The Marina Bay is located along the middle of the west coast of Racha Noi. Currents usually change from moderate to strong with good visibility of around 15-30 meters. The dive site is home to large submerged granite rocks that are shielded with a mixture of sea whips, fire coral, and rocky boulders at depths of around 21-23metres. 

About twenty meters away is a large single pinnacle that runs from high on the hillside into the water below and beyond. It is worth exploring with some fine little swim-throughs. There are several coral bommies to explore there as well.

Further south from Marita’s Rock is a unique little wooden fishing to see. With time, it has been inhabited with tons of small fish and seaweed. An instructor will guide you along so that you can be careful if the currents are strong. 

Marine Life in Racha Noi Marina Bay Site:

It is common to spot reef fish such as parrotfish, snapper, angelfish, butterflyfish, and neon fusiliers. In the sandy bottom of the bay, you may also sight some blue-spotted stingrays and scissortail gobies soaring in pairs. If you observe the rocks closely you may discover nudibranchs and pipefish. In the deeper part, you might also have a surprise encounter with a Manta Ray.

Dive Sites: Bungalow Bay, Siam Bay, Home Run Reef, Bay 1,2,3,4,5

While this is one of the best spots for all year-long diving, the visibility can vary in some seasons. On the northern end are two bays by the name of Homerun Bay and Siam Bay and they are famous for clear waters and vibrant coral formations.

Both of them have a gradual topography with a calm tilt of 20-25 meters 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 is gentle and shows off sloping a rocky face that is covered with an amazing array of hard corals. The nutrient-rich water draws large schools of tropical fish that you can sight along the way.

• Visibility 15-25M
• Difficulty : Easy
• Current : Moderate
• Dive Level Recommendation : All Levels

Ko Racha Yai is also the favored scuba dive site to conduct the Open Water course and Discover / Try Diving program. It is also great for just having a time of your life in rich blue waters with friends and family.

On the eastern coast, you find great scuba diving conditions even during the rains. The visibility here is pretty good with an average of 15-20 meters all year where you get to see coral reefs and sandy bottoms of white sands. The currents are mild to intermediate which makes it an excellent spot for beginners all around. You can also sight some deep reefs and wrecks during the dive. 

Marine life in Racha Yai: 

Reef fish such as parrotfish, snapper, grouper, angelfish, butterflyfish, and basslets are common. Divers may get to see trumpetfish swimming by the side of groupers. Advanced divers can enjoy wreck diving at 25m where they can spot giant morays and batfishes.

• Visibility 10-25M
• Difficulty : Intermediate
• Current : Moderate
• Dive Level Recommendation : All Levels

Ko Bida Nok is a hub for finding diverse geological formations and remarkable underwater topography, with steep, precipices, underwater caves and crevices. It never fails to impress tourists and geology enthusiasts.

There is a small underwater bay at the southern side of the island made up of reef slope and rocky floor. It starts at 6 to 8 meters (26 feet) and ends in a sandy bottom at 20 meters (66 feet). Divers enjoy a vertical swim at the southwest side of the island, which is stunningly illuminated by surface light.

Divers particularly interested in underwater topography also like to swim through a narrow cave on the northern side of the island. The cave’s entrance is at 20 meters (66 feet) and the wall is covered with colorful soft corals and gorgonians.

Outcrops of various sizes are scattered along the west coast, sloping down to depths of 26-30 meters (100 feet), while the east coast is a reef slope with a mixture of hard and soft corals and small outcrops.

Marine life in Ko Bida Nok:

You may be able to spot leopard and blacktip reef sharks sometimes along the reef line. Kuhl’s stingrays are common in the area and you can also look out for small bamboo sharks hiding in the cracks.

Die to the blue beyond the reef you may also be able to spot schools of pick handle barracuda. Along the reef, you will find also a large variety of colorful reef fish, such as pufferfish, porcupine fish, and lionfish. Macro lovers should also keep a sharp lookout for ornate ghost pipefish, seahorses, and nudibranchs.

To this day the mystery and allure that a wreck portrays can’t be found anywhere else. The same is true for the King Cruiser Wreck site that hosts a popular site to explore and discover. Stretching to around 25 meters, with multiple decks and spacious open areas the wreck is home to many species of fish and crabs. It is close to Shark Point which is one of the reason why the site is full of marine life. With time it is hoped that as the wreck gets older, it will attract even more fish to live in. All in all, the site is one of the most popular with divers of all classes because of so much to see and experience

At about 32 meters depth you will be able to see some large lionfish roaming around the area but they are not that easy to spot. This is because they disguise so well against the rusting steel and corals. The wreck is also full of scorpionfish and the location is popular with macro sighters and photographers.

There are also many nudibranchs and crabs, which live around the small crevices. You come across different kinds of eels including the honeycomb moray eel. Particularly in low currents, the boat can be virtually hidden by huge shoals of reef fish like rabbitfish, surgeonfish, and fusiliers. Bigger hunting fish like trevally, snappers, mackerel, and yellowtail barracuda are also just around the corner to sight. 

• Visibility 5-20M
• Difficulty : Advanced
• Current : Moderate to Strong
• Dive Level Recommendation : Advanced ++