Not everyone spells the Thai names of the islands the same way Racha is often spelled Rajah and Raya. The Phi-Phi Islands are also spelled Pee-Pee. When reading about local dive-sites It helps to learn a few Thai words Ao means beach, Ko (or Koh) means Island, Hin means Rock, Yai means large, and Noi means small.
Racha Yai offers some of the best local year around dive-sites but the visibility varies as to the season. On the north end of the island are two beautiful little bays famous for their a deep clear water and colorful coral formations. Both of them have almost swimming pool features as they gradually drop to a depth of 40 feet onto a sandy seabed, providing ample opportunities for both snorkeling and scuba diving. The best diving is off the east coast where the current allows a gentle drift dive along a sloping rocky face that is covered with an amazing array of hard corals and the nutrient rich water draws large schools of tropical fish.
Fast Facts
| Boat Trip | 1 hour 10 min. Approx. |
| Depth | 3 - 30 metres |
| Experience Level | Suitable for all levels and good for beginners |
| Reef type | Coral gardens, rocky points, boulders |
| Visibility | Good to excellent around 20-30 metres |
| Current | Variable, sometimes strong |
| Coral | Good varieties of hard corals |
| Fish | Whale sharks, Manta rays, Leopard sharks, Barracuda, many schools of smaller and bigger fish |
| Highlights | Unusual fish life, easy accessibility, some fast drift dives at Racha depending on current. Beautiful topside scenery. |
