Koh Tao is a diving location which is well known around the world. The small island, isolated in the Gulf of Thailand, has long been a favorite with divers. Warm seas, a rich underwater world and shipwrecks are what characterise it, and from September 2023, there have been two more reasons to visit.

The ships HTMS Suphairin and HTMS Hanhak Sattru were sunk as part of a project to set up an underwater park for education and the preservation of underwater ecosystems near Nguyen Island (located in the immediate vicinity of Koh Tao). Just a few months later, we had the opportunity to dive on one of them.

The HTMS Suphairin is located very close to the northwest of the No Name Pinnacle. The ship lies in an ideal horizontal position, as if it were sailing at the depth, ranging from 11 to 27 meters. The shipwreck is 45 meters long and 7 meters wide, and was once a high-speed warship. It belonged to the Gulf Patrol Fleet of the Royal Thai Navy. In 2018, after 42 years of service, it was decommissioned together with the HTMS Hanhak Sattru and transferred to the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources.

It is particularly interesting that the sea ‘took it under its wing’ very quickly. In a short time, it has become home to many underwater inhabitants, which can clearly be seen in the photos.

The wreck is marked with a buoy and can be found easily. It is possible to dive through the entire below deck, as well as through the bridge. An interesting detail is that the deck guns remain in place. In any case, it is certainly a spot worth diving at, and very suitable for the SSI Wreck Diving specialty course.

Text and photos by Janez Kranjc and Ivana OK

The post HTMS Suphairin – A Wreck Full of Life appeared first on Mares – Scuba Diving Blog.

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