Raja Laut

The islands and beaches of Phuket, Phang Nga Bay and Krabi are world-famous, and Phuket's international airport, 5-star resorts, gourmet restaurants, villas and shopping centres make it an ideal base for yachts. This idyllic region of Thailand is the de-facto "yacht charter hub" of Asia. Today there are already 4 large marinas for yachts and a few more under construction.

The bay of Phang Nga, sheltered on 3 sides and dotted with hundreds of islands, is notable for its excellent anchorages, perfect beaches, crystal clear waters and flat calm seas during the dry season.

By any standards really, Phang Nga Bay is a magical sailing destination. There is a unique and diverse geography featuring low, gently sloping mountains, bays and islands with palm fringed beaches and hidden lagoons, and the distinctive steep karst (limestone) outcrops that rise vertically from the emerald seas. The Thai mainland surrounding Phang Nga Bay offers nature lovers an unspoiled landscape of beaches, hills, mountains, forested valleys, mangroves and estuaries.

For the active, sporty or even the downright tireless among you there is a seemingly limitless number of activities on offer - scuba adventures, snorkelling, kayaking, waterfalls, rock climbing, elephant treks, regattas, waterskiing, fishing, helicopter sightseeing, visiting temples and cultural villages, golfing, bungy jumping, beach parties and fine dining.

Interested in a yacht charter in Phuket and Phang Nga Bay? Please enquire.

Scuba diving in Phuket & Phang Nga Bay

Racha Yai offers some of the best local year around dive-sites. The best diving is off the east coast where the current allows a gentle drift dive along a sloping rocky face who is covered with an amazing array of hard corals and the nutrient rich water draws large schools of tropical fish.

Racha Noi is a little bit more isolated and a popular dive-site for more experienced divers. The northern tip of the island offers an opportunity for a good multilevel dive along a large pinnacle where spotting larger marine life like Reef Sharks and Stingrays is common. Off the southern point is a nice drift dive along some spectacular scenery as you find yourself on top of a large rock formation surrounded by deep water. On the southwest side there is a wooden ship-wreck that draws a lot of interesting reef fish.

Hin Daeng is located just a few hundred meters south of Hin Muang. By descending along the wall to a depth of 30 meters you are likely to encounter huge schools of jack tuna sometimes so thick they appear as a solid wall of silver. Large Barracudas sweep past the ridge as they stalk the feeding Needle-Fish and Long Toms.

The Phi Phi Islands is one of the most dramatically beautiful locations in the world. The scenery from the surface is absolutely stunning; colossal emerald green monoliths rising straight from the sea and soaring to heights of more than 500 meters. Underwater, these towers shape a rugged, interesting environment for scuba divers, and over time the elements have created caves, overhangs, and swim-throughs in the soft limestone rock.

On the 4th of May 1997 the 85-meter passenger ferry 'King Cruiser' on a routine run to the Phi-Phi Islands made history by straying several miles off course and hitting the Anemone Reef. If the Phuket dive scene had been previously lacking in anything it was a decent ship-wreck for divers to explore. This unplanned addition to Anemone Reef has become one of the most popular dive-sites.

Koh Doc Mai, Located on the way to Shark Point from Phuket, Koh Doc Mai is considered one of the best wall dives. The west side is a gently sloping hard coral reef, while on the east-side of the island is a virtual garden of yellow tube corals and you can explore some of the small caves along the base of the wall.
Sport Fishing around Phuket & Phang Nga Bay If you love the thrill of big game fishing, Dorado, Barracuda and Reef Sharks are among the big game fish that inhabit the waters around Racha Island. Whether you just want to enjoy a day on the water, or if you're a serious fishermen you can join a day trip or charter a yacht from Phuket. Chartering is surprisingly good value between a family group and friends.