Chip Chip Wreck - Gulf of Thailand
The Chip Chip Wreck is our go-to when we’re looking for a solid wreck dive without the crowds of some of its neighbours. Sunk in 1996, this fishing trawler sits upright at 29 metres, surprisingly intact for its age. We love dropping down onto the wheelhouse, its outlines still very clear, before exploring the holds. The currents here are usually mild, making it a comfortable dive even for those newer to deeper wrecks. What really makes the Chip Chip shine is the life it’s attracted. You’ll spot schools of yellowtail barracuda hanging motionless off the bow, and we’ve often found lionfish tucked into shadowy crevices. Keep an eye out for resident batfish, their silhouettes often appearing suddenly out of the slightly dimmer light around the wreck. It’s an intermediate dive, perfect for divers comfortable with their buoyancy at depth and keen to spend some quality time exploring a single, fascinating structure. We’d suggest going early in the morning for the best light, as the afternoon sun can make some of the deeper sections a bit murkier.
- Location
- Gulf of Thailand, Thailand, Southeast Asia
- Coordinates
- 10.152600, 99.702100
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 29m
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
Marine Protected Area: Suratthani Environmental Protected Area
Best Time to Dive in Gulf of Thailand
The warmest water temperatures in Gulf of Thailand occur in January, averaging 28.2°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 28.2°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 28.2°C (air: 26.9°C)
- February: 28.2°C (air: 27.3°C)
- March: 28.2°C (air: 28.2°C)
- April: 28.2°C (air: 29.1°C)
- May: 28.2°C (air: 29.1°C)
- June: 28.2°C (air: 28.6°C)
- July: 28.2°C (air: 28.1°C)
- August: 28.2°C (air: 28.2°C)
- September: 28.2°C (air: 27.6°C)
- October: 28.2°C (air: 27.2°C)
- November: 28.2°C (air: 27.0°C)
- December: 28.2°C (air: 26.8°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Gulf of Thailand
- Ao Cheweng
- Ao Kruad - 10m
- Ao Mook - 15m
- Ao Tien - 14m
- Aow Leuk - 8m
- Aow Lok Gum / อ่าวลกกำ - 9m
- Ban Pla Aow TongTom (Artificial)/ บ้านปลา อ่าวท้องตม - 10m (wreck)
- Bio Rock - 14m (reef)
- Buddha Rock - 5-25m (pinnacle)
- Buoyancy World - 14m
- Chalok Bay - 10m (reef)
- Chong Talu - 16m
- Chumphon Pinnacle - 24m (pinnacle)
- Construction Artificial Reef - 18m (reef)
- Coral Reef (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to Chip Chip Wreck
- Abyssal Deep Dive
- All Scuba
- Asia Blue Scuba - ["PADI"]
- Ban's Diving Resort - PADI
- Blue Horizon Diving and Adventures - SSI, PADI, CMAS
- Buddha View IDC
Marine Life in Gulf of Thailand
Home to 167 recorded species including 126 reef fish, 18 hard corals, 7 sharks & rays, 6 seagrass & algae, 2 sea cucumbers, 2 clams & mussels.
Notable Species
- Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) - Sharks & Rays
- Rock Cod (Epinephelus fasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Staghorn coral (Acropora nasuta) - Hard Corals
- Blue Spotted Hind (Cephalopholis cyanostigma) - Reef Fish
- Rock Cod (Cephalopholis boenak) - Reef Fish
- Estuary Cod (Epinephelus coioides) - Reef Fish
- Blue-lined Rock Cod (Cephalopholis formosa) - Reef Fish
- Common Coral Trout (Plectropomus leopardus) - Reef Fish
- Redcoat (Sargocentron rubrum) - Reef Fish
- Slender grouper (Anyperodon leucogrammicus) - Reef Fish
- Banded maori wrasse (Cheilinus fasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Telescopefish (Epibulus insidiator) - Reef Fish
- Eight Banded Butterflyfish (Chaetodon octofasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Floral wrasse (Cheilinus chlorourus) - Reef Fish
- Longnose Butterflyfish (Chelmon rostratus) - Reef Fish
- Staghorn coral (Acropora solitaryensis) - Hard Corals
- Long-spined sea urchin (Diadema setosum) - Sea Urchins
- Honeycomb Grouper (Epinephelus quoyanus) - Reef Fish
- Big-eye trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Staghorn coral (Acropora millepora) - Hard Corals
Recommended Packing List for Chip Chip Wreck
Based on average water temperature of 28.2°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 28°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories