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14 miles from Ao Chalong
Racha Yai Bay is one of the real tropical paradises of the area. A fine white sand beach is framed by a bay fringed on both sides with coral. The clear waters are a vivid aquamarine tending to turquoise. Most of the shallower part of the bay now has moorings and the only anchorage opportunity is in 15-25 metres on sand and calcified coral in the outer bay. Sandy patches do exist closer in, but take care to avoid damaging the reef or fouling your anchor.
The Racha Resort has installed a high season floating jetty in the southern corner. You’re welcome to tie your dinghy to the jetty, if you’re eating at the hotel. Tie up close to the beach to avoid hampering the resort’s transfer boats.
The diving and snorkelling are excellent. Dive boats and day trippers frequent the beach every day, so if you have crew leaving, opportunities for transportation back to Phuket are many.
Racha Yai evenings are peaceful after the day-trip boats have departed, making this a delightful night anchorage, following a spectacular sunset in this west facing bay. There are several walking tracks to other beaches and across the island. You can fill your dive tanks on the beach.
