Boonsung Wreck – Khao Lak

Boonsung Wreck – Khao Lak

The Boon sung Wreck Is A Fine Send Off To Your Thailand Liveaboard Adventure

The Boonsung wreck was formerly one of many vessels that were used in Thailand’s former booming tin mining trade. Allegedly it sank due to a faulty toilet and came to rest on the sandy bottom at 18m. It’s located just outside the port at Tablamu near Khao Lak. Originally it was a hazard to shipping and the Thai navy dropped a couple of bombs to level it out a bit. Add that to the damage created by the 2004 tsunami and we’re left with something that’s hardly recognisable as a boat.

Although not a part of the Similan Islands. The Boonsung Wreck is the final two dives of many liveaboard safaris’ due to its close proximity to Khao Lak. Its location on an extensive flat, sandy and featureless underwater plain makes it a haven for fish and attracts wildlife from miles around. The schools of fish are simply huge and consist of many different species. Forsters barracuda, snapper, fusilier and batfish to name a few. Even puffer and porcupine fish congregate in large numbers here, something we don’t see on any other Thailand diving site.

fish of every kind surround the boonsung wreck

It’s location does have one significant disadvantage. Visibility is rarely more than 10m so descending on one of the buoy lines is a must. Very often you can’t see the wreck from the surface. Once you’ve reached the wreck navigation is easy. Simply move in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction moving from one section of this broken up wreck to the next. Hopefully you’ll end the dive on the buoy line that you descended on. Don’t stray away from the wreck and you won’t get lost…

Lots of Great macro Life On The Boonsung Wreck

You’ll probably get two dives on the Boonsung Wreck so make sure you take it really slow. Give yourself plenty of time to search for all the great macro life. Ornate ghost pipefish, frogfish and many species of nudi’s are common. One particular area of the dive site attracts lots of different species of nudi’s and has been given the apt name of nudi hotel. Another special find is the honeycomb moray. Rare on other dive sites but this beautiful eel is a guaranteed sighting here. Adults and juveniles can be found anywhere on the wreck.

Nudibranch At BoonSung Wreck

Nudibranch At BoonSung Wreck

Although the Boonsung Wreck is a fairly straight forward dive with rarely any significant current, you do have to be careful. As well as the obvious hazard of sharp rusty metal, bearded scorpionfish, devil scorpionfish, reef stonefish, lionfish and black sea urchins are here in numbers so be very sure of your buoyancy and avoid making contact with any part of the wreck.

packs of lionfish on the boonsung wreck

Finish your dive hanging out in the ‘fish soup’ on the buoy line and you may also be rewarded with a literally massive bonus – whale sharks are regular visitors. If you hear a cacophony of tank bangers you’ll know who’s made an appearance.

Popular Services

Thailand Liveaboard At The SImilan Islands

Mid Budget Liveaboards

If you need your little luxuries and don't enjoy crowded boats then you should find a boat to fit your needs on this page. All have mostly en-suite air-conditioned cabins, experienced crews and come highly recommended by us. We've had numerous trips on all of these boats and they never disappoint. [...]

Find Out More
Similan Island Liveaboard group shot of our happy divers

Liveaboard Scuba Diving Holidays

Liveaboard diving simply refers to large Marine Vessels, or Yachts that you live onboard, for multiple days of diving. Each Liveaboard tour or holiday is different and the number of days on board or the number of dives possible changes per trip, but one thing always remains constant, breathtaking diving. From Phuket there are three main locations for Liveaboard scuba diving holidays, they are the majestic Similan Islands, the secretive & secl [...]

Find Out More

Daily Schedules

M/V Kepsub Schedule

Jobs @ Local Dive Thailand

Local Dive Thailand is one of Phuket's fatest growing & most vibrant scuba diving operations, we are always looking for quality staff to join us, so feel free to have a look at our jobs listing page.

Job Listings

Contact LDT

Local Guides, Local Knowledge, Local Experiences

Don't trust your diving to amateurs or freshly minted dive guides, dive with local experienced experts from Local Dive Thailand. Our Scuba Diving Phuket Tours will take you to see the rarest of the rare critters, you will be amazed by the macro life our guides can find, in the secret places only they know. To put it in perspective, if you were going to climb Mount Everest you would certainly hire a local sherpa to lead the way & keep you safe. Diving is similar because there is absolutely no substitute for local experience & local knowledge, Local Dive Thailand's guides are Phuket's Sherpa's of the Andaman Sea!

Learn More About Us

Scuba Diving Phuket, Phi Phi & Thailand

When talking about Scuba Diving in Phuket, you should believe the hype, many seasons we have had Whale Sharks grace us on our regular and easy to reach dive sites and on a good day you can add Sea Horses, Sea Moths, Snake Eels, Frog Fish & Octopus to what you can see on any given dive and so much more. If we are heading to Phi Phi Island for the day, you can possibly see Hawksbill Sea Turtles and Black Tip Reef Sharks, also don't forget the King Cruiser, 84 meters of beautiful wreck and the most amazing reef nursery for fish and nudibranch. Local Dive Thailand day trip tours to these locations are not to be missed when you are scuba diving Phuket, get in touch with us and book an 'awesome' day of diving.

Book Your Day Trip

Related News From Local Dive Thailand

See why we are Thailand's leading scuba diving Phuket tour provider, stay up to date & watch out for news & special liveaboard offers!

upcycling the oceans phuket Diving Discounts & Special Offers

Help Save The Oceans And Save Money

Upcycling The Oceans is a new initiative which gives divers an opportunity to "do their bit" and save a bit of money. Use dive operators who've joined the programme such as Local Dive Thailand to reap the rewards. It has no negative impact on your enjoyment of the dive. You simply collect any plastics you see during your dive and hand it in to us - couldn't be more simple! In a nutshell the main focus is reducing and reusing ocean plas [...]

Read Full Story
Take A Break From Diving and Go to Wat Chalong Temple Phuket Phuket Sights & Fun

Wat Chalong

Wat Chalong is the most important and the most beautiful Buddhist temple of the 29 or so located in Phuket. This stunning landmark is one of the most popular tourist attractions on the island. The temple is dedicated to an eminent monk who is believed to have assisted the citizens of Phuket overcome a Chinese tin workers rebellion in 1876. Of course being a monk he didn't fight himself. But Luang Pho Cham's advice and medical assistance to [...]

Read Full Story
similan island early booking discounts Diving Discounts & Special Offers

Similan Islands Early Booking Discount 2020/21

With the 2019/20 Similan Island season finishing early due to COVID-19, it's time to take a look at available discounts for the 2020/21 season. We know for many it's not the time yet to be thinking of next years holiday. For the few that are we're going to clearly lay out your potential savings. Worth bookmarking this page and when the situation returns to normality you have all of the best Similan Islands early bird deals just a click away. [...]

Read Full Story

Local Dive Thailand Office In Phuket


Find Us On Google Maps