After much speculations and rumors around the Gulf of Thailand dive community, the announcement of the sinking of a new wreck, off the coast of Koh Tao was released. This new wreck will add to the Trident wreck that was sunk several months ago.

BSAC Thailand was invited along by the PTTEP to take part in the underwater surveying of a number of the proposed sites for the sinking of the wreck. In addition to BSAC Thailand attending this project, groups such as Save Koh Tao and a member from Ban’s Diving also attended.

Also attending the survey was the Thai Royal Navy who donated the wreck, local governors form Suratthani and Chumphon provinces, Thai marine biologists, the Thai fisheries department, Tourist of Thailand and some local Dive centre owners – who were representing the Koh Tao diving communities. 

The ship that is due to be sunk at Koh Tao is called HMS Satakut. The vessel is 48 - metres in length with a beam of 7 metres. The total height of the wreck from the keel to the top of the mast is 18 metres.

Initially, there were a number of proposed sites planned for the sinking of the wreck, although a number of these were subject to strong currents as well as subject to prevailing monsoon conditions and was deemed unsuitable for the wreck site. It was agreed by all who were involved that the best site for the wreck would be located on the west side of Koh Tao with the location being South of ‘Hin Pee Wee pinnacle’.

Once sunk, the wreck will lie at an approximate depth of 32 metres with the top of the mast being at between 12 to 14 metres depending on the state of the tides. During the survey we dived two different sites around the Hin Pee Wee area. At the end of these dives it was concluded that both sites had similar underwater conditions and topography and the site to the south west of Hin Pee Wee would be the more suitable of the two.

The next step now is for the organisers to submit the chosen location and a survey report to the relevant government departments. The planned date in which the wreck is to be sunk is the 18^th June 2011.

On the 21^st April the ship was moved from its residential mooring and was transported to a Bangkok shipyard where the vessel is already undergoing alteration to ensure that it is safe and is environmentally prepared for the sinking.

After the wreck has been sunk, there is a long - term project planned in order to monitor the success of how the wreck will become habited with marine life and corals. It is believed that the monitoring of the wreck will be in conjunction with various Thai universities as well as local conservation groups and the diving community as a whole.   

The main aim of sinking the wreck is to establish an artificial reef which hopefully will take divers away from other dive sites and relieve the overcrowding of other dive sites.

As the depth of the wreck lies in the depth range of 14 - metres down to 30 – metres, the wreck will therefore be suitable for qualified divers. This wreck will also provide an ideal wreck diving location for wreck diver trainees /courses.

This site will be practicularly good for BSAC centres who wishes to offer the BSAC Wreck appreciation, and the BSAC Marine Conservation courses.