"YIIPPPPPPEEEEEE!!!!!"

...................................................Anakin Skywalker, A long, long time ago..

I LOVE THIS WRECK!!!

It is SUCH a PLAYGROUND!!! Large portholes to peep out of and provide light, long solid corridors for safe penetration and large, easy dock areas to play around with!!
The HMS Krarm, Landing Vessel No. 732 was decommissioned and sunk by the Thai Navy in late January to provide a dignified end to a long-serving vessel and an artificial reef to divers in Pattaya, enriching its divelife exponentially in future.

The skinny..

A 61m long World War II vessel sunk at 26m (hull) with conning tower at 15m. Still VERY new, and a little work to do to minimise entanglement dangers inside but overall, a VERY enjoyable and relaxing dive..

(L) shows Bill peeping out comfortable from the conning tower; (M) the air pocket still holds fair O2 while (R) the light plays well with picture opportunities - ladders, pipes and bubbles provide easy options to play with depths of field.

consider..

If our experience with the dozens of wrecks in Papua New Guinea is any indication, the long, flat yet protected topside will provide good base for cleaner shrimps and pipefish in future, who prefer shadows but good nutritious water freely swirling. The large corridors mean coral and mussels which will inevitably grow won't be enough to make it unduly hazardous to penetrate with proper supervision.

The larger holding doors also mean ease of escape for potentially corrosive O2 in divers' exhaled air, which in other steel wrecks gets trapped in the small corners, corroding the structure internally and compromising diver safety without ease of visual checks.

Picture: (L) Buddha's Protection is evident.. (M) the well lit ladders/ corridors, (R) comfy exits, even for Steve... hee heee!!!

my thoughts?

DIVE THIS BABY!!! I would go back to this wreck again and again, especially after a few more months and all the fish get the memo..

PLEASE DO be careful tho, as although MOST of the wreck is well lit, it's still easy to turn a blind corner into pitch black. Dive within your limits ALWAYS. Remember - it's no use dying over diving another minute, picture or corner.. come BACK and do it!

All reputable diveshops in Pattaya have started diving this wreck as of 2 weeks ago (15th February), including Mermaids Dive Centre, which after some "ghost-shopping" WE feel has the BEST gear set-ups, entertainment value and feel all-round.

DIVE SAFE, EVERYONE!!!