Racha Noi island is Racha Yai's smaller twin located about 40 minutes boat ride further south of Racha Yai island. The diving at Racha Noi is far superior to Racha Yai and is arguably the best of the local Phuket dive sites. Corals are very healthy and fish are bigger here. It definitely has the best visibility and is the best local dive site to see Manta Rays. It's a long thin granite island covered in dense jungle and is uninhabited. There is a range of diving here for experienced and inexperienced divers plus some excellent snorkelling opportunities. 
Racha Noi South Pinnacle is a submerged rock formation off the south tip of the Racha Noi island that drops down to beyond 40m. This can be an extreme dive when the currents are strong which they often are. A negative entry and quick free descent are necessary to reach the dive site without getting swept away.
Once on the pinnacle divers can us the rocks to shelter from the currents. Divers dive here for the chance to see Manta Rays which love to feed in the current. Barracuda and large schools of jacks are also common. Bluefin tuna can be seen hunting for smaller fish and reef sharks can sometimes be spotted in deeper water. It is also possible to dive around the south point of the island where the large boulder formations are reminiscent of the Similan Islands... Continued >>
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