| |
Sensational
Wreck Diving at Phi Phi Island
on the the King Cruiser Wreck
|
|
|
 |
An
unexpected and dramatic event on the 4th. May
1997 made Phi Phi Island famous worldwide. The
passenger cruiser "King Cruiser" sank
and turned Phi Phi into a Mecca for wreck divers.
The "King Cruiser" was on its normal
route from Phuket to Phi Phi Island. The weather
was perfectly fine. It was a bright, partially
clouded day. The sea lay calm, there was no wind.
Everything was business as usual… until
the ship all of a sudden hit an undersea rock,
gently shuddered to a halt and began to take water
in trough a hole in the port side hull of the
catamaran's twin hulls. Slowly, the big ferry
began to sink. |
|
|
|
|
|
The sinking process took an hour or so. All passengers,
there were more than 600, were brought to safety.
There was plenty of time for the rescue operation
and no panic at all, as the surprised travelers
watched the big ferry sink to the bottom of the
Andaman Sea, only 30 meters down under their life-boats.
The Kings Cruiser sank with the portside forward,
under thundering delivery of gigantic air bubbles.
There is nothing like the thrill of diving into
a wreck. Nobody can free himself of the spell
that haunts a sunken ship. Imagination runs wild,
as one meanders through the furniture and outcrops,
as one swims from one room to another. The "King
Cruiser" is an easy dive. The ship has large
openings that grant the divers easy access to
the spacey interior.
|
|
|
|
For
divers the "King Cruiser" is a sensational
and wonderful opportunity to study the process
of marine life-forms taking possession of a new
part of their environment. Huge shoals of colorful
fish are already occupying the ship. Groupers
guard the holes and crevices. Even the sedentary
settlers - shells and corals - have begun to move
in. Conveniently, the "King Cruiser"
has seated itself in upright position in fairly
shallow waters. The steering house hovers just
10 meters under the surface.
|
|
|
|
| |
The
propellers (deepest point) rest 30 meters deep.
Therefore, Divers who have never dived a wreck
before can enjoy the supreme fascination of wreck-exploring!
The most interesting areas are the passenger decks
between 10 and 20 meters.
|
|
|
|
About
the "King Cruiser"
The ship was built in Japan 30 years
ago and plowed the sea between Phuket and Phi
Phi island until she sunk on the 4th.Mai 1997.
She was a comfortable catamaran-hull passenger-cruiser
with 4 decks.
Gross Tonnage: 3,000 tons
Length: 85 m
Breadth:25 m
Depth:8 m
Engine capacity:10,000 Hp
Max.Speed: 22 knots
|
|
|
|
| |
Phi
Phi Shark Point and Bida Islands
Shark Point (Hin Bida)
|
|
|
|
 |
A small rock breaking the surface is surrounded
by an oval reef under the water. The shape of
the reef resembles a giant fried egg. Shark Point
drops sharply on the north side of the reef, reaching
the sandy bottom at around 21 m. The south side
slopes gently down to 18 m. Here grinded rocks
are to be found, covered with soft and table corals,
sea fans, feather stars and shells. The small
crevices give home to mooray eels, box fish, crayfish
and octopus.
|
|
|
| |
The
name Shark Point refers to the abundance of leopard
sharks, who usually lie sleeping in the sand.
The leopard sharks, when not feeding, can be found
sleeping peacefully outside the reef in the sand.
At this point, the author would like to put forward
a request for consideration: Please remember,
that these animals are sleeping, and should not
be awekened. That means, that you should approach
them slowly, not make noise, sudden movements
or similar. Touching them is of course something,
that any nature-lover and diver would disrespect.
Such actions will frighten the animals and cause
them to panic. and drive them out of our waters,
maybe forever. On behalf of all divers, the Visa
Diving Team thanks you in advance for your understanding.
|
|
|
|
| |
Bida
Islands
The Bida islands are two small rocky outcrops
at the southern end of Phi Phi Lee. Somebody has
said they look like a pair of boots, left behind
standing in the water by a giant. Under the surface
the diver is met by underwater scenery at its
best.
|
|
|
|
Bida
Nok
Large rocks form a mountainous terrain, featuring
walls that drop fiercely. Soft and hard coral
abound. Bearded scorpionfish hide among the rocks
under hovering lionfish. Parrotfish, moorish idol,
wrasse and sea anemones with brilliantly colored
clownfish. On the sand leopard sharks and stingrays.
Rays and whalesharks are being sighted by the
lucky divers. The walls are covered by lots of
colorful soft coral colonies. The bottom is rather
plane. Rocks in the sand are home to droves of
squids. At 20 m there is a cave and a overhang.
Leopard sharks lie sleeping on the sandy bottom.
|
|
|
|
| |
Bida
Nai
On the northeast side of Bida Nai's imposing wall
you will find a cavern at 20 m depth. Usually
one drops of the boat at the northeast corner
going west. It takes about 50 minutes to round
the island. Currents - when they exist - usually
come from the west.
Leopard sharks and squids hang around Bida Nai
and the corals are big, colorful and pretty.
Location: The outer of two large outcrops south
of Phi Phi Lee
Access: 50 min. from Ton Sai Bay
Conditions: Visibility averages 20 m.
Dive depth: 19 to 30 m.
|
|
|
|
| |
Hin
Dot (Chimney Rocks)
Hin Dot - also known as Chimney Rock - makes a
fantastic multi level dive. The divesite resembles
three chimneys emerging from the bottom of the
sea to close near the surface. These dramatic
pinnacles have developed over several hundred
years and consist only of clam and wing oysters.
Maximum depth of these pinnacles is 30 m, but
they reach up to 3, 12 and 15 m. These enormous
towers are famous for their large schools of fish.
Other fish populations include groupers, pufferfish,
lionfish, squid and bearded scorpionfish.
Location: Submerged pinnacle off Phi Phi Dons
southwestern headlands
Access: 15-20 min by boat
Conditions: Visibility 8-20 m.
Dive depth: 10-34 m.
|
|
|
|
|
Losamah
Bay
Location: Off the southern coastline of Phi Phi
Lee.
Access: 40 min. from Ton Sai Bay
Conditions: Visibility averages 15 m.
Dive depth: 14 to 20 m. |
Losamah is a small bay hosting colorful corals
and a small beach. On the sandy bottom you will
find patches of brain corals interspersed with
Christmas tree and fan worms. The entrance of
the bay is blocked by a large, circular island
- the main attraction for divers. The islands
vertical walls are dressed in sea whips and wing
oysters until reaching the sandy bottom. The divesite
promises overhangs and crevices. On the eastern
side of the island the diver encounters the highlight
of this dive, a spectacular canyon sporting large
sea fans and a collage of soft corals. Swimming
around the island will take about 45 minutes.
The sandy bottom of the bay is punctuated by rocky
ledges among which one finds bearded scorpionfish.
Fringing the rocks are sea whips with wing oysters
clinging to them. Abundant flora and fauna with
plenty of bivalve shells. Red coral trouts, angel
and butterfly fish dart around as you swim by.
The highlight of this dive is a spectacular 15
m long canyon lined with sea fans and soft coral.
|
|
|
| |
Hin
Daeng and Hin Muang
Two outstanding Dive Sites in South Thailand close
to Phi Phi Island
Hin Daeng and Hin Muang are fascinating and really
dramatic dive sites. Arguably the greatest two
sites in Thai waters they are comparable to the
best diving spots in the world!
Hin Daeng and Hin Muang are located only app.
55 km (180 degrees) South of Phi Phi Island. These
reefs offer the deepest drop-off and steepest
wall in the kingdom. As both reefs are situated
in open sea, making the the only feeding grounds
of the area, there is an unimaginable lot of marine
life. The nearest island is Ko Rock Nock, about
25 km away.
Hin Daeng is a large underwater reef surging up
from a depth of 50 m, breaking the surface. Only
a very small peak hovers above the water. On its
northern side the reef drops in a relatively gentle
slope. Yet the southern side has a drop-off down
to more than 50 meters. Hin Daeng's average depth
is 25 meters, reaching 35 meters at the max.
Among the high-lights of Hin Daeng are large nurse
sharks that live in a cave about 10 meters down
at the southwestern part of the wall. Grey reef
sharks are likely to be encountered at the walls
north-eastern rock formation.
Hin Muang translates to "Purple Rock".
The reason for this name are the many wonderful
soft corals - pink and purple sea anemones - that
completely cover the highest point of this reef.
Hin Muang is located only some hundred meters
from Hin Daeng and rises from a depth of more
than 70 meters. It comes 9 meters close to the
surface and features the deepest drop-off in Thai
waters.
|
|
|
|
 |
Two
sides of this amazing rock are really dramatic,
steep walls. They are home to big, blooming soft
corals and a great variety of fish and large schools
of fish. Hin Muang is one of only few places in
Thailand that are home to the Grey reef shark.
And of course - here you have a great chance to
encounter the famous gentle giant of the oceans
- the whale shark. For some reason they come here
even more often than at Hin Daeng, only few hundred
meters away.
|
|
|
| |
Northern
Liveaboard Destinations
To the northwest of the island of Phuket lie the
most popular, famous and best-loved dive sites
in Thailand. The Similan Islands, nine islands
of stunning beauty and dazzling marine life, are
visited by many liveaboard boats from Phuket.
The reasons the area has become so famous are
unlimited diving in warm, clear water at one of
over 25 dive sites, and mild, comfortable sea
conditions.
Approximately 180 kilometres to the northwest
of the Similan Islands lie the relatively unexplored
Mergui Archipelago and the Burma Banks, a group
of underwater mountains rising from depths of
over 350 meters to just below the surface. Close
encounters with large silver tip and nurse sharks,
the thrill of soaring over the tops of underwater
plateaus pushed by strong currents, and large
schools of pelagic fish have made these banks
celebrated world-wide.
Three hundred fifty kilometres further to the
northwest are the newly opened Andaman Islands,
a vast array of islands running north to south
in the Indian Ocean. Diving possibilities are
endless and only just being explored. You'll be
hearing more and more about these islands in years
to come.
Richelieu Rock completes our triangle, back near
the border of Burma. This tiny pinnacle is one
of the best places in the world to consistently
swim with that gentle giant the whale shark. Seen
here over 60 percent of the time, these amazing
animals grow to over 15 meters in length.
Southern Liveaboard Destinations
Beginning in Phuket, we travel east to
the popular day-trip spots of Shark Point and
Koh Phi Phi which offer stunning collections of
soft corals. Also, the area is famous for frequent
sightings of the docile leopard shark that grows
to over two meters in length. The remarkable landscape
and casual shore-life of Koh Phi Phi attract thousands
of visitors every year.
Moving south we discover unpopulated, unspoiled
islands covered with tropical jungle lapped by
clear blue water, and offshore pinnacles like
Hin Daeng with vertical drop-offs of over 60 meters.
Whale sharks, dazzling fish and healthy, spectacular
coral growth are just a sampling of the diving
possibilities that await you.
Day-dive Destinations
One-day trips take us to Shark Point, Anemone
Reef, and the Phi Phi Island group which all lie
to the east of Phuket Island. Great soft coral,
leopard sharks, and nice walls are things not
be missed. Also, the topside scenery is stunning.
We can visit the paradise islands of Koh Racha
Yai and Noi located just to the south of Phuket.
Exciting drift dives, great visibility and superb
hard coral growth characterise these two islands.
The Bottom Line
Environmentally, Thailand's diving fraternity
has been a leader in coral reef protection in
Southeast Asia. Many of Thailand's best dive sites
have become protected under law. Over the past
ten years, I personally have seen major improvements
in the quality of diving at almost all regions
around the country. While other areas around Southeast
Asia and the rest of the world have suffered major
degradation of their reefs, Thailand's government
and its dive centres have instigated sound policies
in controlling damage to the coral and fish populations.
These policies have included educating people
regarding the destruction of reefs by dynamite,
mooring projects in the Similans, Koh Racha, Koh
Phi Phi, Koh Samui and Koh Tao, and a strict hands-off
policy for divers enjoying our undersea treasures.
As long as this positive trend continues, diving
in Thailand's seas will bring pleasure, enjoyment
and thrills to many people-and hopefully to their
children and grandchildren as well-for years to
come. You'll find Thailand's waters, islands,
and culture full of life, full of wonder, and
full of surprises.
|
|
|
|
|
|
