King Cruiser Wreck 3 Dive Day Trip

King Cruiser is an 85m steel Hulled Catamaran style passenger ferry that collided on May 4th, 1997 at 10:15 am, while making its daily trip from Phuket to Phi Phi Islands.

Nestled in the cerulean depths of the Andaman Sea off the coast of Phuket, Thailand lies a diver’s paradise: the King Cruiser Wreck. This sunken treasure, once a bustling car ferry, now serves as an underwater haven for marine life and an exhilarating playground for adventurous divers seeking to uncover its mysteries. With its rich history, vibrant marine ecosystem, and thrilling dive experience, the King Cruiser Wreck stands as a testament to the allure of underwater exploration.

The King Cruiser, originally a Japanese car ferry, met its fate on May 4, 1997, when it collided with the Anemone Reef, just 30 kilometers from Phuket. Thankfully, all passengers and crew were safely evacuated, leaving behind a massive wreck lying on the ocean floor. Since its sinking, the King Cruiser has become an integral part of Thailand’s diving scene, attracting enthusiasts from around the world to witness its majestic presence beneath the waves.

Exactly why such an easily avoidable navigational error was made is still unknown, especially considering the flat calm seas and perfect weather conditions, all questions why a vessel this size while off course can collide with a well-mapped local Dive site and boating land-marked hazard called Anemone Reef. Pinnacle.

While a disastrous event from a navigational point the wreck became a great wreck dive in a matter of weeks for the Phuket diving community. King Cruiser is now one of our Best wrecks dives in Phuket for  Advanced Certified Divers. “This Ship Wreck” has got to be one of Thailand’s most famous Wreck Dives.

Descending into the depths surrounding the King Cruiser Wreck is like stepping into another world. As divers approach the sunken vessel, they are greeted by a mesmerizing sight: a massive hull teeming with marine life. Schools of colorful fish dart in and out of the ship’s corridors, while vibrant corals adorn its exterior, creating a kaleidoscope of colors against the backdrop of the deep blue sea.

Beyond its historical significance and thrilling dive experience, the King Cruiser Wreck is also a thriving ecosystem teeming with marine biodiversity. Coral-encrusted surfaces provide refuge for an array of marine creatures, from colorful reef fish to elusive nudibranchs. Lucky divers may even encounter larger species such as barracudas, reef sharks, and majestic manta rays cruising by the wreck, adding an extra layer of excitement to their underwater adventure.

Thanks to careful conservation efforts and responsible diving practices, the marine life surrounding the wreck continues to flourish, ensuring that future generations of divers can enjoy its splendor for years to come.

In conclusion, the King Cruiser Wreck Dive offers an unforgettable journey into the depths of history and nature. From its intriguing past as a sunken ferry to its vibrant marine ecosystem and exhilarating dive experience, this underwater gem captivates the imagination and leaves a lasting impression on all who venture into its realm. Whether you’re a seasoned diver or a novice explorer, the King Cruiser Wreck beckons with its allure, inviting you to uncover its secrets and witness the beauty that lies beneath the waves.

Watch the video to get some ideas of the marine life you may encounter at King Cruiser Wreck with Phuket Dive Tours. This Shipwreck has got to be one of Thailand’s most famous wreck Dive and you would be Mad to miss this Dive Trip.

King Cruiser Wreck is a deep-water dive site, Suitable for Advanced Certified Divers and its not available to Beginners or inexperienced divers. Scuba diving Students completing Advanced certification have the option to dive this Site as part of a wreck, or I Deep Adventure Dive, or as part of the Nitrox course fully supervised by a scuba instructor at all times.

In any case, the results were dramatic and immediate the impact ripped a hole into the bottom of the port side hull and the vessel instantly started taking on large volumes of water. The captain fearing the worst then issued a distress call, local vessels, small boats, and the Royal Thai Marine police were quick to arrive at the crash site and offer assistance, all 539 passengers and the 22 crew members were rescued. After Drifting a little more than 1km from anemone reef the ship finally slipped below the surface and settled upright on the sandy bottom at 32m deep.

On most dives at the King Cruiser, you are likely to encounter soft sponges, large schools of Barracuda, the odd green turtle, and large quantities of Lionfish and Scorpionfish and this dive is where you need to watch your buoyancy and avoid any contact with the wreck as its easy to displace some of the soft coral colonies that formed with careless fin kicks

King Cruiser Wreck Diving Day Trip

All divers must have full comprehensive diving insurance coverage.

This Day trip includes 1 dive at King Cruiser this dive is for the experienced diver as it can be on some days demanding with medium to strong currents and on some days visibility can vary from 5 to 25 m. The First dive of the day is normally King Cruiser Wreck 2nd dive of the day 1s Shark Point and the 3rd at Koh Dock Mai 

KING CRUISER TRIP ITINERARY

• 07:00 am – 8:00 am – Pick up from hotels with a transfer to Chalong Pier.
• 08:45 am – Depart  King Cruiser for Advanced certified, breakfast and fresh fruit served.
• 10:30 am – Arrive at King Cruiser, to start the first dive.
• 11:30 am – Lunch is served as part of the Diving surface interval.
• 12:30 – Second dive Location  Anemone Reef or Shark Point
• 2:45 pm – Third dive Location  Koh Dock Mai  or Shark Point
• 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm – Arrive back at the Pier for transfers back to your hotel.

Includes breakfast, lunch, drinking water, coffee, tea, fresh fruit, tanks, weights, weight belt, and dive master guide are all included in the Day Trip price. Please note that for some remote areas in Phuket transfer fee will be added..

Nitrox Diving is available on this day trip, all tanks need to be pre-ordered prior to the departure date.

Diving Transfers to Chalong Marina

Our Office is located at Kata Beach, we have Daily Free Local Departures/transfers from all Hotels in the following resorts: traveling time to Chalong marina is around 15 minutes from Kata Beach.

free shared transfers 7.15 Patong 7.20 Rawai Beach – Nai Harn  – 7:30  Kata Beach – Karon Beach

Extra Charge Private car Transfer fee from 7:00 am Ban Tao & Surin Beach – Mai Khao Beach – Airport Area 1,800 THB return.

The tour itineraries can be changed depending on the local weather conditions any changes will be made by the tour leader and boat captain on your trip based on matters of safety.

Buy King Cruiser Dive Trip Now online – 100% refund back into your account within 12 hours if the trip is canceled due to Bad weather – we don’t take any money when mother nature stops the scuba diving