Raya Phuket Underwater Art Museum
Raya Island is one of the destinations that divers from around the world can experience at the Siam Bay dive site, which recently became home to a new Phuket project: an underwater art museum called the 'Raya Phuket Underwater Art Museum.
On August 28, 2026, organizations concerned with the project exchanged ideas and fostered understanding regarding the development concept of the “RAYA Phuket Underwater Art Museum” in Siam Bay, Racha Yai Island, Phuket Province.
This event marks a significant historical step in developing and upgrading Phuket's tourism industry—especially marine tourism, which is a key strength of the province. Promoting the Racha Island underwater museum to an international level will create a unique selling point and differentiate Thailand on the global tourism stage.
The RAYA Phuket Underwater Art Museum is a source of great pride for the people of Phuket and all Thais. It not only attracts divers and discerning tourists from all over the globe but also symbolizes the collaboration between art and nature restoration.
The “RAYA Phuket Underwater Art Museum” project aims to create an underwater art space that integrates marine resource conservation with creative tourism, elevating Phuket to an art destination and connecting art, culture, and the environment through contemporary tools that foster learning resources and restore marine ecosystems.
Under this concept, underwater sculptures of characters from the Ramayana epic—such as Rama (Phra Ram), Ravana (Thotsakan), Hanuman, and Suphannamatcha (a mermaid princess)—along with large cubes, have been created.
These sculptures serve both as works of art and as habitats for coral and marine life. The first sculpture, 'Hanuman,' has already begun installation, while the 'RAYA' series, comprising Rama (Phra Ram), Ravana (Thotsakan), large cubes, and Suphannamatcha (a mermaid princess), is currently under construction and is expected to be completed by 2026.
In addition, the project aims to address the impacts of global warming by using environmentally friendly, low-carbon cement materials. Research has shown that this site can effectively serve as a home and breeding ground for coral larvae, helping to expand marine habitats in the future. Furthermore, the project enhances Phuket tourism by linking contemporary art with marine conservation, transforming Racha Island into a sustainable destination and a landmark that will attract divers, tourists, and art enthusiasts from around the world.
Raya Island (also known as Racha Island) is located not far from Phuket. Taking a speedboat from Chalong Pier to Raya Island takes about 30 minutes, while a diving boat takes about an hour and a half. Currently, Raya Island is a popular destination for snorkeling trips via speedboat and catamaran, and it is also ideal for scuba diving in crystal-clear waters. It makes for a great experience when you are on vacation in Phuket. Once the 'Raya Phuket Underwater Art Museum' project is completed, I believe Siam Bay will become one of the must-visit unseen underwater attractions in Thailand.
Writer : Better Call Nika
Reference:
Phuketandamannews
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