Similan Islands, Thailand
    Khao Lak - Lam Ru

    Bon Soong Wreck

    Best months: Jan–May

    Protected Area

    Khao Lak - Lam Ru

    Why dive here

    With 173+ marine species recorded in the area - including blacktip reef sharks, eagle rays, giant moray eels, whale sharks and clownfish - Bon Soong Wreck offers some of Similan Islands's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 29-31°C, warmest April, May, June.

    Best timeJan–May
    WetsuitA 3mm shorty or thin full wetsuit
    Marine lifeBlacktip Reef Sharks, Eagle Rays, Giant Moray Eels, Whale Sharks and Clownfish · 173+ species recorded
    Water29-31°C · warmest April, May, June
    CharacterWreck dive
    StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

    The Bon Soong Wreck is one of our favourite dives in the Similans, especially if you’re a fan of something a bit different from the usual granite boulder landscapes. This old tin dredger, sunk intentionally in 1984, sits upright and largely intact, inviting exploration. We love dropping down onto the main deck, often finding a leopard shark or two resting on the sand nearby, completely unbothered by divers. Inside, we’ve often seen schools of fusiliers so thick they block out the ambient light filtering through the open hatches. You can navigate through the holds and engine room, where the light changes dramatically as you move from one section to another. Look closely at the superstructure; it's colonised by soft corals, and we’ve spotted ornate ghost pipefish camouflaged amongst them more than once. The wreck typically sits in good visibility, but there can be a slight current, so it’s best for divers comfortable with basic wreck penetration and drift conditions. We'd suggest going in the morning; the light seems to hit it just right.

    Safety Notes

    Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.

    Today06:1618:1411h 58m daylightGolden hour 17:46

    Bon Soong Wreck Wreck History

    Year Sunk

    1984

    Vessel Type

    cargo ship

    Cause

    unknown

    Before it was one of Thailand's most famous dive sites, the Bon Soong was a tin dredger, a hard-working vessel in the region's once-thriving mining industry. In 1984, its industrial life came to an end when it sank off the coast of Khao Lak. While the official cause is not widely known, local dive lore often suggests everything from a navigation error to more colourful, unconfirmed tales. Twenty years later, the powerful 2004 tsunami further impacted the site, breaking the vessel into several distinct sections and scattering its components across the sandy bottom.

    For divers, the Bon Soong Wreck is legendary, often described as 'fish soup' due to the sheer density of marine life it attracts. Lying on a sandy bottom at around 18 metres, the wreckage acts as a magnet for vast, swirling schools of snapper, fusiliers, and trevally. The structure itself is an encrusted wonderland, providing a habitat for countless creatures. Divers can spend their entire dive exploring the nooks and crannies, searching for ornate ghost pipefish, colourful nudibranchs, stonefish, and moray eels of all sizes. It is an absolute must-do dive for anyone visiting the Khao Lak area, promising an unforgettable underwater spectacle.

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    Conditions

    Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Bon Soong Wreck

    Bon Soong Wreck Ocean Conditions

    Monthly averages for Bon Soong Wreck, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (8.1, 98.3) (6km away)

    ExcellentGreatGoodFairPoor★Best monthsThis month

    October Averages

    Sea Temperature

    30°C

    85°F · Range: 28.7–30.4°C

    Current Speed

    5.1 cm/s

    Direction: S (191.3°)

    Salinity

    29.75 PSU

    Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU)

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