King Cruiser

The “King Cruiser” was built in Japan about 30 years ago. Until 1997, it operated as a ferry between Phuket and the Phi Phi Islands. On May 14, 1997, a sunny and calm day, it ran aground on Anemone Reef for mysterious reasons. Thankfully, all passengers were able to leave the ferry unharmed before it sank.

With a length of 85 meters, it is one of the larger wrecks in the Andaman Sea. A buoy line leads from the surface down to the wreck. In recent years, the King Cruiser has become a beautiful “artificial” reef.

The ship lies with its bow at a depth of approximately 32 m. A buoy line leads from the surface to the wreck. The upper deck lies at a depth of approximately 15 m, while the bow rests at a depth of approximately 32 m. A large school of barracuda is almost always found near the stern, and the trained eye can spot perfectly camouflaged scorpionfish all over the wreck.

Experienced divers with the proper equipment can also easily explore the interior of the ship, including the car deck and the captain’s cabin. The entrance is at a depth of 17–22 meters; the windows are all without glass, and divers can exit the ship at any time.