetfish are also popular.
There is a small wooden shipwreck near the southern end of the reef on a sandy bottom at a depth of 24 meters on the northeastern coast of the island. It is not well marked and can easily be missed. Not much grows on the wreck yet, but it attracts large amounts of reef fish, and batfish in large schools are common. Look out for some large rays.
MARINE LIFE :
Reef fish such as parrotfish, butterflyfish and basslets are common. Comet fishes are sometimes found hiding in cavities or in the space between branches of staghorn coral. Trumpet and cornet fish often camouflage themselves and stay close to the staghorn coral. Great Barracuda are also common sightings here. Look carefully under the rock and you can spot reef octopus and sea snakes.
RACHA YAI BAY 1 & 2 a.k.a Staghorn Reef
Situated on the northeast area of Racha Yai Bay 1 & 2 are probably the most popular in the region for both divers and snorkelers. With a sandy floor that gently slopes from only 5 to around 25 metres, a nice selection of reef fish situated in the shallows and good visibility. There is a good range of moray eels, fimbriated morays and of course, the giant moray eels are there as well. Blue Spotted rays and Peacock Flounder are around as well at the sandy bottom as some nice schools of barracuda. Turtles are frequently seen too, so are cuttlefish and large reef octopus. In the right season, Manta rays have been known to pass by and have a look at the divers as well.
There are four wrecks situated in these two bays and enough marine life that will keep most divers happy.
MARINE LIFE
Reef fish such as parrot fish, snapper, grouper, angelfish, butterfly fish and basslets are common. Divers may get to see trumpet fish swimming by the side of groupers. Advanced divers can enjoy with wreck diving at 25m where they can spot giant morays and batfishes.
RACHA YAI BAY 3 a.k.a Lucy’s Reef
Another very popular dive site for all the same reasons as Bays 1 and 2. At around 20 metres, there are stacks of concrete cubes that form an artificial reef. The reef is a popular home for batfish, Moray eels, lionfish, and a great selection of common reef fish. Head south and you will enter Lucy’s Reef, which consists of hard corals. The further south you dive the site change into rock formations. Occasional eagle rays have been spotted there. Bay 3 is a nice dive site that will throw up enough good stuff to keep all avid underwater photographers happy.
MARINE LIFE
Reef fish such as parrot fish, snapper, grouper, angelfish, butterfly fish and basslets are common. Divers may get to see trumpet fish swimming by the side of groupers. Advanced divers can enjoy with wreck diving at 25m where they can spot giant morays and batfishes.
RACHA YAI BAY 4 & 5
Situated at the most southeast end of Racha Yai. Both bays have shallow water to begin the dive however both have rock formations that drop away to about 30 metres and beyond. There are not commonly dived although visibility is often better here as well due to the rocks, depth, and lack of general activity on the sites. Manta rays and Eagle rays have been spotted in these waters.
MARINE LIFE
The usual reef fish such as parrot fish, snapper, grouper, angelfish, butterfly are common. A rare thornback boxfish, as well as an impressive seamoth, have been spotted at the sandy bottom. Away from the reef, schools of yellowtail barracuda are often seen around. Big eyed trevally are also found in big school near the reef. Close to the reef in shallow water sometimes divers can observe reef sharks.
What to Expect on your Dive with us at Racha Islands
Sirolodive is aimed at providing you with the best experience of scuba diving in Phuket. We are able to tailor all requirements to fit and suit you exactly how you would require them to be.
Our team would pick you up from your hotel at 7:15am and drop you at our Boat at Chalong Pier. We would also be dropping you off at your hotel once we have returned back from your diving trip.
You can enjoy a very good breakfast buffet on board and we serve you with snacks and drinks throughout. Lunch buffet is also served with all dietary requests taken into account. If you wish to order a Vegetarian meal please contact Sirolodive’s staff when you board.
You will be briefed by your instructor regarding the use of all diving equipments, dive sites, what you can expect from each dive location and all safety related matters.
What’s not included:
- Underwater photos and video may be possible from dive staff on the boat as an optional extra, usually 1,000 THB per day
- Pickup/Dropoff additional charges will apply for locations from Surin onwards to Maikhao beach or the North of Phuket