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Racha Yai

Ko Racha Yai

Twelve miles south of Phuket with visibility that regularly runs past twenty metres, which is why the island is where Phuket teaches people to dive.

Clear turquoise bay with a white sand beach and moored boats

Racha Yai is the closest genuinely clear water to Phuket. The island sits far enough off the coast to escape the run-off that keeps the inshore water green, and the bays on the west side drop onto sand and hard coral in a way that makes the bottom visible from the deck.

Ao Bungalow on the west coast is the main anchorage and the main dive site, with a bay to the north and one to the south that take the overflow. The wrecks and artificial reefs placed off the bays give the dive schools something to work with beyond the natural reef.

It is also the shortest overnight run from Phuket that feels like leaving. Twelve miles from Chalong, and the lights of the island are gone.

Where it sits

PHANG NGAPHUKETANDAMAN SEAMergui, 180 nmAo Po Grand MarinaBoat LagoonRoyal MarinaYacht HavenKoh HongKhao Phing Kan and Ko TapuKoh PanakKoh PanyeeKoh Yao NoiMaya BayKoh Phi Phi DonBamboo IslandRacha YaiRacha NoiSimilan IslandsSurin IslandsRailay and Phra NangKoh Hong, KrabiKoh RokKoh Muk and the Emerald CaveKoh Haa
  • Marina
  • Anchorage
  • On this itinerary
  • Positions are projected from real coordinates. Coastlines are simplified and not for navigation.

Routes that stop here

Nearby in Racha Islands

Source: Andaman Sea cruising guides, Phuket dive operators. Checked 6 September 2026. Anchorage notes are planning information from cruising guides and operator itineraries, not navigational advice.