Coral Island (Ko He) is 15 minutes by speedboat from Rawai pier: two beaches, house-reef snorkelling and water sports. Racha Yai is further (about 40 minutes) but the water is noticeably clearer — it's where beginner divers do their first dives.
Boats leave from Rawai and Chalong. A half-day to Coral Island starts at 800 THB; a full day to Racha with lunch is 1,500–2,000. You can hire a longtail on Rawai beach, but check for life jackets and don't go out in waves.
Tips
- •Coral Island gets busy after 11 — take the first boat
- •Racha is prettier underwater; if choosing one, pick Racha
- •Check whether lunch and transfer are included — budget tours often aren't
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