Closer to home, Khao Na Yak is the house reef for Khao Lak. Only 45 minutes away by local boat, and with a maximum depth of only 9m, this is a most relaxing dive and an excellent site for new divers or for those of you who haven’t dived for a while.

Khao Na Yak Reef also appeals to experienced divers who like to spend some time focusing closely on the varied fish life of a tropical reef, with the advantage of a longer bottom time due to the shallow depth.

Many beautiful nudibranchs can be found here – and see if you can find the ghost pipefish! Also visited by many lionfish and the occasional ray and leopard shark, and including a colourful selection of tropical fish, this dive site is the perfect place to concentrate on the small things ….

Bon soong Wreck
AKA Bon Sung Wreck
AKA Bang Sak Wreck

 

Khao Lak’s best local dive site

Situated only a few nautical miles From Cape Pakarang , the Boonsung Wreck is a perfect choice for a half a day trip or as an alternative to the sloping reefs and submerged pinnacles of the Similan islands.

This old tin dredger sank around 20 years ago and is now a well established nursery for a huge variety of marine life.

During the Tsunami, the dredger was split into three parts. This enlarged the dive site, making it easy to spend multiple dives slowly exploring its many nooks and crannies.

The wreck lies at an average depth of between 18-20 meters, with the top of the wreck extending to around 15 meters.

Bonsoong Marine Life

Tiny lion fish, white eyed morays, zebra morays, juvenile trigger fish and angel fish take shelter under the tin debris. Even the surface of the dredger itself appears to be alive, as it is covered in scorpion fish from the miniscule to the massive, as well as the most beautiful and rare nudibranches. Shrimps, gobies and octopus also appear around every corner. There is an abundance of ghost pipe fish which hover next to soft corals sprouting out of the wreck as well as along the sand floor. More elusive marine life, including stone fish, frog fish and sand dragonet fish can also be found. Look around the outside of the wreck for larger life, including leopard sharks, cuttlefish, sting rays, mantis shrimp and camouflaged flounders. Porcupine fish, trevallies as well as large schools of batfish, fusiliers and chevron barracuda often circle around and within the wreck.

If you are lucky, you may even find a whale shark, which are attracted to the divesite’s nutrient rich waters.

Bon Soong Diving

Diving Depth runs 12-18 meters (25-65 feet). Visibility tends to be murky as it in an area lacking in reefs. Expect 6-8 meters (15-25 feet). Currents can be present but are usually minimal. Experience level runs from beginner to the most jaded divers in the world. Daytrips from Khao Lak are the best way to enjoy the site

Bang Sak Wreck Hazards

With some serious jagged pieces sticking out at odd angles and some pretty painful stinging beasties afoot, we recommend both caution and good buoyancy when doing this site.

It will be VERY worth it!

The Premcahi (also known as the Thai Muang) Wreck was built in Sliedrecht in the Netherlands in 1976. She ended her days working for a Tin Mining company off the west side of Phang Nga province. She was renamed after the owner of the company and her name – “Premchai 10” is still visible on the side.

After sinking in September 2000, a few hundred metres off Thai Muang beach, the Condreco now rests on her side at a depth of 20 meters. The Premchai is in excellent condition with the most amazing soft corals and has attracted large numbers of Honeycomb & White-eyed moray eels, lionfish & all types of scorpion fish. It is also possible to spot Ornate ghost pipe fish here.

With the top of the wreck at 14 meters and the bottom at 21 meters, she is a bit a deeper than her more famous sister – the Bon Soong Wreck. As she is a more recent wreck she is also in a solid piece, and not as encrusted with corals and sponges.