Koh Chang Wreck : The sinking and first dive!

Posted on November 25, 2012 by DivingScool

Wreck diving is no longer a far-fetched dream for Koh Chang’s diving scene and visiting divers.  Last Thursday, the 22nd of November, the HTMS Chang 712, formerly US Navy Landing Ship LST-898 Lincoln County , has been successfully sunk a few kilometres west of Bang Bao.

Koh Chang wreck - HTMS Chang, Thailand's biggest ship wreck

The bow of the HTMS Chang, 30 minutes after it was sunk. Picture by Koh Chang Photographer

The sinking was proceeded by an official naval ceremony on board the HTMS Bang Pakong ( FFG-456 ) which, for the occasion, was anchored just a few hundred meters away from the HTMS Chang.  Local officials visited the frigate and took part in the ceremony which was concluded with the National Anthem and the lowering of flower-corsets into the sea.

Koh Chang Wreck : HTMS BANGPAKONG serving as ceremony ground for the sinking of the HTMS CHANG

HTMS BANGPAKONG (FFG-456) in the front with the HTMS CHANG slowly sinking in the back. Picture by DivingScool Koh Chang.

The actual sinking of the ship went very smooth and was well timed, which came a bit as a surprise.

Koh Chang Wreck on its way to the bottom

The HTMS Chang slowly sinking towards the bottom of the sea. Picture by DivingScool Koh Chang

Koh Chang Wreck : The bow of the HTMS CHANG slowly disappearing into the seas around Koh Chang

Final moments before the bow of the HTMS CHANG disappears into the sea. Picture by DivingScool Koh Chang

Now, the HTMS Chang is sitting at the bottom in 30m of sea water.  The top part of the antenna is literately 40 cm below the surface.  A more detailed description of the wreck, and the correct depths, will be for a next write-up as we have to dive it a couple more times so we can compose an accurate map.

We were lucky to dive the new wreck 30 minutes after it had been sunk.  We were amazed by how well the ship had been positioned on the bottom and that we had such good visibility, knowing that only half an hour before a huge water displacement had taken place.

Koh Chang Wreck : Dive the HTMS CHANG with DivingScool Koh Chang

DivingScool Koh Chang together with Koh Chang Photographer were one of the first to dive the HTMS CHANG. Pic by Koh Chang Photographer

For the moment the HTMS Chang is off limits, only for a couple of days, on strict demand from the Royal Thai navy.  They want to make sure that the wreck is secure and they will also install mooring buoys around it, not in the least to keep eager fishing boats well away from this location.

This new dive site has lots of new exciting stuff to offer and is best dived when you are a PADI Advanced Diver or similar level.  To even further extend your adventure the PADI Wreck Specialty and Nitrox certification could be on the top of your list.

Koh Chang Wreck : View towards the bridge of the HTMS Chang

View towards the bridge of the HTMS Chang during our first ever dive on the wreck. Pic by Koh Chang Photographer.

The moment the site is accessible again, we will let you know.  In the meantime enjoy this short video made by Koh Chang Photographer, who joined us for this very first dive on the HTMS Chang.

Arrangements can by made with them if you want to have a professional photo shoot done on the wreck.

In the meantime…  Happy Bubbles!

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Update on the sinking of the HTMS Chang 712

Posted on October 24, 2012 by DivingScool

A bit over a week ago, a small group of divers, accompanied by some local officials, went on the hunt for the perfect place to sink the future Koh Chang wreck, soon Thailand’s biggest wreck.  A good one hour boat ride away from Bang Bao they found a spot which should become the final resting place of the HTMS Chang.  This spot is situated south-west of Hin Rap and the depth is 30m.  Once we have the exact coordinates we will publish them on our site and update our dive site map.

The new date which has been set forward is the 22nd of November 2012.  Fingers crossed this time that everything goes according to plan.  Third time lucky!!

Once the HTMS Chang has been successfully sunk, we’ll inform you about the scheduled wreck diving trips.

In the meantime on Koh Mak,  the Art for the Ocean project has had its big day as they successfully lowered their 9 art pieces onto the sea floor .  We’ll soon visit the site and dive it so we can show you this extraordinary underwater museum.

The below picture was taken by Koh Chang Photographer a good week after the elephant statues were put on the bottom.

One of the elephants statues from the Art for Ocean project on Koh Mak

Art for Ocean on Koh Mak is a rough video-shoot by Miss Scuba Thailand Team showing the statues.

As the monsoon is in its final days, the sea conditions are improving! This means the daily diving operations are in full swing again and we are ready to make sure that you will have a fun, exciting and above all unforgettable and safe underwater adventure with us!

Happy Bubbles!

 

 

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New Wreck and dive site for Koh Chang

Posted on August 13, 2012 by DivingScool

Exciting times for local dive shops and visiting divers, as Koh Chang is preparing itself for the sinking of it’s first real wreck which will be accessible for almost all levels of divers.

Koh Chang wreck, the HTMS Chang LST-712

The HTMS Chang LST-712 moored at the Koh Chang Navy Pier

The HTMS Chang LST-712, formerly USS Lincoln County (LST-898) arrived on July 15th  at the Koh Chang Navy pier, just south of the Ao Sapporot ferry pier.

Here, the ship will be stripped and cleaned before she will be sunk to serve as an artificial reef aiding to the rejuvenation of the local fauna and flora.  The proposed date is August 16th, to commemorate Her Majesty, The Queen’s birthday.

The new wreck will apparently become Thailand’s largest wreck and therefore will attract a vast number of divers ranging from novice divers to the fanatic wreck diver.

Koh Chang Wreck

View from the bow towards the bridge of the Chang LST-712

Luckily this new dive site will have something to offer for every certification level.  The HTMS Chang LST-712 has three main decks and 7 decks from the bridge to the bottom deck.  Dedicated holes will be cut alongside the ships hull so penetration will be possible.

At present it is unclear how far one will be able to penetrate the ship once it’s sunk. For those of you who carefully plan their dives and not exceed their limits it should not present a problem.

Koh Chang Wreck : a look inside the mess of the Chang LST-712

A look inside the mess of the Chang LST-712

DivingScool Koh Chang will gladly assist you in obtaining the necessary experience and training.  Enrol in our PADI Wreck Diving Speciality and learn techniques for diving exploring shipwrecks and how to avoid common hazards.

NEVER penetrate a wreck when you do not have the proper training!
Penetration diving is an advanced skill and requires special training and equipment!!

The exact location where the ship will be sunk is still unclear.  At the moment dive shops together with the organising committee are searching for a suitable location.  Most likely the wreck will sit in around 30 – 31 meters of seawater about 5 miles out of Koh Chang’s west coast.

The size of the wreck together with the relative shallow depth and not to forget clear waters around Koh Chang (up to 30m viz) could make the HTMS Chang LST-712 the best and probably most exciting wreck to dive in Thailand.

Once more information is know about the exact location of the sinking and the time frame, you’ll be able to find it here!

In the meantime, enjoy some of the pictures below and on our facebook page.

Happy Bubbles!!!

Koh Chang Wreck diving on the HTMS Chang LST-712 with DivingScool

The deck of the Chang LST-712

Koh Chang Wreck diving on the Chang LST-712 with DivingScool Koh Chang

Stern of the HTMS Chang LST-712

Wreck diving around Koh Chang with DivingScool

View from the bow towards the bridge of the Chang LST-712

Part of the communication system on the Chang LST-712

Part of the communication system on the Chang LST-712

Koh Chang Wreck

Reflection on the deck of the Chang LST-712

Part of the Koh Chang Wreck

A view up into the antenna from the Chang LST-712

Deck view towards the bow of the HTMS Chang LST-712

Deck view towards the bow of the HTMS Chang LST-712

Future Koh Chang Wreck : The Chang LST-712 moored at the Navy pier on the east coast of Koh Chang

The HTMS Chang LST-712 moored at the Navy pier on the east coast of Koh Chang

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Flooding in Bangkok and surrounding provinces

Posted on October 27, 2011 by DivingScool

The holiday season should be slowly picking up now, but at the moment Thailand is being tortured by tremendous flooding and a lot of you are probably wondering what the hell is going on here and above all whether you should cancel your booked flight tickets and hotels.

To give you a an idea of what is happening here, take a look at this video.  It’s in Thai but the English subtitles should make it pretty easy to comprehend besides the use of cartoon characters.

At the moment, water is entering various parts of inner Bangkok and a number of foreign governments advise against absolutely essential travel to the Thai capital.  It is still unclear how severe the flooding will be, but a lot of Bangkokians are taking no chance and are fleeing the city as a lot of basic consumer goods as bottled drinking water and dry food have become very scarce.  How long the flooding of Bangkok and some of  the other provinces of Thailand will last, remains unclear, but last indications say anywhere from 6 to 9 weeks.

Ronald is still smiling while the Hamburgler should better change to a diving mask. Source : theatlantic.com

So what to do?

Tourist destionations like Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai in the north; Phuket, Samui, Koh Tao, Krabi in the south and Hua Hin, Pattaya and of course our own Koh Chang in the east have no flooding and are having blue skies and sunshine nearly every day.  It is business as usual in these places, although you will find empty shelves in the local supermarkets here too as a result from the disrupted distribution that originates in Bangkok and the surrounding provinces.

So there is no need to completely cancel your planned holiday to Thailand.  You might want to reroute your trip and this site offers you some handy tips.

If you’re on twitter and want to stay up to date, you can find the latest via #ThaiFloodEng

This site, in English, provides some good information about the current situation.

When you’re planning to visit us here on Koh Chang or one of the neighbouring islands and have any questions, please feel free to contact us for more information or assistance.

Here are some more incredible photos of what this vast mass of water is doing to the country.

A new update will follow soon!  In the meantime…

Happy Bubbles!

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Palau Shark Week 2012 and the battle against Shark finning

Posted on May 26, 2011 by DivingScool

Finally it is here…The Palau Shark Week update.  For those of you who don’t know yet, next March 2012, DivingScool Koh Chang organises the most amazing diving trip to Palau.  The trip is open for only 10 divers ensuring that you only get the best possible (dive)time during this one of a life time diving adventure!

The package includes the following :

Hotel accommodation with breakfast at The Rose Garden Resort, Meyuns Rd, Koror, Palau (11 nights)

It is a quite silent hotel, not to big, a little away from everything so that it is nice and relaxing.

The hotel consists of 24 rooms and it is upon a little Hill with a very nice view over the below laying area and water.

The rooms are made (except the bath) completely out of wood, furnished nicely and useful and, important, they are clean.TV, minibar, ventilator and AC is in the room as well as a table, chair, sideboard and of course a bed.

The rooms are very clean and the come with great balconies and adequate space.

8 days of diving with Fish and Fins

The diving consists out of 2 dives a day.  Boat transfer, dive guide, weights, belt         and tanks are included.  Lunch and drinks during the dive trip are provided as well.

Shark Week 2012 T-shirt, Gala Night and all other Official events

Airport – hotel transfers

Unlimited house dives

Free Nitrox 32% for certified Nitrox divers

Not included in the package is :

* Korror state permit 35 USD which is valid for 10 days included entry for Jellyfish Lake

* Peleliu State Permit 25 USD which is valid for 14 days

* Departure (25 USD) and green tax (15 USD)

* Diving Equipment

* Any other excursions or tours.

* Flights

The price per person for this package is 1890 USD.  A deposit of 25% is required for confirmation of your booking.  The full amount is payable a month after your booking, no later than 1,5 months before the start of this amazing trip.

More information regarding the exact program of Sharkweek 2012 will soon become available.

Talking about sharks have a look at what the guys from Dive Tribe Thailand are doing and join them in in saying “No to Sharkfins”

A remarkable way of making people aware of the shark finning problem is this envelope…only one problem…There is no info on where to get them!  If anyone knows where I could get these, please send me a mail with the details.

Happy Bubbles!

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