 |
DIVE SITES INFORMATION
Anemone Reef
Anemone Reef is a pinnacle that come s 4-7 meters to the surface
and slopes down to over 25 meters at the seabed. Like many of the
dive sites in the area it is covered in anemones. These in turn
provide shelter and protection for many different types of Anemone
fish, shrimps and Porcelain crabs. In the deeper parts large clusters
of healthy soft corals cling to the reef. Near the seabed huge Gorgonian
sea fans sway in the often strong currents found in this area. Leopard
Sharks are common resting on the bottom and many juvenile Moray
Eels can be spotted in the nooks and crannies. Being an exposed
site dozens of fish species have made Anemone reef there home.
Phuket Shark Point
Phuket Shark Point or Hin Musang which means shark rock in Thai
so gets its name from the common sighting of Leopard Sharks found
resting on the seabed. Seen by many as one of the best dive sites
in the area, Shark point rarely leaves divers disappointed. The
pinnacle breaks the surface and drops to 20 meters at its deepest.
Many purple and pink soft corals compete for limited space on this
incredibly healthy dive site. As with Anemone Reef strong currents
are not uncommon which brings nutrient rich water. With so much
food the marine life surrounding is amazing. Large schools of Jacks
and Barracudas patrol the waters with Snapper, Goatfish and Fusiliers.
For the lucky diver a resident Hammerhead Shark sometimes appears
as do the Whale sharks.
Hin Daeng
Hin Daeng or "Red Rock" is so named because of the carpets
of red anemone that cover the shallower depths of this huge pinnacle.
Hin Daeng boasts one of the deepest drop-offs in Thailand, nearly
70 metres to the sea bed. Famous for its pelagic life, schooling
Rainbow Runner, Barracudas and Grey Reef Sharks often are seen cruising
the blue. In the shallower waters Fusiliers, Rabbitfish and Wrasse
rule the waters. Leopard Sharks are regulars, swimming or quietly
resting on the numerous ledges. Many invertebrates can be found
including Boxer Shrimp and Porcelain Crabs guarding their anemone
homes.
Hin Muang
Hin Muang or "Purple Rock" has been rated one of the
best dive sites in Thailand and that of the world. Named after the
forests of purple soft corals this amazing pinnacle begins at 12
metres below the surface. Fulfilling all that Hin Daeng has to offer,
Manta Rays and ever impressive Whale Sharks are often seen. It is
common in the months of May till July to swim with these gentle
giants, with many Cobias following close by. Deep drop-off walls
surround this "loaf of bread" shaped reef. This is a photographers
dream with many opportunities for both wide-angle and macro, as
many Nudibranches, Tube Worms, Pipefish and Seahorses can be found
by those with a keen eye.
Koh Rock Nok
A beautiful dive between two small islands, Koh Rock Nok offers
the diver a seascape of wall diving and terrain of huge boulders.
Encrusted everywhere are Zigzag Oysters, giving many of the smaller
critters a place to hide. Huge Moray Eels and Lionfish are common
with many Nudibranchs and Sea Warts for the photographer. With the
currents giving a steady flow of nutrient rich water, Whale Sharks
and Manta Rays can be seen by the lucky diver. Common also are schooling
Moorish Idols, Clownfish, and an array of Jacks and Barracudas.
A favourite for night diving, Koh Rock Nok offers usually sheltered
waters good for the novice to the most experienced of divers.
Koh Ha
This is a dive site for the truly adventurous diver. Koh Ha is
a small group of 5 islands separated by deep channels, some reaching
depths greater than 50 meters. Often the visibility around the islands
exceeds 30 meters. The main attraction here is on the largest of
the islands Koh Ha Yai.
A huge cave that can be easily entered using one of two entries.
The deepest is at 16 meters and the shallower is found at 5 meters.
Once inside the cave opens up to a massive cathedral. Here the diver
can surface inside the island and look up to the roof over 30 meters
above. Stalactites hang down from the ceiling. Inside the cathedral
is not dark and torches are not required. Light filtering through
the cave entrances gives of a truly magical light show creating
rather strange illusions around the diver. Due to the layout of
the islands Koh Ha can be dived in all sea conditions.
About The King Cruiser Wreck
|
On the 4th of May 1997, the King Cruiser, a car ferry operating
from Phuket to the Phi Phi islands in southern Thailand, bottomed
on a submerged collection of rocky pinnacles, splitting the
designated marine sanctuary and popular dive site in two.
The impact also tore a large hole in the vessels hull limiting
its seaworthiness to a further thousand metres. Seventeen
minutes later and remaining in one piece, it was under thirty
metres of water and on the seabed. 561 passengers were rescued
when a ferry boat struck a coral reef and sank about ten miles
off Phi Phi island. All the passengers - Thai and foreign
tourists - were safely to two police patrol boats and 4-5
fishing boats, which raced to the rescue in response to an
emergency call. One elderly woman sustained a broken back
and several others
suffered shock.
The wreck sits upright in thirty metres of sand and remains
in one piece although the foreword upper deck has collapsed.
The simplest and safest point of entry is through the vessels
stern where divers can explore the once active car decks.
This particular part of the structure is reached after a descent
averaging only ten metres. Machinery still sits on the deck.
Inside the car deck is a couple of vehicle tyres and an engine
trolley. The interior darkens as you continue through and
up one of the stairways on either side; patches of chrome
peek through the now barnacle covered handrail. Both of these
lead through open doors and out to walkways. Families of invertebrates
have already moved in to this area lairs have been occupied
behind small sheets of peeling paint.
Perfect reflections of passers by are only broken up by a
bubbles of oil floating on the thin layer of air below the
ceiling. Rows of passenger seats and low coffee tables fill
the inner recesses and do not really look as inviting as they
once were before they were moved below 22 metres of water.
The collapsed foredeck is at 16 metres; there’s a stack
of plastic picnic tables and chairs being enjoyed by a vertical
cloud of snappers using the unlikely structure to shelter
from any ensuing currents. Above this an air filled inverted
bucket has jamned between a criss cross of horizontal beams.
The upper deck is split from front to back and this has obviously
caused it to collapse. Two funnels act as boundary’s
for parrotfish and wrasse as they flit and peck around. It
is obviously a sad occasion for all concerned when an accident
such as this occurs, thankfully no lives were lost. As for
Anemone reef, well, half remains where it always has been,
remainder is on the mend, not as the once rocky haven of marine
life but as a steel one!. Now the marine sanctuary has three
locations and not just two.
The wreck was first dived by the owner of this company Mr.
Heinz Oswald and his team where they carried out initial investigations
and research for Songserm Travel Centre Company and Ferry
Line Plc the owners of the boat.
|
|
|
|
