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SS Suddhadib Hardeep Wreck in Pattaya
Scuba diving around any sunken shipwreck is an exhilarating experience, albeit with some apprehension if this will be your first time.
Most of the easy wreck dives in Pattaya were intentionally scuttled to create artificial reefs. Not so the Hardeep... it was actually bombed near the end of World War II.
What is Hardeep Wreck and How Did it Sink
SS Suddhadib (since renamed to the "Hardeep") was a steam-powered freighter used for carrying cargo around Southeast Asia.
The government in Thailand requisitioned the vessel during World War II to help support the supply efforts of the Imperial Japanese Army.
But Allied air forces (including B-24 Liberators and the British Royal Air Force bombers) attacked it and sank the ship near Samaesan Island on the 1st of June in 1945.
The rusting remains of the 70-metre vessel rest in 29 metres of water and they have created one of the best artificial reefs in Pattaya.
Pro Tip: So how did the name "Hardeep Wreck" come about? In fact, it's an unofficial nickname given to this dive site by local scuba divers. They considered it as being a "hard" and "deep" shipwreck to dive on due to the strong currents.
Marine Life at Hardeep Wreck
The ship is laying on its starboard side in less than thirty (30) metres of depth (100 feet). The wreckage contains several very large openings that offer scuba divers interesting views of the engine room, boiler room (stokehold), and crankshaft.
After many years of metal decay, the corroded remnants have seen soft coral formations and tube sponge gardens firmly establish themselves.
It's also created a mini ecosystem and safe habitats for some of the large fish families and vertebrates, including:
- Angelfish (saltwater species)
- Barracuda
Batfish- Blackspot Tuskfish (Choerodon schoenleinii)
- Bull shark
- Butterfly fish
- Cobia
- Eagle ray (chondrichthyans)
- Groupers
- Guitar shark
- Hawksbill sea turtle
- Jacks
- Nudibranch (e.g. Hypselodoris bullockii)
- Rabbitfishes (spinefoots)
- Shovelnose rays (guitarfish)
- Stonefishes (Order: Scorpaeniformes)
- Trevallies
Tips for Diving the Hardeep Wreck
In the interest of safe diving practices, it's better to do some prudent preparation before you consider going on a dive trip to the wreckage site.
For instance:
The location of the submerged shell is in a channel renowned for ripping underwater currents. Thus, scheduling the dive during periods of slack water will help to ensure better visibility (up to fifteen metres) and safer conditions for divers.
Moreover, it's not uncommon for this area to be the target of significant activity for the Royal Thai Navy. So, check with the dive shop and be aware that there may be some additional restrictions in place.
Pro Tip: These final thoughts and professional advice come from my personal experience after diving around this fascinating example of maritime history. The sunken wreckage of the Hardeep sits in open water with very strong currents that prevail for most of the year. So, the optimum months for scuba diving SS Suddhadib are December to March. However, we "do not" recommend "going inside" this freighter unless you have the proper training and equipment.