Barracuda
(Sphyraena)
Boonsung Wreck Liveaboard Diving
One of the most popular diving locations on many Similan Islands diving liveaboard trips is Boonsung Wreck. It is not the best dive site, and it’s not really suitable for all levels of scuba diver, but it there are several reasons why it is chosen by most cruise leaders as the final dive site of the trip. Also, it’s popular for day trip diving from Khao Lak. Its location is the main reason for its popularity, but the marine life there is also diverse, abundant and interesting. However, unlike other Similan diving locations which are dived more than once per trip, Boonsung is dived more than once for other reasons.
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One of the most popular diving locations on many Similan Islands diving liveaboard trips is Boonsung Wreck. It is not the best dive site, and it’s not really suitable for all levels of scuba diver, but it there are several reasons why it is chosen by most cruise leaders as the final dive site of the trip. Also, it’s popular for day trip diving from Khao Lak. Its location is the main reason for its popularity, but the marine life there is also diverse, abundant and interesting. However, unlike other Similan diving locations which are dived more than once per trip, Boonsung is dived more than once for other reasons.
What Exactly is Boonsung?
Boonsung is a ‘wreck’ but it is not a shipwreck. Also, instead of an accidental sinking, like most wrecks, it was probably deliberately sunken. The structure is an old tin dredger that was used for many years. When it became redundant the easiest and cheapest solution to dispose of it was to pull it out to sea and sink it. Some claim that it sank by accident, and the year it is claimed to have sunk was in the late 1970s to mid-1980s. Also, rumour is that the Thai navy deliberately damaged the top of it due to concerns that it was too near the surface. And the 2004 tsunami broke it up more, meaning that it no longer resembles its original shape or state, and there is no option for divers to get inside. It’s located about five kilometres from the mainland, and 20 kilometres from Tab Lamu Pier, in Khao Lak. It is large enough for 30 or more divers to visit without bumping into each other, and what is left of the structure is holding up quite well.
What Are The Diving Conditions At Boonsung?
Boonsung is on a flat sandy sea bed at a depth of around 20 metres. Because of it being surrounded by just sand and not too far from the mainland, the visibility is limited. On a good day, it can be as much as 15 metres, but less than 10 metres is most common. The structure is not more than 5 metres in height, which means than the whole dive is spent around 15-20 metres, depending on the tide. This means that Open Water divers whose certification limits them to 18 metres may not enjoy diving at Boonsung Wreck. And even for divers who are certified to 20 or more metres, the bottom time can be an issue, because the dive profile is quite deep for the whole dive, then straight up to a 5-metre safety stop. This is particularly difficult for those divers who are at the end of a liveaboard diving cruise and already near the limits after repetitive dives, and many are planning to fly the following day.
Why is Boonsung Visited By So Many Boats?
Both day trip boats and liveaboard diving boats come to Boonsung every day of the diving season. The main reason for coming here to dive when compared to other wrecks and The Similan Islands is the location. Boonsung is a short distance for the day trip boats to cover, and it’s the final stop off for most liveaboard boats on their way back from The Similan Islands & Richelieu Rock. For logistical reasons, it makes sense for the liveaboards to stop at Boonsung for one or two dives in the morning of the final day of the trip, then guests can disembark just an hour or two after they finish diving.
Diving conditions at Boonsung Wreck
Depths
16 - 20 metres
52.5 - 65.6 ft
Temperature
27 - 31 °C
80.6 - 87.8 °F
Currents
Normally no current
Visibility
4 - 18 metres
13.1 - 59.1 ft
Surface
Usually calm
When to dive at Boonsung Wreck
Best Times:
October to May
It's possible to dive at Boonsung Wreck all year round, but the high season in this part of Thailand is October to May. Weather and sea conditions are less suitable in the low season, and with fewer tourists, most boats don't attract enough paying divers to confirm trips. Therefore, it's only really practical or possible to dive at Boonsung Wreck from October to May.
What type of dive site is Boonsung Wreck
Wreck Diving
Boonsung Wreck was not a ship. It was a tin dredger that was abandoned in the sea in 1984.
Where is Boonsung Wreck?
The wreck is located just a few miles out to sea west of Khao Lak, in Phang Nga Province, southern Thailand.
How to get to Boonsung Wreck
Liveaboard Boat, Day Trip Boat
Due to its location near the coast, and to Tab Lamu Pier, it's easy to get to Boonsung Wreck. Day trip boats leave from Khao Lak and you can enjoy two dives and return just after lunch. Liveaboard boats often include Boonsung Wreck on the final day of the trip. This enables guests to dive in the morning, then dry gear and be back on land early afternoon.
Who can dive at Boonsung Wreck
PADI Open Water, SSI Open Water, CMAS 1, NAUI Scuba Diver equivalent or higher. Minimum 4 logged dives.
Any certified Open Water Scuba Diver can dive at Boonsung Wreck, as the maximum depth is not more than 20 metres. However, above the wreck (0-16 metres) there is no wreck structure or reef, and the visibility is often worse than at the wreck itself.
What marine life can you see at Boonsung Wreck?
Even if the visibility and topography at Boonsung are nowhere near as good as at other Similan diving sites, the marine life here is always well worth the visit. It’s a haven and a nursery for tens of thousands of individuals, and dozens of species. Most notable are the Honeycomb Moray Eels, Porcupine & Pufferfish, Scorpionfish & Lionfish, which can be seen all around the dive site. There are also many other species of bony fish, some of which are juveniles beginning their life under Boonsung’s protection and others live here as adults. Nudibranch lovers also have plenty to look for all over the wreck.
Summary of Boonsung Wreck
This is a good scuba diving site located not too far from Khao Lak, which is in Phang Nga province in southern Thailand. Inexperienced Open Water divers may feel that it’s not ideal because its shallowest point is around their 18-metre certification limit. Divers who are able to enjoy its depth are guaranteed to see thousands of fish, even if the visibility isn’t as good as in other areas nearby. There aren’t any inside areas for divers to penetrate & explore, which means it’s just structure on the seabed to dive around. It is not at all a bad dive site, but most divers who visit Boonsung on a liveaboard diving boat have just come from places such as Richelieu Rock, Koh Tachai & Koh Bon. These other dive sites are much better than Boonsung, with clearer water, more colour, and something to see at various depths.
