Manta Bay – A Beautiful Phuket Dive Site

Manta Bay – A Beautiful Phuket Dive Site

Manta Bay Is A Beautiful Phuket Dive Site At Racha Noi

We started diving the beautiful Phuket dive site at manta bay a few years ago. Mainly when Banana Rock was too busy but the new coral growth and marine life has seen us return frequently. It’s now a regular dive site for the second immersion on the Racha Noi/Yai scuba diving tour. There’s plenty to see for all levels and conditions are generally very easy.

Who Can Dive At Manta Bay?

Everyone! It’s a very simple dive site. The shallow areas are perfect for PADI Discover Scuba Diving and the deeper areas have plenty for experienced divers. Currents are generally mild and we tend to drift with it until it’s time to surface. Our Phuket dive boat MV kebsup will pick you up wherever you finish. Couldn’t be simpler!

What Will I See At Manta Bay In Phuket?

Ahh the million dollar question.. well obviously we have seen manta rays but that’s not a common sighting. Hawksbill turtles are very often found in the shallow part so even those on a snorkelling trip can see them. A resident school of snapper cover one of the deeper bommies and giant frogfish have made manta bay for the last few seasons. As well as all the usual reef fish, we sometimes see eagle rays and leopard sharks. A school of 30 – 40 great barracuda are always hanging around somewhere on the dive site.

giant frogfish at manta bay

giant frogfish at manta bay

What About Corals?

Unusually for a local Phuket dive site, there’s quite a bit of soft coral. Various different species give a very pleasing back drop to the marine life. In the deeper areas we have hard coral bommies that attract clouds of glassfish at certain times of year. The most pleasing aspect is signs of new staghorn coral growth at the North end of the dive site. Hopefully in a few years the beds will become extensive as they have at Banana Rock.

soft coral bushes at manta bay phuket

soft coral bushes at manta bay phuket

When Do You Visit?

We visit Racha Noi/Yai every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday – you can see our full Phuket scuba diving schedule here. We can’t promise to visit manta bay on every trip but we do try to get there often and of course as with all diving it’s weather and conditions dependant.

How Do I Book?

That’s the easy part, just send an email to info@localdivethailand.com , call us on +66(0)76-384-285 or contact us via our Facebook page. If you want to come and talk to our knowledgeable staff before booking, you can drop by our sales office in Patong or our main office located in Chalong.

Contact Us Now

By Justin Hartrey

I've been enjoying the incredible marine life in our oceans for over 25 years. 13 years ago I became a PADI professional in Phuket, hoping to introduce as many people as possible to the incredible beauty of the seas.

Having been fortunate enough to dive all over south east and especially Thailand, I enjoy sharing my diving experiences and passion on this blog.

Originally from Bristol in the UK, I swapped the frigid waters of the North Atlantic for the warm tropical seas around Thailand and can confidently say that I wouldn't go back

Posted in Amazing Local Dives on .

Popular Services

mv dive race moored in the similan islands

Dive Race Class E

MV Dive Race Class E is the latest Thailand liveaboard to cruise the Similan and Surin Island National Parks. Constructed in 2015 to international standards this 34.5m by 7.5m steel hull ocean going vessel was designed with stability and comfort in mind allowing longer trips to Myanmar and the South Andaman sites of Hin Daeng and Hin Muang. Built by divers for divers this luxury class vessel has a very comfortable air-conditioned entertain [...]

Find Out More
reef octopus on the racha yai and racha noi scuba diving tour

Racha Noi & Racha Yai – Dive Tour

Racha Noi and Racha Yai are two islands to the south of Phuket. The size of the islands offer a variety of dive sites that although feel very similar have a lot of subtle differences. However the clear water with little current is a constant at any time of year. Racha Noi is the only location close to Phuket where you have the chance of an encounter with a magnificent oceanic manta ray. You will have to be extremely fortunate but there is a c [...]

Find Out More

Daily Schedules

M/V Kepsub Schedule

Jobs @ Local Dive Thailand

Local Dive Thailand is one of Phuket's fatest growing & most vibrant scuba diving operations, we are always looking for quality staff to join us, so feel free to have a look at our jobs listing page.

Job Listings

Contact LDT

Local Guides, Local Knowledge, Local Experiences

Don't trust your diving to amateurs or freshly minted dive guides, dive with local experienced experts from Local Dive Thailand. Our Scuba Diving Phuket Tours will take you to see the rarest of the rare critters, you will be amazed by the macro life our guides can find, in the secret places only they know. To put it in perspective, if you were going to climb Mount Everest you would certainly hire a local sherpa to lead the way & keep you safe. Diving is similar because there is absolutely no substitute for local experience & local knowledge, Local Dive Thailand's guides are Phuket's Sherpa's of the Andaman Sea!

Learn More About Us

Scuba Diving Phuket, Phi Phi & Thailand

When talking about Scuba Diving in Phuket, you should believe the hype, many seasons we have had Whale Sharks grace us on our regular and easy to reach dive sites and on a good day you can add Sea Horses, Sea Moths, Snake Eels, Frog Fish & Octopus to what you can see on any given dive and so much more. If we are heading to Phi Phi Island for the day, you can possibly see Hawksbill Sea Turtles and Black Tip Reef Sharks, also don't forget the King Cruiser, 84 meters of beautiful wreck and the most amazing reef nursery for fish and nudibranch. Local Dive Thailand day trip tours to these locations are not to be missed when you are scuba diving Phuket, get in touch with us and book an 'awesome' day of diving.

Book Your Day Trip

Related News From Local Dive Thailand

See why we are Thailand's leading scuba diving Phuket tour provider, stay up to date & watch out for news & special liveaboard offers!

delicious food at the phuket seafood and gastronomy festival Phuket Sights & Fun

Phuket Seafood & Gastronomy Festival 2020

The upcoming Phuket Seafood and Gastronomy Festival is one such example of how Phuket is trying its very best to stimulate the local tourism market. Over the next five weekends at various locations around the island you'll get a chance to try fantastic fresh seafood. The venues have been chosen so that you can enjoy seafood and sea view, a challenge for Phuket Old Town.. As well as delicious prepared dishes, there'll also be the chance [...]

Read Full Story
phuket dive boat mv kepsub News & Updates

Shipyard Complete!

At least once every year our trusty Phuket dive boat MV Kepsub will be unceremoniously hauled out of the water and into the dry dock in Phuket Town for a 3 week overhaul. It's a nice break for our hard working boat crew and office staff but a bit of a nightmare for the owners. Well just about everything, the entire boat will be inspected for any problems and new features added. There's generally quite a few bodies clambering around bot [...]

Read Full Story
lets go diving News & Updates

Green Light To Go Diving Again

Officially from the 01st June, we'll be able to take MV Kebsup out to our local dive sites. The Thai government has finally given the green light for us to go diving again. Although a relief, there is still a plethora of hoops to jump through for even domestic tourists to get to Phuket. The latest news is that Phuket international airport will open from 15th June but such statements have been made before only to be retracted at the last minut [...]

Read Full Story

Local Dive Thailand Office In Phuket


Find Us On Google Maps