Koh Racha snorkeling tours
Racha Island day trips
Choose one of these tours to the Racha Islands
Racha Noi, Racha Yai and Koh Maiton
- Full day tour by speedboat
- 3 islands
- Snorkeling at Racha Noi and Racha Yai
- Dolphin Spotting at Koh Maiton
- Available all year round.
- Racha Noi tour >>
Racha Yai and Coral Island day trip
- Speedboat day trip to Racha Yai Island
- Plus Coral Island
- Lunch at Kahung beach
- Just 30 minutes from south Phuket by speedboat.
- Available all year round.
- Racha Yai tour >>
Private island hopping
- Private speedboat for small groups.
- Full day or half day charter.
- Racha Yai, Racha Noi and Coral Island.
- Dodge the crowds, go at your own pace.
- Private speedboat tour >>
Racha Yai Discover SCUBA
- Racha Yai is the perfect place to try diving.
- One day trip with “Discover Scuba Diving.”
- PADI Dive Instructor supervised.
- No diving experience necessary.
- Price: 4,900 baht per adult
- Discover Scuba Diving Phuket >>
Snorkeling at the Racha Islands
Racha Yai (big Racha) Island is close to Phuket (about 30 minutes by speedboat). Racha Noi (little Racha) is another 30 minutes further south. They are granite islands. Racha Noi is uninhabited and has crystal clear water, few boats go there. Racha Yai is more popular, it has resorts on it, and restaurants.
Fish that you can see include schools of sergeant major, snapper, fusilier, titan trigger fish, clown fish (Nemo), lion fish, parrot fish, banner fish, moorish idols, trumpet fish and much more.
Crocodile longtoms swim just below the surface, blue spotted sting rays and flatfish try to hide on the sandy bottom.
Eagle eyed snorkelers should also be able to spot moray eels, mantis shrimps, garden eels, blennies, gobies, nudibranchs and scorpion fish.
Although not commonly sighted by snorkelers, some people get lucky and see manta rays and barracudas at Racha Noi, but these are mostly only seen by scuba divers.
Most of the coral is hard coral. There are several varieties of hard coral including brain, cabbage, plate, leaf and stag horn coral. Plus sea fans, sea whips, anemones, sea stars, sea cucumbers and spiny sea urchins. Coral at Racha Noi is healthy, at Racha Yai there is extensive coral damage but still some nice patches. There are also some artificial reef projects and some underwater statues installed in Siam bay in 2005.
Some tours finish the day with a stop around Koh Maiton to look for dolphins. In our experience your chances of seeing them are 50/50.
Need pick up and return to cruiseship for day snorkeling tour, arriving on 5 March, 2018, Sapphire Princess cruise ship in Phuket ( no idea if it is tendered or dock).
Ship will arrive at 9am and depart at 6pm.
Any snockeling tour that is close to port, with less travel time and cheaper will be desirable. Must return to Phuket cruiseship passengers drop off-peak up location by 4pm to be safe and not late.
Because of your limited time you will need to take a private speedboat
http://snorkelingthailand.com/premium-racha-yai-snorkeling-day-trip/
Hi, Can I do swallow snorkel as I can’t go deep water. If I am staying near Nai-Harn Beach, how far to go to Koh Racha Yai snorkeling ? Is there a guide ca n go along with you to snorkel if one of my friend can’t swim well?
Appreciate your advise and great help.
Look forward to your reply.
Thanks & Regards Judy Ow Yeong
The Racha Yai tour departs from Chalong pier Phuket, which is about 15 minutes drive from Naiharn beach. The speedboat journey is 30 minutes.
A guide will help you with snorkeling. If you cannot swim you can wear life jackets for buoyancy.