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HTMS Khram Wreck Pattaya Sank 2003

On the 30th of January 2003, the Thai Navy sank a decommissioned U.S. Warship between Koh Phai and Koh Larn islands around fifteen (15) kilometres west of Pattaya Beach.

The intentional sinking and creation of the HTMS Khram dive site has become a breeding ground for fish families and a popular diving destination for qualified scuba divers.

Tips for Scuba Diving the Khram Shipwreck

A boat trip from Pattaya Port to HTMS Khram shipwreck in the Gulf of Thailand takes around ninety (90) minutes.

The journey can be a little choppy as you pass the nearby islands of Koh Larn and Koh Sak.

This is one of the most popular wreck dives in Pattaya, but there is no shelter from wind and currents.

As a consequence of that, the entry from the dive boat - and the exit out of the water - can both be a little tricky.

So, besides using the descent line attached to the top of the tower (on the starboard side), it's best not to wait too long on the surface, especially if the current is strong. Instead, start your descent down the line as soon as it is safe to do so.

The American WW11 vessel is approximately seventy (70) metres long. The ship lays north to south with the bow facing almost due south.

Descending onto the Khram

The descent may feel somewhat unnerving if it will be your first time scuba diving on a sunken shipwreck. Even so, you can use the mooring line for control and the schools of feeding jacks as visual references.

You will see the general outline of the US Landing Craft around fifteen (15) metres below the surface. But, the hull of the wreckage sits upright on the seafloor at thirty (30) metres.

Most divers spend the first five or ten minutes following the general layout inside the belly of the wreck. This is the place to get the most shelter from any strong water movement.

Navigating HTMS Khram Wreck

If you're in the first dive group down, you're likely to see a resident turtle. Still, any kind of "excessive fin kicking" is going to ruin the visibility for any divers following behind.

Look out for shoals of blackfin barracuda (Sphyraena qenie) near the outside of the wreck at a depth of 22 to 25 metres.

Plus, you should also see jacks and yellowtail fusiliers swarming around the wreck as they wait for an opportune moment to feed on small fish.

A few words of caution...

When conditions are optimum, the wreck can be penetrated as part of the Wreck Diver Specialty course. But, you should never go inside the wreck without wreck diving equipment and the proper training for using it.

Your first dive on the Khram shipwreck is likely to be short on bottom time - due to an increase in air consumption at depth. Hence, most divers will start the ascent after twenty (20) minutes or so.

It's always better to make your way back to the tower and use the ascent line. You can circle the tower for a few minutes as you slowly ascend on the mooring rope. This is a good way to off-gas nitrogen and get a chance to see some macro marine life in the crevices and barnacle formations.

Put another way:

I always like to make a 'deep stop' as an added precaution. So, I'll generally decompress on the ascent line around twelve (12) metres for one or two minutes, before making the customary safety stop at five (5) metres for at least three (3) minutes.

A big 'OK' Hand Sign as you reach the surface signals that you are in good shape and ready to get back on board. I've personally dived the Khram more than 100 times and in my opinion it is one of the best dives for experienced divers in Pattaya.

Marine Life at HTMS Khram Wreck

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:

The Royal Thai Navy prepared the ship as an artificial diving reef, so it's free from arms, oil, and most of the other hazards to divers. But, there are some large holes and passageways that remain in natural daylight.

The best months to scuba dive the Khram wreck in Pattaya are from November to the beginning of April. Often, the underwater visibility can be up to fifteen (15) metres and the currents are moderate to strong.

Pro Tip: It's proven to be such a major attraction for divers and wreck diving enthusiasts who visit the holiday resort Pattaya, that there are further plans to scuttle more shipwrecks into the eastern seaboard waters.

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