Phuket Dive Guide : Racha Yai - Bay 1 & 2
About the location and site
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 Homerun Bay and Siam Bay famous for their deep clear water and colorful coral formations. Both of them have almost swimming pool features as they gradually drop to a depth of 20-25 metres onto a sandy seabed, providing many opportunities for both snorkeling and scuba diving. The best diving is off the east coast at Bay 1 to 5. 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. Around Racha Yai, some large rays have been seen. Leopard sharks and just recently Blacktip reef sharks have made an appearance again. The entire eastern side of Racha Yai is punctuated by a series of 5 small bays, each 3 to 25 meters deep. Currents are generally mild within the bays, but sometimes strong between them. Divers typically start in one bay, and move from that bay to the next, depending on which way the currents are going.
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 Homerun Bay and Siam Bay famous for their deep clear water and colorful coral formations. Both of them have almost swimming pool features as they gradually drop to a depth of 20-25 metres onto a sandy seabed, providing many opportunities for both snorkeling and scuba diving. The best diving is off the east coast at Bay 1 to 5. 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. Around Racha Yai, some large rays have been seen. Leopard sharks and just recently Blacktip reef sharks have made an appearance again. The entire eastern side of Racha Yai is punctuated by a series of 5 small bays, each 3 to 25 meters deep. Currents are generally mild within the bays, but sometimes strong between them. Divers typically start in one bay, and move from that bay to the next, depending on which way the currents are going.
Situated on the northeast area of Racha Yai Bay 1 & 2 are probably the most popular in the region for both divers and snorkelers. With a sandy floor that gently slopes from only 5 to around 25 metres, a nice selection of reef fish situated in the shallows and good visibility. There is a good range of moray eels, fimbriated morays and of course, the giant moray eels are there as well. Blue Spotted rays and Peacock Flounder are around as well at the sandy bottom as some nice schools of barracuda. Turtles are frequently seen too, so are cuttlefish and large reef octopus. In the right season, Manta rays have been known to pass by and have a look at the divers as well.
There are four wrecks situated in these two bays and enough marine life that will keep most divers happy.
Situated at 21 metres at the northern part of Bay 1 an old sailboat wreck in quite bad condition offers fantastic marine life. Large schools of snappers and glassfish gather around the wreck. It is never too hard to find a couple of giant moray eels on the wreck. With your torch, shrimp are easily found in abundance and if you are lucky, you can find some ornate ghost pipefish. On occasion large Jenkins rays can be found lurking under the wreck itself and great barracudas coming down for a look.
The Harruby Liveaboard is situated between Bays 1 and 2. This wreck is in excellent condition and is the best wreck in the area to penetrate. The bottom of the wreck is at around 20 metres with the top at about 14 metres. This makes it an accessible wreck for all levels of certified divers. The loveable batfish has made this place their home and large schools are always found here. Barracuda, scorpionfish and bannerfish also inhabit the wreck. My favorite creature is the snake eel that can be found sticking its head up out of the sand close to the wreck so keep your eyes peeled for those.
An old Thai wooden fishing boat is located a little further east of Harruby. The wreck is rapidly deteriorating and not advised to penetrate. The top of the wreck lies at about 24 metres. It contains many of the common reef fish to make it an interesting site to see.
Marla's Mystery is a barge wreck 150 metres east of the center of Bays 1 and 2 and is lying at about 34 metres. It was sunk on purpose to create an artificial reef. Sadly, it moved away from the island on descent and is therefore difficult to locate.
There are four wrecks situated in these two bays and enough marine life that will keep most divers happy.
Situated at 21 metres at the northern part of Bay 1 an old sailboat wreck in quite bad condition offers fantastic marine life. Large schools of snappers and glassfish gather around the wreck. It is never too hard to find a couple of giant moray eels on the wreck. With your torch, shrimp are easily found in abundance and if you are lucky, you can find some ornate ghost pipefish. On occasion large Jenkins rays can be found lurking under the wreck itself and great barracudas coming down for a look.
The Harruby Liveaboard is situated between Bays 1 and 2. This wreck is in excellent condition and is the best wreck in the area to penetrate. The bottom of the wreck is at around 20 metres with the top at about 14 metres. This makes it an accessible wreck for all levels of certified divers. The loveable batfish has made this place their home and large schools are always found here. Barracuda, scorpionfish and bannerfish also inhabit the wreck. My favorite creature is the snake eel that can be found sticking its head up out of the sand close to the wreck so keep your eyes peeled for those.
An old Thai wooden fishing boat is located a little further east of Harruby. The wreck is rapidly deteriorating and not advised to penetrate. The top of the wreck lies at about 24 metres. It contains many of the common reef fish to make it an interesting site to see.
Marla's Mystery is a barge wreck 150 metres east of the center of Bays 1 and 2 and is lying at about 34 metres. It was sunk on purpose to create an artificial reef. Sadly, it moved away from the island on descent and is therefore difficult to locate.
Phuket Dive Guide dive maps : Racha Yai - Bay 1 & 2
