Forum :
Technical and Wreck Diving
Topic :
Thai Eastern Seaboard Wreck Diving
Commencing in January 2011 Rec-N-Tech Asia will be running regular trips to the following wrecks along the Thai Eastern Seaboard. Please look at our website that will be updated with details shortly.
Recreational Trips
HTMS Khram
The Thai navy sunk a decommissioned warship near Koh Phai island off Pattaya far islands to turn it into a breeding ground for marine life.
The United States gave this ship (Former USS LSM-469) renamed HTMS KHRAM to the Thai navy on the 25 May 1962. The ship, now dilapidated beyond repair, has been in use for more than 60 years. It now lies about 300 meters from Koh Phai in 30m of water.
HTMS Kut
The Thai navy sunk a decommissioned warship near Koh Larn in Pattaya Bay to create a second artificial reef and marine breeding ground.
The United States gave this ship (Former USS LSM-338) renamed HTMS KUT to the Thai navy during 1962. The ship, now dilapidated beyond repair, has been in use for more than 60 years. It now lies just slightly North of Koh Sak in around 30 meters of water.
Hardeep (Suthathip)
Suthathip Wreck was a steam ship build by Dearn Rua Thai company (Thai Shipping Co.), it was built to be used as a cargo ship for the Hong Kong and Vambua company.The length of the ship is 68.11 meter, beam 10.84 meter, height 5.43 meter. The size is 802.97 ton net. Registration date 12 July 1940.
Dearn Rua Thai company used the Suthathip as cargo ship approximately 3 years before was called by the Royal Thai Navy to assist in the WWII. On the 30th of May 1945 , Satahip bay was heavily hit by the allies bombing airplanes. Navy admiral Kanok, commander of the second Navy unit ordered Suthathip and other 8 warship to find a better place to anchor. Suthathip and 3 others ship were anchored in front of Koa Chuang.
On the 1st of June, 12.36 pm, 10-15 bombing squadron attack the place where Suthathip and other ship were anchor. H.T.M.S. U Thong, H.T.M.S Angthong and H.T.M.S. Tha Chin were hit bit still afloat while Suthathip which did not have any cannon to protect herself was severely hit, caught on fire and sank at 12.55 pm . It now lies about 200 meters from Koh Rong Nong in 30m of water.
Technical Trips
HTMS Sarasin
PC-461 Class Submarine Chaser: Laid down, 10 June 1941 by the Dravo Corp., Neville Island, Pittsburgh, PA; Launched, 30 December 1941; Commissioned USS PC-495, 23 April 1942; Transferred to the Foreign Liquidation Commission, 10 May 1947; Transferred to Thailand in 1951 as HTMS Sarasin (PC 1); Sunk as a target.
Specifications: Displacement 280 t.(lt) , 450 t.(fl); Length 173' 8"; Beam 23'; Draft 10' 10"; Speed 20.2 kts.; Complement 65; Armament one 3"/50 dual purpose gun mount, one 40mm gun mount; three 20mm guns, two rocket launchers, four depth charge projectiles, two depth charge tracks
The wreck lies on its port side facing West. On the sand at the side of the wreck the depth is 43 mtrs. The top of the wreck is at 35 mtrs. There were lots of old fishing nets draped around the wreck which were hazardous. There are a few small entry points in to the wreck from what would have been the deck.
PAK 1
The 25-year-old tanker owned by the PAK Line originally sank on Aug 25, 1996. First dives revealed extensive damage to the bows, obviously caused by a substantial impact with a large vessel, and later rumored have been caused by the Thai Navy vessel involved in the initial search for the tanker after it sank. It now lies at 43m in open ocean off Rayong. The top of the wreck is at 25m.
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