The island of Racha Yai (Big King Island) lies about 13 miles South of Phuket. It is a beautiful tropical island with pristine beaches and many beautiful hard coral reefs, colorful shallow water coral gardens, some classic staghorn coral reefs sloping down to about 30m and two small wrecks colonised by schools of fish. Rachai Yai is also a great place for snorkeling or just for spending a nice day on the beach. Rachai Yai is definitely everyone’s destination.

The day boats heading for Racha Yai leave daily from Chalong. The usual departure time is 09h00 and return time is 17h00. Speed boats are available every day. These boats operate for small groups only or individuals willing to charter the whole boat. These are half day trips with departures at 09h00 and return time is 13h00.

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Day Boat OZD

Other options

Speed Boat

Separated by just a few hundred meters, both sites offer very similar features. Starting opposite small beaches, the sites slope down gently to 24m. Usually driftdived, you will glide over some extensive coral formations. Trumpetfish swim above their favorite habitat, sometimes hitching a ride above a grouper or porcupinefish. Giant moray eels, shrimps, triggerfish, pufferfish, lionfish and scorpionfish are just a few of the other species on display. On the sandy bottom you can find many blue spotted rays and in some places schools of garden eels.

Home of the island's small populated resort, it’s invariably sheltered and has some interesting diving. Schools of barracuda live here and more unusual species such as rockmover wrasse. This is definitely on of the best places for teaching Open Water classes.

In the North of the island, this is one of the deeper dives around Rachai Yai. A few boulders lying on the sea bed covered with hard corals and sea fans mark this site.

This sweet drift dive has some of the features of Lucy’s but with a small shipwreck which has become home to many species of reef fish.