King Cruiser Wreck
A Dive Site nearby Phuket
On the 4th of May 1997 the 85-meter passenger ferry 'King Cruiser' on a routine run to the Phi-Phi Islands made history by straying several miles off course and hitting the Anemone Reef. With a huge hole ripped in her hull the ship went down in less than an hour. The absolutely ideal weather conditions at the time of the accident no doubt greatly aided the rescue efforts and fortunately the several hundred passengers (mostly tourists) and crew on board at the time all managed to escape to safety.
Most of the passengers on board that day may have preferred not to participate in this little drama, but surviving a ship-wreck would certainly be an unforgetable experience and make for an unusual and exciting travel story to tell the folks about back home. Any passenger or crewman who may have wanted to congratulate the captain of the vessel for his creative navigational skills, or to thank him for stopping the boat so everyone could enjoy a swim would have been sadly disappointed as he had already fled the scene.
If the Phuket dive scene had been previously lacking in anything it was a decent ship-wreck for divers to explore. This unplanned addition to Anemone Reef has become one of the most popular dive-sites around Phuket. Not only is the wreck located near an already popular dive-site but it is positioned almost perfectly at a depth between 12 and 30 meters. With it's multiple decks and spacious open areas the King Cruiser wreck is providing sheltered living quarters for large numbers of fish and crabs. Over time it will become an even better dive-site as it takes on a patina of age, and becomes encrusted with a variety of colorful corals.
Fast Facts
| Distance | 32 Kilometres |
| Boat Trip | 90 minutes. Approx. |
| Depth | 5-32 metres. (36-100 feet) |
| Surface Conditions | Can be rough |
| Experience Level | Beginners should dive with a Divemaster |
| Reef type | Lots of metal! |
| Visibility | Variable from 2 - 25 metres |
| Current | Variable, often strong |
| Coral | Not much yet |
| Fish | Groupers, Crabs and Eels taking possession |
| Highlights | Unbelievable amounts of marine life within the wreck.
Easy and safe to explore. Perfect multi-level diving. |
Location Map
King Cruiser Wreck Day Trips
| Book a Trip | Boat | Days |
| King + Shark + Dokmai - 3 Dives | M/V Aquart | Tuesday & Friday |
| King Cruiser - 2 dives | M/V Dive Asia II | Wednesday |
| Shark + King + Dok Mai - 3 dives | M/V West Coast Discovery | Tuesday |
| King + Shark + Dok Mai - 3 dives | M/V South Siam | Everyday |
| Wreck Trip - 2 dives | M/V Nautica (from Phi Phi) | Contact us |
| Wreck Trip - 3 dives | M/V Nautica (from Phi Phi) | Contact us |
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Source: ©Siam Dive n' Sail & John B. Williams |
