Racha Noi Diving — 3 Dives for Certified Divers
Phuket's wilder dive island: granite boulders, swim-throughs, stronger-current thrills and a real chance of manta rays — a 3-dive day across Racha Noi and Racha Yai (usually 2 + 1, adjusted to the day's current), from ฿3,900.
- Racha Noi & Racha Yai in one day
- All meals & taxi transfer included
- Private guide for 2+ divers
- 4.9★ rated dive center
- Certified divers
- 3 dives · full day (7am–5pm)
- Equipment, meals & transfer included
Racha Noi or Racha Yai — Compare at a Glance
Two neighbouring islands, two very different days underwater. Racha Noi is further out, wilder and more exposed; Racha Yai is sheltered and easygoing. Our Racha Noi trip includes dives at both.
Racha Noi — 3-Dive Trip
The wilder island — granite boulders, swim-throughs, deeper walls and your best chance of manta rays near Phuket.
- Usually 2 dives at Racha Noi + 1 at Racha Yai, adjusted to the day's current
- Depth 5–40m · visibility 15–40m
- Easy to moderate current (stronger at South Tip)
Racha Yai — 2 or 3 Dives
The sheltered all-rounder — wrecks, shallow reef and a sunken temple guarded by concrete elephants. Closer, calmer, easier.
- 6 dive sites on one island
- Wrecks & shallow reef
- Gentle conditions for any certified diver
📷 GoPro camera rental available as an add-on — ฿700.
Racha Noi's Dive Sites
Granite boulders, swim-throughs, coral slopes and open-water drifts — your guide picks the sites each day based on the current, conditions and your certification level. Usually it's two dives at Racha Noi and one at Racha Yai — when the current is strong, we switch to one at Racha Noi and two at Racha Yai.
Banana Bay
On the island's east side: a shallow flat at 3–10m turns into a hard coral slope reaching 25–30m, dotted with staghorn coral and strips of white sand. We've been diving it since 2005 and the visibility still impresses.
- Depth: 3–30m
- Level: Easy — beginner-friendly
- Highlight: Staghorn coral, nudibranchs, giant morays, octopus
Marina Rock
A granite bay on the west side, carpeted with leather coral, sea fans and whips. Start from the sandy bottom at 18m or from the rocky reef to the south, where huge boulders drop to 35–40m and swim-throughs reward the adventurous.
- Depth: 18–40m
- Current: Mild in the bay, stronger outside
- Highlight: Swim-throughs, blue-spotted stingrays, mantas
South Tip
The southernmost point: granite boulders from 15–18m in the north to over 60m in the south, fire coral and sea fans clinging to the rock. The current can be strong and complex, so it's reserved for experienced divers — and it's where mantas are most often seen.
- Depth: 15–60m+
- Level: Advanced / experienced only
- Highlight: Manta rays, barracuda, pelagics
Racha Noi Bay
On the southeast side, a small islet joins the island by a sand ridge at low tide. Coral gardens fill the shallows, sand takes over around 12m, and sea fans and whips line the deeper rock beyond 30m — a classic drift dive starting from the north.
- Depth: 5–30m+
- Current: Drift dive
- Highlight: Scorpionfish, garden eels, cuttlefish, eagle rays
Racha Yai: Bay 1 or Bungalow Bay
Usually the final dive on the way home — and when the current at Racha Noi is too strong, Racha Yai becomes a second dive of the day. Either way it's relaxed: a sunken superyacht and sheltered reef, or the white-sand slopes of Bungalow Bay.
- Depth: 10–25m
- Level: Easy
- Highlight: Meditation Wreck, staghorn coral
Manta Rays at Racha Noi
Racha Noi is one of the few places near Phuket where manta rays are regularly seen — most often between November and April, though they can appear at any time of year. South Tip and Marina Rock give the best odds. Sightings are never guaranteed, and whale sharks are only occasional visitors.
Full Pricing & What's Included
One all-inclusive day trip: three dives, equipment, meals and taxi transfer — one price, no surprise add-ons.
| Racha Noi 3-Dive Trip | |
|---|---|
| Price | ฿3,900 per diver |
| Dives | 3 dives across Racha Noi & Racha Yai — usually 2 + 1, adjusted to the day's current |
| Duration | Full day (hotel pickup 7–8am, back around 5pm) |
| Certification | Certified diver (Open Water or equivalent) |
| Equipment | Included |
| Meals | Breakfast, hot buffet lunch, snacks & fresh fruit |
| Taxi Transfer | Included (Rawai–Chalong–Kata–Karon–Patong–Kamala) |
| Diving Insurance | Included |
Recompression chamber support available at SSS Phuket at all times, should it ever be needed.
Ready to Dive Racha Noi?
Pick your date below. Free cancellation up to 48 hours before departure.
Your Racha Noi Day Trip, Step by Step
Dive sites are chosen on the day based on current, conditions and wind — this is a typical schedule, and timing can shift. Usually it's 2 dives at Racha Noi and 1 at Racha Yai; when the current at Racha Noi is strong, we may do 1 at Racha Noi and 2 at Racha Yai.
We collect you from your hotel (Rawai, Chalong, Kata, Karon, Patong or Kamala) and head to Chalong Pier. Breakfast is served on board as the boat leaves at 8am.
Arrival at Racha Noi and the first dive of the day — Banana Bay's coral slope or Marina Rock's swim-throughs, depending on conditions.
A hot buffet lunch served on the boat between dives, with snacks, drinks and fresh fruit throughout the day.
The second Racha Noi dive — a drift at Racha Noi Bay, or South Tip's boulders and manta chances for experienced divers.
A relaxed final dive at neighbouring Racha Yai on the way home (on days when the current at Racha Noi is strong, this can be your second Racha Yai dive).
Boat departs Racha Yai for the return trip to Chalong.
Taxi transfer drops you back at your hotel — a full day of diving done, no logistics to sort out yourself.
Why Dive Racha Noi With Us
Racha Noi is further out and more exposed than Racha Yai, so the guide you dive with matters. Here's what's different about diving it with SSS Phuket.
Private Guide for 2+ Divers
Book with a friend or partner and you get a dedicated divemaster for your group — not folded into a boat full of strangers.
Guides Who Read the Current
We've been diving Racha Noi since 2005, so we know which site suits which conditions — and we match sites to your certification level, not the other way round.
Truly All-Inclusive
Equipment, breakfast, lunch, snacks and taxi transfer from Kamala, Patong, Karon, Kata, Chalong or Rawai — one price, no surprise add-ons.
Phuket's Original Dive Center — Since 2008
Nearly two decades of running trips to the Racha islands, with instructors who know every bay and how conditions shift through the day.
Recompression Chamber Support
SSS Phuket's recompression chamber is available at all times — safety infrastructure most shops can't offer, and it matters on a more remote island.
High Return-Diver Rate
A large share of our Racha divers have dived with us before — the clearest signal that the experience holds up on a second visit.
Season, Your Guide & the Boat
Best Time to Dive
Racha Noi can be dived all year, but it's more exposed than Racha Yai. High season (November–April) brings the calmest seas, the best visibility and the main manta ray window. During the green season (May–October) the sea is rougher — your guide dives the sheltered side of the island and trips can change with the weather.
Meet Your Guide — Lung
Our divers consistently mention Lung by name in their reviews for making them feel safe, confident and relaxed underwater. He knows the Racha islands' sites well and adjusts the day around your group's experience and interests.
Our Boat — Freedom
You'll head out to Racha Noi aboard Freedom, our dive boat, with space to gear up, relax between dives, and enjoy breakfast and lunch on board as we cruise between sites.
4.9★ from 1,157 Verified Reviews
Real reviews from SSS Phuket divers on Google and TripAdvisor.
"We had a great day with three dives near Racha Noi and Racha Yai. We felt very well taken care off. A special thanks to Olivier Cross who guided us in a safe way and showed us the beautiful places 😎🙏🏻!"
"Superb diving experience on Racha Noi island. Thanks to Ohm for his professionalism."
"This was my first time diving outside of my certification dives and I was a little nervous. Our instructor, Ohm, was fun, professional, courteous, and took great care of us — he communicated the plan very clearly. Really awesome experience."
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — this Racha Noi trip is for certified divers (Open Water or equivalent, any agency). Never dived before? We run a separate Discover Scuba Diving day at Racha Noi for complete beginners, with full instruction included.
Three dives across Racha Noi and Racha Yai. On most days it's two at Racha Noi (Banana Bay or Marina Rock, then Racha Noi Bay or South Tip) and one at Racha Yai (Bay 1 or Bungalow Bay). Racha Noi is exposed, so the current can change the plan on the day — when it's too strong, we switch to one dive at Racha Noi and two at Racha Yai. Your guide decides for safety and visibility, based on conditions and your group's certification level.
Racha Noi is one of the few places near Phuket where manta rays are regularly seen, most often between November and April, and most often at South Tip and Marina Rock. They can appear at any time of year, but sightings are never guaranteed. Whale sharks are only occasional visitors.
Most sites have easy to moderate current. South Tip can be strong and complex, so it is only dived with experienced divers; Banana Bay is easy enough for newer divers. Your guide chooses sites to match your certification level and recent experience, so tell us your number of dives when you book.
Full scuba equipment, a certified guide, diving insurance, breakfast and lunch, snacks, and taxi transfer from Rawai, Chalong, Kata, Karon, Patong, or Kamala. Book with 2 or more divers and you also get a private guide. GoPro camera rental is available as an optional add-on for ฿700.
Racha Noi is further out and more exposed than Racha Yai, with the best conditions from November to April. If the sea is rough on one side of the island, your guide dives the sheltered side or switches sites rather than cancelling outright.
Free cancellation up to 48 hours before your trip for a full refund, no questions asked — the same policy we apply across all our courses and trips.
Free Hotel Pickup — No Logistics to Sort Out
Racha Noi is the further of the two Racha islands — about 2.5 hours by boat from Chalong Pier — but you don't need to arrange anything yourself. Taxi transfer is included from most of Phuket's west-coast beaches.
- 📍Departs from Chalong Pier, Phuket
- 🚐Free taxi transfer from Rawai, Chalong, Kata, Karon, Patong & Kamala
- 🕗Hotel pickup 7:00–8:00am, drop-off around 5:00pm
Racha Noi Diving in Pictures
Keep Exploring With SSS Phuket
Already certified and looking for another day out? A couple of natural next stops.
Not sure which island fits your trip best? Racha Noi is the further, wilder and more exposed of the two Racha islands — deeper boulders, stronger currents and manta ray chances. Racha Yai is the easier, more sheltered option, with wrecks and shallow reef for any certified diver. Koh Phi Phi trades reef for limestone cliffs, swim-throughs and a livelier boat day.
