The King Cruiser Wreck is an 85-meter catamaran passenger ferry resting upright between 18 and 32 meters deep, 26 km east of Chalong Pier, Phuket. Due to open-ocean depths, strong seasonal currents, and structural degradation, the site strictly requires a minimum of PADI Advanced Open Water Diver (or Adventure Deep training under direct instructor supervision). Sea Fun Divers visits the King Cruiser every Monday and Thursday as Dive 1 on our 20-diver custom vessel with a 4:1 guide ratio and free 32% Nitrox.
Essential Dive Site Specifications & Marine Conditions
Sunk on May 4, 1997, after striking nearby Anemone Reef, the King Cruiser now acts as one of the Andaman Sea’s richest artificial reefs. Over the past three decades, monsoonal sea surges have collapsed the upper wheelhouse and passenger decks directly into the car hold, altering navigation strategies.
| Parameter | Technical Specification | Operational Safety Protocol |
|---|---|---|
| Depth Profile | 18 m (deck wreckage) to 32 m (sand bottom) | Conducted strictly as Dive 1 of a 3-dive day to maximize allowable No-Decompression Limits (NDL). |
| Prerequisite Certification | PADI Advanced Open Water (or Deep Specialty) | Open Water divers may only dive this site while completing an Adventure Deep course dive with a PADI Instructor. |
| Current Conditions | Moderate to Strong (1.0 to 2.5 knots) | Direct negative descent down the stern mooring line to prevent drift separation. |
| Average Visibility | 8 m to 20 m | Nutrient-rich waters cause periodic green thermoclines that attract dense pelagic baitfish. |
| Water Temperature | 28°C to 30°C year-round | Full 3 mm wetsuit recommended for thermal balance and protection against encrusted metal. |
| Wreck Penetration | Strictly Prohibited | Compromised steel ribs and collapsed ceilings present serious entrapment hazards; exterior profile only. |
Navigating the Hull: Stern, Midships & Bow Profile
At 85 meters long and 25 meters wide, attempting to swim around the entire perimeter of the King Cruiser in a single dive burns gas quickly in a current. Your guide leads a strategic multi-level profile:
Descent and Mooring Line Protocol
Surface currents at this open-water site can pull divers off the wreck before they reach depth. Sea Fun Divers executes a direct negative descent on the stern mooring line. Divers vent their BCDs at the surface, meet the guide on the line, and pull down directly to 18 meters, sheltered on the leeward side of the stern.
Multi-Level Exploration
The Stern (18 m to 24 m): Twin engine exhaust funnels and vehicle loading ramps are smothered in soft corals. Lionfish hover around the machinery in large groups.
Midships & Collapsed Decks (22 m to 26 m): The passenger salon has pancaked downward, creating sheltered alcoves. Resident hawksbill turtles graze on the encrusted sponges here, undisturbed by divers.
The Bow (20 m to 30 m): Pointing north, the bow cuts into the prevailing flow. Massive schools of yellowtail barracuda and bigeye trevally hover off the tip, facing into the current.
Gas Management & SMB Drift Ascent
- Because bottom time at 25–30 meters ticks down rapidly, divers must follow a strict gas plan:
- Turn the dive when any buddy reaches 70 bar or 5 minutes remaining NDL.
- Work upward along the deck structures to 14–16 meters to slow nitrogen absorption.
- Move away from the windward steel hull into the open blue water.
- Your guide deploys a high-visibility Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) for a mid-water safety stop at 5 meters.
- Our custom boat tracks the SMB and retrieves the 4-diver team directly upon surfacing.
Marine Life Profile: Predator Aggregations & Benthic Camouflage
The metal structure of the King Cruiser functions as an oasis in an otherwise featureless, open sandy channel:
Hunting Pelagics: Great barracudas, giant trevallies, and Spanish mackerel circle the outer perimeter of the wreck, driving schools of silver sides into defensive bait balls.
Benthic Camouflage Hazards: The rusted steel plating is coated in algae, hydroids, and stinging hydroids. Bearded scorpionfish, stonefish, and devil scorpionfish blend into the metal. Divers must maintain strict neutral buoyancy—never grip or touch any surface of the wreck.
Sheltered Sand Dwellers: Beneath the stern propeller shafts at 32 meters, brown-banded bamboo sharks and blue-spotted stingrays rest on the sandy bottom.
The Nitrox 32% Advantage on Deep Wrecks
Diving the King Cruiser on standard air (21% O2) limits your exploration time significantly:
Sea Fun Divers provides Free Nitrox 32% on all day trips for certified Enriched Air divers
| Operating Depth | Standard Air (21%) NDL | Free Nitrox 32% NDL | Bottom Time Safety Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Meters (Main Decks) | 29 Minutes | 43 Minutes | +14 Minutes (+48%) extended NDL cushion |
| 30 Meters (Hull Base) | 20 Minutes | 29 Minutes | +9 Minutes (+45%) safer bottom exploration |
Weekly King Cruiser Day Trip Schedule & Rates
The King Cruiser Wreck is operated exclusively as part of our Monday & Thursday 3-Dive Signature Route
| Operational Metric | Schedule & Booking Terms |
|---|---|
| Operating Days | Every Monday & Thursday (07:30 to 18:30) |
| Daily 3-Dive Itinerary | Dive 1: King Cruiser Wreck | Dive 2: Shark Point | Dive 3: Koh Doc Mai |
| Certified Diver Rate | 4,900 THB (Includes tanks, weights, Free Nitrox 32%, meals, minivan transfers) |
| Passenger / Non-Diver Rate | 2,700 THB (Snorkeling not available due to deep offshore waters) |
| Full Scuba Gear Rental | +900 THB/day (with dive computer) | +650 THB/day (without dive computer) |
| Boat Capacity & Ratio | Capped at 20 divers | Strict 4:1 diver-to-guide ratio |
| Cancellation Policy | Strictly before 12:00 PM on the day prior to departure (no refund after 12:00 PM) |
Complimentary Hotel Minivan Transfer Timetable
To ensure an unhurried morning arrival at Chalong Pier, our dedicated air-conditioned minivans operate coordinated pickup schedules across Phuket’s primary beach resort zones.
| Resort Area | Pickup Window |
|---|---|
| Patong Beach | 07:15 AM |
| Le Méridien Phuket Beach Resort (Karon Noi) | 07:30 AM |
| Kata & Karon Main Centers | 07:45 AM |
| Kata Noi (Katathani Area) | 07:50 AM |
Frequently Asked Questions (King Cruiser Wreck Phuket)
Reserve Your 3-Dive King Cruiser Adventure
Dive Phuket’s premier shipwreck with the highest safety standards in Thailand. Small teams (4:1 ratio), 20-diver boat capacity, and free 32% Nitrox.
Experience personalised, unhurried scuba diving with Phuket’s premier PADI 5-Star CDC.
WhatsApp: +66 (0) 81 367 4542
Email: info@seafundivers.com
Dive Centres: Le Méridien Phuket Beach Resort (Karon Noi), Kata Beach, and Chalong Marina.
