This morning we went wreck diving on the Advanced Course. Our Advanced divers visited our local wreck HTMS (His Thai Majesty Ship) Sattakut. Originally launched in 1944 the battleship was commissioned by the US Navy and was used during WW2. It was then bought by the Royal Thai Navy in 1946 and was used as a patrol boat until 2011.
The Thai Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) purchased the ship with the intention of donating it to Koh Tao to act as an artificial reef, in order to promote tourism. The vessel was stripped of its engines, furniture, electric cabling and thankfully its ammunition! After being cleaned and sent to Koh Tao, it was sunk on the 18th June 2011.
This wreck is now full of life boasting schools of juvenile fusiliers and barracuda, giant pufferfish, Jenkins whip rays all using the shelter from other predators. Being 30m to the bottom at the stern, this is perfect for deep dives and obviously wreck diving on the Advanced Course.
Penetration of the wreck is strictly prohibited for recreational diver and only allowed for divers with technical dive training. Which by the way we also offer with our Big Blue Tech department on a course called the Advanced Wreck Course.
