Staghorn coral, sloping walls, rocky outcrops, sparse coral in deeper sandy areas

12nm or 21km south of Chalong Bay, Phuket

Usually pretty good, 15 to 40m

The Racha area (sometimes spelled Raya or Raja) consists of two main islands, Racha Yai and Racha Noi. Both are popular diving destinations, but for very different reasons.  

Racha Yai (Yai means "big" in Thai) is known for clear water, good marine life, and generally easy, year-round diving. Because of these typically gentle conditions, this island has become a top choice for dive training and snorkeling, as well as excursions for divers of all experience levels. It is also quite scenic above water, with several fine white sand beaches and bungalow accommodations for those wishing to spend time on the island. Time marches on, though, and now there is a five-star hotel on the island called, appropriately enough, "The Racha".

Racha Noi (“small” Racha), on the other hand, offers more rugged and dramatic underwater scenery, with a better chance of big animal encounters. Like its bigger neighbor, Racha Noi usually enjoys good visibility, but currents can be quite challenging at times. Although it is normally referred to as a single island, Racha Noi actually consists of two islands, separated by a narrow pass.

Limestone wall, caves

6nm or 10km east of Chalong Bay, Phuket

Variable, 5 to 30m

Even from miles away, Koh Doc Mai is an imposing sight, as the steep cliffs of this small island tower far above the sea. It's visible as soon as you get a little ways out of Chalong Bay and makes a good landmark for knowing you're about 45 minutes from home at the end of the day.

Underwater, the scenery can be impressive, especially when visibility is good, with dramatic topography and abundant marine life. Upon entering the water on the north, east, or south sides of the island, you will find coral encrusted walls dropping almost vertically to a sandy bottom at 27 to 30m. On the west side, underwater terrain slopes more gently, giving this part of the site a completely different feel. Koh Dok Mai is visited on almost every trip that visits Shark Point or Anemone Reef and it's the closest great dive site to Phuket.

Limestone Rock, fingers shoot off at different angles

12nm or 21km east of Chalong Bay, Phuket

Variable, from 5 to 20m

Home to an incredible profusion of marine life, Shark Point easily ranks among the richest marine habitats in the Phuket region. Nearly every square inch of this site is inhabited, with a density and diversity of reef creatures that is seldom seen at other locales. It doesn't have all the exotic creatures that Richelieu Rock has, but the look and feel of the dive site is similar. It's the best day trip site Phuket has.

Although it actually consists of three narrowly separated reefs, Shark Point is usually referred to as a single dive site. At the northernmost of these reefs, a small portion of rock sticks out a few meters above the surface, providing a good reference point. All three reefs are composed of rocky, coral covered outcroppings, protruding from a sand and shell bottom.

Among the biggest attractions at Shark Point are the shy, amiable leopard sharks that often rest along the sandy edges of the reef. Also known as zebra sharks, they get pretty big, almost 2-meters long, but they pose absolutely no danger to humans. With their small mouth and tiny teeth, leopard sharks would have trouble biting a person even if they wanted. Instead, they prefer to prowl the reef in search of their favorite prey--crustaceans and molluscs.

A sharp pinnacle at the top, widening deeper with spreading fingers

600 meters north of Shark Point

Variable, from 5 to 20m.

Lying less than a kilometer from Shark Point, Anemone Reef is a rocky pinnacle which closely resembles its neighbor on a smaller scale, except that it is completely submerged. True to its name, shallow portions of this site are absolutely covered with a huge "living carpet" of sea anemones. Some are lime green or brown in color, others vivid pink; together they create an almost surrealistic impression as they wave back & forth in the surge. Of course, nature would never allow so many potential homes to sit vacant; many anemones are inhabited by porcelain crabs, shrimp, and one of four varieties of anemonefish found at this site.

Anemones are certainly not all that this prolific reef has to offer, but it is the most noticeable feature and you know immediately why the dive site is named what it is. The rocky slopes are heavily populated with soft corals, gorgonians, bivalves, crabs, shrimp and other invertebrates. Fish life includes just about everything that swims; butterflyfish, angelfish, wrasses and sweetlips browse amidst the corals, while groupers, snappers, and silvery, meter-long queenfish terrorize clouds of glassfish in the shallows. Leopard sharks are also seen here quite regularly, usually resting on the sand bottom near the reef’s edge. Another attraction at Anemone Reef is a remarkable abundance of lionfish. I counted 92 one day! When the current is running, these attractive predators work in teams, spreading their delicate but venomous fins out like fans, herding up and devouring small baitfish.  

A 85m or 280ft long steel ferry, sank in 1997

Approximately 1nm or 1,8km east of Shark Point

Variable, from 5 to 20m

Although amply endowed with good diving opportunities, the Phuket dive scene had until recently been lacking in one respect: there were no real wreck dives. Then, around 10:15 a.m. on 4 May 1997, an unexpected turn of events changed that situation in one fell swoop. While running its regular route from Phuket to Ko Phi Phi, the “King Cruiser”, an 85 meter, steel-hulled, catamaran style passenger ferry, struck the well-charted shoal called Anemone Reef.

Exactly why such an easily avoidable navigational error was made is still unknown. In any case, the results were dramatic and immediate. The impact ripped a sizable hole in the bottom of the port hull, and the vessel started taking on large volumes of water. Luckily, many local boats quickly arrived on the scene and offered assistance. Thanks to these boat operators, along with the Thai Marine Police, all 539 passengers and 21 crew were successfully rescued; there was no loss of life. After drifting a little over a kilometer from anemone reef, the ship finally slipped below the surface, where she settled down to the bottom in 32 m of water, sitting upright.   

Limestone walls, pinnacles, caves, deep bays, white beaches, paradise

35nm or 60km east of Chalong Bay

Variable, from 5 to 30m

What sets Ko Phi Phi and Krabi apart from other dive destinations in Thailand are two features: The first is the amazing limestone cliffs rising dramatically into the sky and plunging into the sea. The second is the remarkable number of dive sites, gorgeous little islands, and unbelievable beaches and coves that are concentrated in such a small area. Leopard sharks are very common here at most dive sites. Sponges, soft and hard corals, lush seafans, seawhips. Coral not as colorful as Similan, but healthy and interesting. Snappers, fusiliers, wrasses, parrotfish, five species of clownfish and anemones, leopard sharks, longtoms, gobys, lionfish, etc.