Phuket Dive Sites
Koh Racha Yai
Thailand Dive Sites:
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Racha Yai Island is located 13 nautical miles south of Phuket Island and is dived by Phuket daytrip dive boats. There is also a dive centre in the main resort on the island. Racha is sometimes spelt Raya, or Raja but don't be confused, there are all the same dive location. 
Racha Yai is a granite island with beautiful beaches and bays all around and dense tropical jungle covering the interior.
There are several dive sites at Racha Yai. Most of those sites are suitable for all levels of diver and Racha Yai is often the location for student divers first open water dives. Visibility is always good and currents mild.
Dives at Racha Yai are easy and although you probably won't see anything as big as a manta ray the reefs are very pleasant with lots of schools of fish. Racha Yai is a good place to do a refresher dive if you've been out of the water for a while. 
The best dive sites are along the east coast of Racha Yai where bays known by their number only are joined by long reefs of staghorn coral. The reefs drop down to around 25m before the sand levels off. The three main dive sites here are Lucy's reef, Staghorn Reef and Home Run. In the sand you can find blue spotted sting rays and garden eels. Over the reef are large schools of yellowtail barracuda plus snapper and fusiliers. Butterfly fish, cornet fish and dog faced puffer are numerous as are moray eels.
Anemones are home to clownfisn. The bommies hide octopus and moray eels. Cuttlefish can be seen in the sand. Bay number 4 is home to a couple of bent stick pipefish.
On the north west side of Racha Yai is Bungalow Bay named after the small bungalows that used to be on the beach but have now been replaced by a luxury resort. There is a hard coral reef either side of the horseshoe shaped bay. Sea cucumbers, blue sea stars and sea urchins litter the sandy bottom.
Many species of hard coral are crammed in with the granite rocks from the surface down to around 25m on the outside of the bay. Small bamboo sharks can often be found hiding under rocks. Lionfish and scorpionfish are common. There are a few giant clams and some anemones. There are also a couple of small swim throughs.
Siam Bay Racha Yai
Siam Bay has always had a pleasant hard coral reef but in 2006 that reef was enhanced by a government funded project to place underwater statues in the bay. The statues were commissioned to attract divers back to Phuket after the December 2004 tsunami. Divers are now back in abundance and the statues have become a favourite novelty dive and photo opportunity.
The various statues sit a short distance from the edge of the coral reef on the sandy bottom and there is a mooring line down to them making descents easy. The average depth on the bottom is 18m, the maximum depth is 22m. Visibility is usually clear.
There are two large elephant statues that divers can sit on for photos. One elephant has it's trunk raised. There is a large oyster shell and a Thai sala (pavilion). There is also a big temple gate protected from evil spirits by a mythical giant sentry called a Yak in Thai.
The statues are all within easy finning distance of each other so divers can check them all out before moving off over the reef. Be sure to swim between the elephants legs, it's considered good luck in Thai. Also have a look in the elephant ears where white eyed moray eels have made their homes
From the statues your guide will set a compass bearing of 120 degrees and guide you over the sand towards the reef. While swimming over the sand look out for blue spotted sting rays that try to hide from view by burying all but their eyes in the sand. You'll also see black spotted garden eels. Also check for bent stick pipefish. Yes they do look like a bent stick and are only about 10cm long, not the most exciting fish you'll ever see but pretty rare.
On the edge of the reef is a large and stonefish. These ugly and very poisonous fish are also a rare sight unlike their scorpionfish cousins which are numerous.
The reef is mainly staghorn and table coral. Schools of fish include snapper, fusilier, yellow tail barracuda and bannerfish. Trumpet fish and flute fish hover over the coral, titan trigger fish aggresively guard their territory. Dog faced puffer fish and porcupine fish are also common.