Phuket - Thailand

Racha Yai Underwater Museum: New Ramayana Sculptures and Older Statues

Phuket – Thailand

Racha Yai Underwater Museum:New Ramayana Sculptures and Older Statues

Two scuba divers swimming above a coral-covered stone elephant at Siam Bay, Racha Yai — One of Siam Bay’s older underwater elephant monuments, photographed with two scuba divers.

The Racha Yai underwater museum is a new project taking shape at Siam Bay, adding Ramayana-inspired art to an island already known for coral reefs, sandy bays and unusual underwater landmarks.

Four large new works are planned to join the repaired Hanuman installation. The project is exciting, but there is an important distinction for divers planning a trip: the four additions are not yet confirmed as open underwater attractions.

According to The Phuket News, the works are expected to be placed during calmer sea conditions in November and December. Access to the completed site is then expected from late 2026 or early 2027, subject to sea conditions and safety inspections.

At a glance

The repaired Hanuman installation was reported accessible from early August. Rama, Ravana, The Road and Suphannamatcha are planned additions—not yet confirmed open.

New Ramayana Sculptures

Large school of fish swimming above an underwater artificial structure — A school of fish above an underwater structure, illustrating how marine life can gather around submerged features.

The four planned sculptures represent characters and scenes from the Ramayana’s “Attack on Lanka” episode:

Rama
Ravana
The Road
Suphannamatcha

They are intended to join the Hanuman installation in Siam Bay. The news report says the first phase contains 73 underwater elements at depths of approximately 12–19 metres: 47 Hanuman-themed pieces, 15 3D-printed fence structures and 11 artificial-reef units.

The wider project is known as the RAYA Underwater Art Museum.

Why build art underwater?

Two scuba divers swimming above a grid of underwater artificial reef structures — Divers above artificial-reef structures. This photograph is used as general underwater context.

The project is not presented only as a visitor attraction. In its original cooperation announcement, Thailand’s Department of Marine and Coastal Resources said the underwater museum was intended to reduce pressure from diving activity on natural coral reefs, give natural areas more opportunity to recover and create artificial habitat for coral larvae and marine life.

Those are the project’s aims, rather than guaranteed results. Artificial structures change over time, and their ecological effect needs to be monitored. The official plan includes environmental oversight as well as tourism and cultural objectives.

For divers, that conservation purpose matters. The responsible way to visit any artificial-reef or sculpture site is to maintain good buoyancy, avoid contact, follow the guide’s instructions and give both the structures and surrounding marine life space.

Hanuman: Damage and Repairs

Scuba diver framed by a coral-covered underwater structure — A scuba diver framed by a coral-covered underwater structure; used as general Phuket diving context.

The Hanuman structure was installed in April 2026 and damaged less than a month later during southwest-monsoon conditions. Authorities temporarily told divers and dive professionals to stay away while part of the structure was unstable.

It was removed, repaired and reinstalled. The protected-area director told The Phuket News that it had been accessible again since the beginning of August and was being inspected regularly.

That history explains why the next installation is planned for calmer November and December conditions—and why current safety confirmation matters more than an old photograph or social-media post.

Siam Bay’s Older Statues

Scuba diver beside a coral-covered underwater Yak guardian at Racha Yai — A diver beside Siam Bay’s older Yak guardian.

The Ramayana museum is not Racha Yai’s first collection of man-made underwater features.

An established PADI dive-site guide describes older monuments in the centre of Siam Bay: two elephant statues, a large temple gate and a mythical giant guardian known as a Yak. The guide places them at roughly 18–20 metres on the sandy part of the bay.

These older landmarks have long helped make Siam Bay memorable. They sit alongside natural features rather than replacing them: sand, coral patches and the tropical marine life that divers may encounter around the bay.

Racha Yai Wrecks and Reefs

Racha Yai also has artificial-reef structures and several wreck-diving features around its eastern bays. They provide contrasting scenery to the island’s natural reefs and sandy slopes and can attract fish seeking shelter.

The exact wreck, depth and route must be checked for the day’s trip. Local sources do not always agree on historic names and sinking dates, and a wreck’s condition can change. Divers should never use a general blog post as penetration guidance or assume that a particular wreck will form part of the itinerary.

The practical takeaway is that Racha Yai offers more than one style of diving: natural reef areas, sandy-bottom macro searching, older monuments, purpose-built artificial-reef units and wreck scenery.

Are Sculpture Visits Guaranteed?

No. A Racha Yai booking is not a guarantee of a dive at Siam Bay or at any particular sculpture or wreck.

Wind, swell, current, visibility, boat traffic, diver experience, local restrictions and the condition of the site all matter. The captain and dive team choose the most appropriate location and profile for the people and conditions on the day.

This is especially important while the new museum is still being completed and inspected. The safest wording is simple: the site may become part of future Racha Yai diving, but access needs to be confirmed after installation and official safety checks.

Racha Yai for New Divers

Scuba diver beside colourful hard corals in the Racha Islands — A scuba diver beside colourful hard corals in the Racha Islands.

Racha Yai is often discussed for first-time divers, training and newer certified divers because some bays can offer comparatively sheltered profiles when conditions are suitable. That does not make every Racha Yai site, depth or day automatically beginner-friendly.

The older Siam Bay monuments are commonly described at around 18–20 metres, while the new project elements have been reported at 12–19 metres. Programme limits, certification, recent experience and the professional’s assessment still decide what is appropriate.

If you have never dived, start with our Discover Scuba Diving guide. If you are considering certification, read about the PADI Open Water course in Phuket.

Plan Your Racha Islands Dive

Scuba divers exploring a sunken wreck in the Racha Islands — Certified divers exploring a wreck in the Racha Islands.

Racha Yai and Racha Noi are often combined in conversation, but they offer different diving. Racha Yai has several bays and can suit a wide range of experience levels. Racha Noi is farther south, more exposed and generally discussed for certified divers with suitable recent experience.

Read our Racha Yai vs Racha Noi guide for the practical comparison, or see the current Racha Islands certified-diver trip for the present booking format.

Tell us your intended date, certification, total dives and when you last dived. We can explain the current trip options and suitability, while keeping the final site choice subject to conditions and the day’s operation.

Ask Thailand Divers about Racha diving

Frequently asked questions

Is the Museum Open?

Not yet. The repaired Hanuman installation was reported accessible from early August 2026, but the four additional works were planned for underwater placement in November and December. The completed site was expected to become visitable from late 2026 or early 2027, subject to conditions and safety inspections.