Racha Yai Island Scuba Diving
3 Dives at 4200 THB All Inclusive
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.
The Bungalow Bay Dive Site:
Located on the western side of Racha Yai, this is a famous site, especially during the high season. With a rather oblong topography, the bay is partitioned into the north and south side. The southern side caters to more boulders and is around 5 to 22 meters deep. There is no current you need to worry about and has a nice light-colored sandy bottom which makes it a perfect training location.
Marine life in Bungalow Bay Dive:
You can spot some Kuhl’s stingrays, flounder, parrotfish, snapper, grouper, angelfish, butterflyfish, and basslets are a common octopus, and cuttlefish easily in the bay hiding in the sand. The area has a varied range of common reef fish such as snappers, goatfish, barracuda, lionfish, scorpionfish, and surgeonfish. If you are into little organisms 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.
In the shallow waters, the rare shrimpfish are sometimes found in schools. Divers may also find some of the occasional creatures such as leaf fish, razorfish and ghost pipefish, and whale sharks. Beginners will enjoy sighting sea turtles and giant morays.
SIAM BAY DIVE SITE :
Located near the northern side of Racha Yai, the bay is full of scattered patches of hard coral in the depths of 12 to 18 meters. Right in the center is the morning line where there are 2 elephant statues and a majestic sunken temple gate. The legend says that it is protected by a mythical giant sentry, known in Thai as Yak. Who is believed to protect the gate from evil spirits and all those that intend harm.
The bay is famous all year long because it offers defense against both the eastern and western winds. It’s also an easy dive with mild currents and you will only encounter the stronger ones if you go beyond the cape.
Marine life in Siam Bay Dive:
Butterflyfish, triggerfish, parrotfish, basslets, and barracuda are common in these waters. Hiding in the sand, blue-spotted stingray and peacock flounder come along. For the eagle-eyed divers, have a look for stonefish. Octopus and cuttlefish also make an appearance here and 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 :
A popular diving site, it is located near the northern tip of Racha Yai and slopes down to about 20 meters. You can find most of the features at about these depths. The current is usually strong so the diving here is mostly to drift along and enjoy views that the site offers.
Marine life in the Home Run Reef:
The site houses many beautiful schools of snappers and goatfish including the two spot snapper and yellow snapper. Trumpetfish and cornetfish are also popular. Reef fish such as parrotfish, butterflyfish, and basslets are common.
Comet fishes are sometimes found lurking in cavities or the space between branches of staghorn coral. Trumpet and cornetfish often disguise 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
This bay is situated on the northeastern side of Racha Yai and is a favorite diving spot of many tourists who come to the area. They’re a nice sandy floor with gentle slopes that are only 5 to 25 meters deep. The area is also popular because you can find not one but 4 wrecks that teen with marine life.
Marine life in Racha Yai Bay 1 & 2:
There is a wide range of moray eels, fimbriated moray, and giant moray eels in the bay. Blue Spotted rays and Peacock Flounder are commonly spotted as well as some schools of barracuda. Turtles are frequently seen too, so are cuttlefish and large reef octopuses. In the right season, Manta rays have been known to pass by and have been sighted by many divers.
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.
RACHA YAI BAY 3 a.k.a Lucy’s Reef
The location is home to an artificial reed at a depth of 20 meters. Towards the southern end is the Lucys reef with hard corals and rocky formations. All in all, the site is beautiful with many vibrant spots to take pictures of. Occasional eagle rays have been spotted there
Marine life in Racha Yai Bay 3:
The reef is a popular home for batfish, moray eels, lionfish, and a great selection of common reef fish. Reef fish such as parrotfish, snapper, grouper, angelfish, butterflyfish, and basslets are commonly spotted. 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.
RACHA YAI BAY 4 & 5
These are located on the southeastern sides of Racha Yai and have beautiful shallows waters brimming with rocky formations at a depth of about 30 meters. The sites are not very busy and the general visibility of the water is also great so they’re a wonderful spot to visit.
Marine life in Racha Yai Bay 4 & 5:
Manta rays and Eagle rays have been spotted in these waters. The common reef fish such as parrotfish, snapper, grouper, angelfish, the butterfly is easy to sight A rare thornback boxfish, as well as an impressive sea moth, has been spotted at the sandy bottom.
Away from the reef, schools of yellowtail barracuda are often seen swimming around. Big-eyed trevally are also found in big schools near the reef. Close to the reef in shallow water you may even find some reef sharks.
All you need to know about diving with us to Racha Yai Island.
- Our team will pick you up from your hotel at 7:15 am and drop you at our Boat at Chalong Pier.
- Once on the boat, you will enjoy a hearty breakfast buffet on board and we will continue to serve you snacks and drinks throughout the trip.
- A lunch buffet is also served with all dietary requests taken into account. If you wish to order a vegetarian meal, please contact Scubadeep’s staff once you board.
- Next, you will be briefed by your instructor regarding the use of all diving equipment, dive sites, and what to expect from each dive location including all safety-related matters.
- After the trip, we will drop you off at your hotel.
What’s included in your Trip.
- Complimentary hotel pickup and drop-off on all days to most locations.
- Breakfast, lunch, snacks, and refreshments on the boat.
Here’s what’s not included:
- The package does not include any underwater videos and pictures. But they can be requested from the diving staff on board with charges of 1000 THB per day.
- For certain locations, additional charges for pick and drop may apply. These include areas that are Surin onwards to Maikhao beach or the North of Phuket.