Htms Sattakut

HTMS Sattakut is a deliberately scuttled World War II landing craft converted into a major artificial-reef wreck dive. The 49-meter ship lies upright on sand with the wheelhouse and upper deck rising to about 18 m and the stern down near 30 m; it still retains a 76 mm bow gun and a 40 mm Bofors stern cannon and offers many intact swim-throughs and corridors for exploration. Hard corals and abundant sea life have colonized the wreck, and divers commonly encounter schools of yellowtail barracuda, giant groupers and rays around and inside the structure. Boat access only, typically about a 20-minute ride from Sairee Beach pier; the site is best suited to Advanced-level divers due to depth and the overhead environment. Depth ranges from roughly 18 m at the top to about 30 m at the stern. Visibility is variable, from a few meters in silty conditions up to about 15-20 m on clear days; water is warm, in the mid-20s °C, and a 5 mm wetsuit is recommended. Typical dives start at the stern and progress forward through the aft gun area and center corridor, often lasting about 40-50 minutes. Currents are typically mild but tidal movement can occur; good buoyancy control is critical, penetration should only be attempted by trained wreck or technical divers, and divers should avoid reaching into crevices where venomous scorpionfish or similar species may hide. Touching or anchoring on the wreck is prohibited. Built in 1944 as USS LCI(M)-739, the vessel served in Pacific campaigns including Iwo Jima and Okinawa, later entered Royal Thai Navy service from 1946 to 2007 as HTMS Sattakut; it was cleaned of hazards and scuttled off Koh Tao in June 2011 to create the dive site.