Pro-Taucher - King Cruiser - Asia > Thailand

Description

Type:
Catamaran ferry for vehicles and passengers

Last freight:
passengers

Length:
83 meters

Beam:
19,6 meters

Tonnage:
2498 BRT

Launched:
1969

Sunk:
May, 4th 1997 at about 10:50am

Reason:
official: hit Anemone Reef
inofficial: most likely insurance fraud

Minimum depth:
15 meters

Maximum depth:
31 meters

Current:
none to very strong

Local dive center:
Ko Lanta Diving Center

GPS coordinates:
7° 48' 8.52" N, 98° 38' 34.98" E

Google Earth:
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Placemarks of all Pro-Taucher dive spots with GPS coordinates

Google Maps:
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TerraServer®.com:
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NASA World Wind:
open in World Wind (NASA World Wind software is required)

MapQuest.Com:
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Current weather conditions:

Book recommendations:

Description:
The ferry sank in its way from Phi Phi to Phuket. After the supposed collision with the Anemone Reef it took 2,5 hours until the ferry actually sank. During this time the ship drifted about 1000 meters away from the Anemone Reef. There were no casualties among the people aboard, all people were rescued by many boats and longtail boats which were there. Because there were no vehicles on the ferry and there were no damages at the Anemone Reef, the assumption is there that it maybe was insurance fraud. Other resources tell that the local dive centers may paid as well because there was no other diving wreck in that area back then.
The wreck sits upright on a sandy bottom and already is very collapsed - there is not much left of the upper deck. The quality of the ferry must have been very bad. Penetrating the wreck therefore is for security reasons not permitted exept for the stern part of the ship.
There is a nice grow of corals on the wreck - taken the time it lies there. Also there is a lot of fish at the wreck.
Current can be none to very strong. This and the reason that the shallowest part is at 15 meters and the deepest part is at 31 meters (perfect Nitrox wreck!) make the wreck not a beginner dive spot.

Contributed by:
Martin Sebald

Last content update:
05.04.2010

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