Pattaya HTMS KHRAM Wreck Diving

Location: 300m off Ko Phai
Depth: 50-100ft (15-30m)
Access: Boat
Expertise Rating: Advanced
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The HTMS Khram, a decommissioned US warship, was sunk on 1 February 2003 by the Thai navy. It now sits in 100ft of water near Ko Phai and Ko Larn islands off Pattaya and has quickly become an excellent artificial reef.

It is officially the USS LSM-469 but was given to the Thai Navy by the USA and renamed HTMS Khram, way back in May of 1962. Once it fell out of use, the idea of sinking her came about and the Thai Navy went through environmental procedures, drained it of oil, removed wiring and cut large passageways for divers to easily navigate. (This has also been done with great success to two Australian decommissioned destroyers farther south along the Australia west coast.)

These days the ship sits upright with the bridge area coming into view at 50ft. Two moorings lead down to the ship aft and bow. If the water is clear, it is possible to go down the mooring and then swim to the center of the ship when the bridge comes into sight.

Visibility is typically low on the wreck, however. Soft corals and other encrusting marine life have already taken hold. The water here is very silty and that has also already covered the wreck, so penetration dives must be done with care to avoid silt kicks causing a white-out. The passageways are open and well-lit and divers are not usually out of the natural light. It has been noted that a few of the rooms have steel watertight doors still fitted, which could be locked easily with a diver inside. Divers can enter the bridge of the ship, which is open and devoid of any old navigation equipment. Because the HTMS Khram was a troop carrier, there is a large open deck which was used for vehicles and equipment and launching troops onto a beach zone. The aft engine room is also accessible, although the engines have been removed and there is also a lot of light here due to cut-out access ways. (Pattaya dive operations use this for tech training.)

This area is also silty, so movement should be slow and easy.
Outside the ship there are a lot of soft corals, sponges, fish life and particularly baitfish. A batfish school has already called the HTMS Khram home.