Phuket & Racha Islands

Phuket is the main day-boat base for Racha Yai and Racha Noi in the southern Andaman Sea. Racha Yai has sheltered bays, artificial wrecks and training profiles.

Best time
Nov–Apr
Certification
Open water
Budget
$ · under $2,000
Trip length
1–5 days
Trip style
Land based, Day trip
Access
Moderate

The short version

Known forDaily access from Phuket.

Main tradeoffChalong day boats are long and can be crowded.

Phuket & Racha Islands dive region

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Your outlook

Explore 4 dive sites

Browse the map and wildlife below, or add an optional preference to narrow Phuket & Racha Islands.

Most relevant wildlife

  • Hawksbill turtleJan–Dec
  • Giant trevallyJan–Dec
  • Green sea turtleJan–Dec
  • Reef manta rayNo reliable month

Plan the trip

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4 sites shown.

Conditions referenceSeason, water and visibilityBest Nov–Apr · Moderate current · 28–30.5°C (coldest Jan, warmest Apr)
Best months Operating
Current
Moderate
Water temperature
28–30.5°C (coldest Jan, warmest Apr)
Visibility
8–30m: Racha Noi is often clearer than busy inshore sites; rain, plankton and swell can reduce visibility.
Experience
Racha Yai has Open Water sites.

01 · Marine life

What you may see

rareoccasionalcommonly seenpeak seasondestination closed

Sightings are never guaranteed. The bars show typical likelihood by month.

Hawksbill turtleEretmochelys imbricata
Sighting likelihood by month
MonthLikelihood
Januaryoccasional
Februaryoccasional
Marchoccasional
Apriloccasional
Mayoccasional
Juneoccasional
Julyoccasional
Augustoccasional
Septemberoccasional
Octoberoccasional
Novemberoccasional
Decemberoccasional

Possible in suitable habitat; no unsupported monthly peak is applied.

Giant trevallyCaranx ignobilis
Sighting likelihood by month
MonthLikelihood
Januaryoccasional
Februaryoccasional
Marchoccasional
Apriloccasional
Mayoccasional
Juneoccasional
Julyoccasional
Augustoccasional
Septemberoccasional
Octoberoccasional
Novemberoccasional
Decemberoccasional

Possible in suitable habitat; no unsupported monthly peak is applied.

Green sea turtleChelonia mydas
Sighting likelihood by month
MonthLikelihood
Januaryoccasional
Februaryoccasional
Marchoccasional
Apriloccasional
Mayoccasional
Juneoccasional
Julyoccasional
Augustoccasional
Septemberoccasional
Octoberoccasional
Novemberoccasional
Decemberoccasional

Possible in suitable habitat; no unsupported monthly peak is applied.

Reef manta rayMobula alfredi
Sighting likelihood by month
MonthLikelihood
Januaryrare
Februaryrare
Marchrare
Aprilrare
Mayrare
Junerare
Julyrare
Augustrare
Septemberrare
Octoberrare
Novemberrare
Decemberrare

Possible in suitable habitat; no unsupported monthly peak is applied.

See all 8 species

02 · Dive sites

Dive sites worth knowing

A starting point, not a ranking. Conditions decide what works on the day.

See all 4 dive sites
03 · LogisticsGetting there and costsModerate. Fly to HKT. Typical trip $.

Route overview

Moderate

Reachable but with some friction: a 2h boat crossing.

Airport options

HKT

Phuket International Airport

About 45–90 minutes by road to Chalong pier, depending on traffic

Typical trip cost

$

under $2,000

Per person, excluding international flights.

  • Current advertised day boats are about THB 3,600 for two dives at Racha Yai and THB 4,000–4,200 for three dives at Racha Noi and Yai.
  • Equipment is commonly another THB 300–600.

Sources & last checked

Checked September 2026

Research is source-backed, but conditions and fees should still be confirmed locally.

View 3 sources and checking notes

Note on the data: Prices were compared across current operator lists. Site coordinates and monthly temperatures remain approximate. No manta or whale-shark peak is coded because available evidence is promotional and encounters are irregular. Water temperature: Rounded Andaman Sea surface planning bands, not depth-specific logger data. Access: Allow 45–90 minutes from HKT to Chalong, then roughly 1.5 hours to Racha Yai or about 2 hours to Racha Noi by day boat.