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HTMS Chang Wreck

The largest shipwreck in Thailand, dive with us and have a close look at this wreck. It was sunk as an artificial reef off Koh Chang on 22 November 2012. The journey by boat takes about 1 hour. It is always a great highlight for us to visit this place. The HTMS Chang is only for advanced and experienced divers, as it is located at a depth of up to 30 meters on the sea bed and the deck is at about 23 meters.

The HTMS Chang is situated with the stern exactly to the north and has 2 buoy lines. The southern buoy line leads to the bow, i.e. to the front tip of the ship and is therefore well suited for diving. Divers can dive 100 meters long at a depth of about 23 meters along the wreck and slowly ascend at the stern of the ship to the northern buoy line. The northern buoy line is attached to the high mast of the stern, which, with its depth of 5 meters below the surface, is ideally suited to carry out the safety stop.

For experienced wreck divers it is also possible to dive inside the wreck’s deep cargo holds, which are between 27 and 29 meters inside the wreck. For more detailed information about possible dives and diving courses, please contact us directly.

P.S. Two important facts are:

• Boat + Hole = Wreck
• Mermaids are difficult to spot, but we continue searching 😉

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U.S.S. Lincoln County 898

The USS Lincoln County 898 was built in 1944 by the US Navy as a tank landing boat during the 2nd World War and served in the Guadal Canal, as well as in the Korean War (1950-52). Later, in 1962, the USS Lincoln County was sold and transferred to the Thai Navy. The ship was renamed to “HTMS Chang” by the Royal Thai Navi. After 50 years of service in the Thai Navy, the HTMS Chang was released from service in 2012 and is now retired. Before the huge veteran could be released into final retirement, all doors, windows and equipment were removed. After a thorough cleaning the ship was prepared for its new life under the surface. Today it serves officially as an artificial reef in front of Koh Chang.

On November 22, 2012, when the HTMS Chang was sunk, our Chief Instructor Rittichai Chamhan (“Pern”) was also to watch the sinking live – he was one of the first divers to be allowed to dive with a team of experienced wreck divers 20 minutes after the ship was sunk. The team checked the correct position of the ship. Afterwards the task was to draw a map and to record the measurements of the different altitudes.

Dangerous to whatch out for

• intanglement
• falling objects
• Depth, Gas and NDL limits
• silt out
• sharp edges

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Diver Level for this dive site.

Min. certification level: Advanced Open Water Diver, Deep Diver, Wreck Diver (or equalled)
Try Diving possibility: No
Snorkelling possibility: No

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Our Divemaster’s

Our Divemasters will give you a boat briefing and an overview for the day at the time the boat starts. They will give you a Dive briefing before each dive, and be in the front to lead the group while diving. Ask you frequently for Air consumption and knock against the Tank to get your attention. If there is any problem they will assist you, to secure your and others safety. If you and your buddy would like to explore the dive-site yourself the Divemasters will give you a briefing on the boat and check the predive safety procedure before your buddy team enter the water.

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Entry and Exit

• Dive Boat

Predive Safety Check! We enter the water from the side of the Boat with a Giant Strike, if all is OK, clear the place and swim on the surface to the starting point. After the dive, back on the surface we swim back to the ladder on the side of the boat, stand on the ladder and take off the fin’s (give it up to the crew) climb up the ladder with the regulator in your mouth. Never stay under a diver which try to climb up.

• Dinghy Boat

Predive Safety Check! We enter the water with a backroll entry. When everything is OK, clear the place and swim on the surface to the starting point. After the dive, back on the surface, we swim back to the dinghy boat. When you reach the dinghy boat remove your weight belt and BCD. Start to get up the dinghy with the help of a few kicks with your fin’s.

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Dive Procedures

• Review the necessary Handsignals for scuba diving.
  
• What you maight spot while diving or snorkelling
• When you end any dive a safety stop on 5 m of depth for 3 min is recommended.

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Emergency Procedures

• Police, Phone: 191
• Tourist Police, Phone: 1155
• EMS, Phone: 1669
• DAN International, Phone: +1-919-684-9111
• Suspicion of DCS
• Recrompression chaimber, Koh Chang Hospital, Phone: 039 521-657 or 039 586-131

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