HTMS Khram wreck.
Location: 300 meter of Koh Phai (Bamboo Island).
Diving Depth: 14-30m.
Visibility: 10-25m.
Conditions: Moderate to strong currents.
The Khram. began service at the end of World War II with
the US Navy and was transferred to the Royal Thai Navy in
1962. Sixty years later, it was decided to sink the ship
to help form Thailand's first underwater conservation park.
The Khram is 62 meters long and 10 meters at the beam.
When afloat, she displaced 928 tons and carried five medium
battle tanks.
She is now located just off Koh Phai and can
be included in diving trips to the Far Islands.
The top of the HTMS Khram wreck is at 14 meters and the bottom at
30 meters, so this is not a wreck dive that Neptune recommends
for Open Water divers.
The Khram wreck sits upright in the sand,
parallel to the currents and is well marked with two buoys
for easy descents ascents and safety/deco stops.
The Bridge/Radio Room. Depending on the tide, it is
possible to stand on the bridge at a depth of 15 meters.
This is the highest area of the wreck and entry/exit is
simple and safe.
All the glass has been removed from the
windows as has all the equipment.
Deck Area and Side Passages. The center of ship is a
large flat area with built up sides in order to carry the
tanks, troops and equipment to the beachhead.
The side
corridors are well lit and easily accessible, but care
must be taken not to kick up too much silt.
Engine Room. Entry to the engine room is via a large
access hole in the middle of the load deck at the aft
of the ship. Both of the main engines have been removed,
but there are many gauges, pipes and dials still left
which makes this an interesting technical diving classroom.
There is natural light in this area, but again divers
must be cautious about the silt.
A bit of history. The ship began service at the end
of World War II having been commissioned in 1945 as USS
LSM-469. The LSM (Landing Ship Medium) Class 1 ships of
WWII were nicknamed the "Sand Scrapers".
LSM-469 served
the US Pacific Fleet during the post-war occupation of
Japan, and her highest decoration was the American
Campaign Ribbon. She was decommissioned on 29th August
1946 and "mothballed" until transferred to the Royal
Thai Navy in 1962.
After having been afloat for nearly
60 years, the RTN could no longer maintain the ageing
vessel. It was decided over a year ago to sink the
ship and start an underwater sanctuary for marine
life.
Vice-Admiral Somjai Wattanayothin, chief-of-staff
of the Royal Fleet at the Sattahip naval base, said the
decommissioning of H.T.M.S KHRAM was a navy project to
mark His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn's
50th birthday.
Contact Information.
Neptune Dive Center. 312/12 Pattaya 3rd Road, Pattaya, 20150, Chonburi, Thailand.
Tel: 038-720603 Fax: 038-720608
Mobile: English, Nederlands, Deutsch.
086-1532636
Mobile: Thai 081-1509562
Email:
scuba@tttmaxnet.com
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