Located 32 kilometers south of Phuket, Koh Racha Noi ( “Little King island” in Thai ), is a beautiful island, with dive sites very similar to those found in Similan Islands . The sites around this uninhabited island tend to be deeper than at its sister island, Racha Yai , and this depth brings with it an increased chance of spotting Manta Rays and Whale Sharks .

Like Racha Yai, Racha Noi also has a number of dive sites which cater for all levels of divers. Banana bay is a popular spot for novice divers, or students. The bay is very sheltered from currents, and the shallow water is ideal for beginners. The visibility here, and all around the island is excellent with a wonderful turquoise colouring in the water. A popular site for more experienced divers is South Point, where large granite boulders dominate the underwater landscape. This is a deep dive, where divers can expect to encounter, leopard sharks, white tip and black tip sharks, stingrays and also giant manta Rays, which are seen frequently on this site. The strong currents have also bring in some schools of larger hunting fish such as, trevally, tuna and barracudas.

Another popular site is in a small bay located at the end of the northern end of the island. The bay is home to a large patches of beautiful hard corals, all in fantastic condition. These corals are rich with marine life, giant moray eels can be seen sticking their large heads out from underneath the corals, while the black banded sea snake is also a common sight. Divers expecting to see large numbers of vibrant colourful reef fish will not be disappointed, with close to a thousand different species, angelfish, butterfly fish, surgeon fish, boxfish and puffer fish can be seen on every dive site.

Racha Noi can also be equally enjoyed above the water, with this lush tropical island home to some picturesque white sandy beaches and stunning scenery, while the snorkeling over the shallow coral gardens can be breath taking. Phuket day trip boats visit this island regularly, and for divers visiting the area, this is one spot not to be missed.

Racha Noi Reef Guide

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