Banana Bay Racha Noi

Banana Bay at Racha Noi is an intermediate dive site on the southern island of the Racha pair, located south of Phuket in the Andaman Sea. With a maximum depth of twenty-five meters and a mix of rocky reef and sandy terrain, this site offers engaging diving in an area known for its excellent visibility and the possibility of manta ray encounters that have made Racha Noi one of the most exciting day-trip destinations from Phuket. Banana Bay gets its name from the crescent shape of the bay on Racha Noi's eastern coast, and the sheltered aspect provides reasonably calm conditions for intermediate divers. The underwater terrain combines the granite boulder formations typical of the Racha islands with sandy flats and coral-covered reef slopes that create diverse habitats within a single dive profile. The reef at Banana Bay supports healthy coral growth, with both hard and soft species colonizing the rocky surfaces. The site's position on the outer island means it receives clean oceanic water from the Andaman Sea, and visibility is often excellent, regularly exceeding twenty meters. This clarity reveals the full scope of the underwater landscape and allows divers to spot marine life at a distance. Manta rays are the headline attraction at Racha Noi, and Banana Bay is one of the sites where these magnificent creatures are most frequently encountered. The mantas visit the area to feed on plankton concentrations and to use cleaning stations on the reef, and an encounter with a manta ray at Banana Bay is a life-highlighting moment. Leopard sharks are also found resting on the sandy areas, and reef sharks occasionally patrol the deeper edges. Beyond the pelagic potential, the reef supports a complete tropical marine community. Schools of snappers and fusiliers orbit the rock formations, while angelfish, butterflyfish, and triggerfish provide color among the corals. The macro life is excellent, with nudibranchs, shrimp, and various crustaceans populating the reef surfaces. Banana Bay at Racha Noi demonstrates why the outer islands south of Phuket have become must-visit destinations for intermediate divers. The combination of clear water, healthy reef, and the genuine possibility of manta encounters creates a day-trip diving experience that rivals much more remote and expensive destinations.