wreck

Log This Dive

BUSSEL

Bussel, or the MV Trident as some still call her, is one of those wrecks we keep coming back to on Koh Tao. She’s not huge, just an 18-metre tugboat, but what she lacks in size, she makes up for in character and accessibility. Sunk back in ’98, she lies upright at 26 metres, a perfect depth for a solid bottom time without pushing deco limits too hard. Our favourite thing about Bussel is how she’s become a home. Schools of yellowtail barracuda often hang motionless just above the deck, and you’ll usually find big groupers tucked into the wheelhouse. We’ve seen morays poking out from almost every opening, and there’s a good chance of spotting a banded sea krait slithering around the propeller. The gentle currents here mean the soft corals have really taken hold, a colourful contrast to the rusted steel. You can swim through the wheelhouse and down into the engine room, though it’s a tight squeeze in some spots, so a good buoyancy is a must. We’d suggest going in the morning; the light filters down beautifully, illuminating the structure and the fish. It’s a great dive for anyone comfortable at depth and keen on a wreck that’s truly integrated with its environment. Just watch your head on the low beams inside.