Koh Racha Noi Island is one hour away from Koh Racha Yai Island by dive boat.

There are two major areas, the north and the south ends of the island, and the coral reefs, which stretch across areas filled with granite boulders.

However, only 4 or 5 of the divesites are popular among Phuket dive operators.

Possibly getting its name from the abundance of banana trees that grow on the bay, the east of Racha Noi island is named "Banana Bay". This is an easy dive site, with clear shallow flat area starting from 3 - 10 meters, and the hard coral reef sloping gently to 25 meters with staghorn coral occupying most of the area punctuated by white powdery sand.

The current is mild to moderate running on North to South direction and vice versa.

Like the other divesites of Racha Noi island, reef fish such as fusiliers, triggerfish, butterflyfish and colourful fairly basslets are often found on top of the staghorn coral. Small schools of yellowtail barracuda may also make an appearance.

In the shallows, you can find giant morays and black and white snapper, particularly thouse in juvenile stage. On occasion you may also spot great barracuda and sea snakes. The deeper waters, on the other hand, may present you the opportunity to see big fish like leopard sharks.

If you are a nudibranch lover, look out for the 5cm Kentrodoris rubescens and the pretty pink ribbon like eggs it lays on the top of the corals, a common sight here. You may also be pleasantly surprised by rare species like twin spotted lionfish, seamoths or even manta rays.

This is a relaxing dive because of the good visibility and mild current. Even when you might have to cope with windy and rough conditions on the surface, the conditions underwater are always quiet good. Banana Bay is especially popular in the rainy season because the boat can be sheltered during the dive, and the surface is calmer than that of the west side.

Normally the dive starts from the mooring line at the north end of the bay, or from the south part of the bay, where one can drift along with the current and be picked up. Using a safety balloon when ascending is recommended.

 

Located on the southeast side of the island, Racha Noi Bay is easily distinguishable by the small islet. At low tide, the sand ridge connecting to the main island will be visible.

The shallow coral garden at the north and the south of the islet, with its dense bed of pore coral and staghorn coral, is highly suitable for snorkelling. The coral gives way to a sandy bottom at depths of about 15 meters. On the rocky portions deeper than 30 meters, sea fans and sea whips occupy the area.

The currents are mild to strong, running north to south direction and vice versa.

Divers will be amazed by the variety of creatures that are frequently spotted in clear waters of the shallows. Not only will you see jeweled fairly basslets, butterflyfish, lionfish, scorpionfish and garden eels, some more interesting creatures like eagle rays, milkfish, ribbon eels and leaf fish may also make an appearance.


Explore the sandy bottom carefully and you might find well camouflaged flounder, cuttlefish and pipefish hiding in the powdery sand. When disturbed they will flee at lightning speed.

On clam days, you can even swim off the rocky reef and explore the deep water for leopard sharks or reef sharks. Manta Rays have also been known to visit this site.

The site is good for beginners as you can start the dive in the shallows (about 5 meters) in the north or south of the islet, as long as you take care not to touch the coral at the bottom. Furthermore, it is perfect for multilevel diving when you keep close to the contours of the bay.

The currents may change direction once you go deeper, so swim close to the rock to conserve energy.

As the name suggests, this dive site is situated at the southern end of Racha Noi Island. South Tip is not large - it consists mostly of granite boulders at depths ranging from 12 meters in the north to more than 40 meters in the south. In the west the rock slope is gentle, but the east side is steeper and there are fewer corals. There are also short soft corals, fire corals and sea fans attached to the rock face all over the south and west, from the shallows to the deep.

The dive usually starts at the south reef of the Racha Noi island at depths of 30 meters, where sea whips and sea fans grow on the sloped rubble bottom leading to the pinnacle.

The currents are moderate to very strong running Northeast to Southwest direction and vice versa. The current between island and the pinnacle sometimes can be extremely strong.

Surgeonfish, unicornfish and redtooth triggerfish are common and can be found at any rubble area even at 40 meters, while damselfish are frequently seen on the top of the hard coral. Large pelagics such as chevron barracuda are also seen often, as well as manta rays and whale sharks. Leopard sharks on the other hand are less common but may still be spotted.


Sometimes this site is not included in the itinerary as the current here is strong and the average depth is quiet deep. Because the mooring rope is often swept away, the marker buoy can only be seen sometimes. If there is no marker buoy, the boat will drop you very close to the island, and you can set the compass and swim southwest, or just drift along with the current to the south.

When you reach the pinnacle, swim close to the rock and find some shelter to conserve energy when you have to swim against the current. Because of its depth, the average dive time here lasts on avarage 30 minuites.

Formed from granite rock, the bay in the mid west of Racha Noi island is carpeted with leather corals and a mixture of sea fans, sea whips, fire corals and hard corals such as pore corals.
The dive can start from the sandy, rubble-bottom bay reaching depths of 18 meters at the bottom, or from the rocky reef next to the south of the bay where you can see some emerging rocks which slope down to 30 meters. There are many swim-throughs at this site waiting to be explored, but often there is only time for one or two in a dive.

The currents are mild to moderate, running in a north-south direction and vice versa.

Parrotfish, butterflyfish and fusiliers and lunar fusilier are quiet common in this area. In the sandy bottom of the bay, you may also spot stingrays and scissortail gobies hovering in a pair.

Take a closer look at the rocks, and you may discover flatworms, nudibranchs and pipefish. In the deeper parts you might also see a nurse shark hiding among the rocks, or have a surprise encounter with a manta ray.


Check the current on site right before going into the water so you can decide whether to start drifting from the rocky reef or at the bay, because the tide table does not always reflect the current direction here.

If you start in the bay, keep the reef on your left and start at 18 meters. After swimming for about 10 minuites, you will see the rocky reef and a swim-through at about 21 - 23 meters. If you start at the rocky reef, usually the dive will start at a depth of 25 meters. Do look beyond the reef to enjoy the schools of fish - and you may even find something special. There is another swim-through at around 22 - 24 meters. Check your buoyancy and your no-decompression time before enterning any swim-throughs.