The King Cruiser was a Japanese car ferry which sank en route to Koh Phi Phi when it struck anemone reef.
| Name Dive Site: | King Cruiser |
| Depth: | 10-33m (32-108ft) |
| Visibility: | 5-15m (16-49ft) |
| Accessibility: | Boat |
| Inserted/Added by: | lars, © Author: Lars Hemel |
| Rated: | Rated 5.0, 4 votes |
| Specifications: |     |
Send us your images for this dive site[Add Image][Add Movie]
The King Cruiser was an old Japanese catamaran like car ferry which was used for sightseeing trips from Phuket to Koh Phi Phi and back. It was 85 meters long, 25 meters wide and about 30 meters high, originally built in Kobe, Japan. It was bought by a Thai company in the early nineties. When she struck Anemone Reef on May 4th, 1997 she was ferrying 561 passengers and mainly cargo to the Phi Phi islands. A large hole inside its hull made the ship sink in less than 2.5 hours, just enough time for nearby dive boats to save all passengers. Stories about insurance scams, drunk driving and the necessity of having a wreck dive near Phuket were easy rumours. One story tells us that it was the captain's daughter who was driving the boat when the accident happened. Supposedly the captain is still locked away bars somewhere in a local prison. We don't know which of these tales is true, but getting wrecked on that extremely calm day is highly suspicious.
Entering this upright wreck should not be done by untrained divers as you will hear the metal scraping and settling into its final position. At the front of the wreck you can easily find its hull, wheelhouse and upper decks. It used to have four decks with large passages and window holes. Parts of the upper deck have collapsed into the car deck and create a wide range of holes for creatures to live in. The rear decks have been twisted because of deterioration of the steel and the constant blows of the ocean. The wreck often endures strong currents, rough seas and should therefore only be dived by advanced divers.
It is nice to swim around this relatively young wreck spotting some groups of large fish. Big-eye trevallies and jacks are often seen sweeping down on their prey near the captains cabin. Near the propeller at thirty meters deep you can often find some sleeping bamboo sharks. Some lionfish and octopus are known to live under a set of toilet seats and pots near the stern. Further more you can see groups of stonefish, moray eels, black banded sea snakes and turtles. Its hull is covered with some shells, mussels and tiny pieces of soft and hard coral. It are the huge groups of large predators, its history and atmosphere that make this site special.
Visit our partners! Or become one.
Diveshop
- Ao Nang Aqua Vision, 76/12 Mu 2, Krabi
Ao Nang Aqua Vision
| Ao Nang, Krabi, Thailand Scuba... www.diving-krabi.com +66 75 637415 +66 75 637415 | 76/12 Mu 2 81000 Krabi |
Scuba dive in Ao Nang, Krabi Thailand with the most highly rated and friendly diving center in Krabi. Whale shark diving to Hin Daeng & Hin Muang from Aonang beach, PADI dive courses, Nitrox Diving, Phi Phi diving trips & Similan liveaboard trips. If you're diving in Krabi - Dive Aqua Vision!
Content English
Phi Phi Diving
| Phi Phi Diving www.phiphidiving.com/ 076 398 040 | Tonsai Village Phi Phi Island |
Dive the Phi Phi Islands with Phi Phi Diving. Daily trips around the best dive sites. PADI Dive courses start whenever you want!
Phi Phi Diving offers day trips around Phi Phi and further afield to Shark Point, the King Cruiser Wreck and even to Hin Daeng. PADI courses can start any day. Phi Phi is a beautiful place to learn how to dive.
Coral Diving
| Coral Diving www.coral-diving.com/html/en/c... +6675637662 +6675637662 | Krabi Resort 81000 Ao Nang |
Coral Diving is the only 5* PADI Gold Palm Resort in Ao Nang and we try harder to make your diving better. Multi-lingual instructors and guidance
Explore the wonders of the Andaman Dea and have a unique experience by diving with us! Coral Diving takes you out there to show leopard sharks, turtles, sea horses, brightly coloured corals and much much more!
MantaPoint Ao Nang Co Ltd
| Manta Point Ao Nang Dive Centr... www.mantapoint-aonang.com +66 (0) 75 638441 +66 (0) 75 638441 | 55/2 Moo 2, Muang, Ao Nang Bea... 81000 Krabi |
Manta Point Ao Nang, under British management, caters for small groups and individual service. Why be part of the crowd?!
Diving Phi Phi
| Diving Phi Phi www.divingphi.com (66) 81 8951334 | 125/19 Moo 7 81000 Phi Phi Island |
Learn to dive on Phi Phi with the islands leading eco-friendly diving school. Day trips, snorkel trips and the full range of PADI dive courses are available.
Aussie Divers Phuket
| http://www.aussiediversphuket.... www.aussiediversphuket.com +66 76688113 +66 76688112 | 158/8 Nanai Road 83150 Patong Beach |
Aussie Divers Phuket is a PADI 5 Star IDC Dive Centre and the home to Phuket's most professional scuba diving education. With a great range of PADI courses, fantastic instructors, we are simply the best place to book a scuba diving day trip or Similan Island liveaboard adventure whilst on holiday here in Phuket
We specialize extensively in first time dive experiences with the PADI Discover Scuba Diving & PADI Open Water Diver course, all the way through to the professional levels with our PADI Go Pro courses which include the PADI IDC Instructor & Divemaster Courses. Here at Aussie Divers we pride ourselves on a reputation for quality and professional education. Our goal is to make sure you recieve the best dive training available whilst at the same time having a fun, safe, enjoyable and memorable experience here in Thailand.
Other
- Phuket Travel and Tourist Guide, ,
Phuket Travel and Tourist Guide
| Phuket Travel and Tourist Guid... www.1stopphuket.com |
Complete travel and activities guide to Phuket and Thailand, where to stay and party, sightseeing, transportation and diving information.
Liveaboard, Charter
- Paradise Diving Asia, 116 Moo 1. Sakoo Village, Thalang, Phuket
Paradise Diving Asia
| Diving Paradise Phuket www.dive-paradise.com/ +66 81 891 55 39 | 116 Moo 1. Sakoo Village, Thal... 83110 Phuket |
Dive Center Phuket Nai Yang Beach. Paradise-Divers lead you to the best dive sites around Phuket. We do Liveaboard to other Islands as Similan or Koh Phi Phi as well as PADI-Courses at the Hotelpool and near beach. We would be pleased to hear from you!
Phuket Thailand 5* Gold Palm Dive Center. Daytrips, Liveaboard, PADI Courses, Similan and Phi Phi Tours
[Add Message]Messages from readers:
[Add Divelog]Divelogs from members: