King Cruiser

The sunken ferry King Cruiser lies in open sea about 30 km east of Phuket Island.

The ferry was built in Japan in 1969 and was originally named Rokko Maru. In 1990, the vessel was sold to Songserm Travel Center and renamed King Cruiser. After that, it operated between Phuket and the Phi Phi Islands in Thailand.

The ferry was designed to carry up to 600 passengers and had three decks. It was 85 meters long and 25 meters wide.

On May 4, 1997, it was a clear and calm day. No wind, no waves. King Cruiser was following its usual route to the Phi Phi Islands.

According to one version, the captain deviated from the normal course, and the ferry hit Anemone Reef, which is barely visible underwater. Some say another person may have been at the helm, but there is no confirmation. Another theory suggests the captain tried to take a shortcut, although this seems unlikely, as he knew the area well and was aware of the dangerous reef.

There is also speculation that the vessel may have been intentionally directed onto the reef for insurance fraud, since there were no cars on board that day.

After the collision, the ferry was damaged and began to sink. Over the course of about 2.5 hours, it descended onto a clean sandy bottom at a depth of around 33 meters.

Fortunately, no one was injured. However, the true story of that day remains a mystery.

Over time, King Cruiser has become one of the most popular dive sites around Phuket and Phi Phi. The highest point of the wreck is at about 16 meters, while the bottom rests on sand at 30--33 meters.

Unfortunately, the light construction of the car ferry, with large unsupported areas, caused the structure to collapse relatively quickly. Strong currents combined with warm water accelerated this process. Today, there are no obvious penetration points left, as all three decks have collapsed onto the main platform between the two hulls of the catamaran.

The King Cruiser dive site is suitable for Advanced Open Water Divers and for specialty courses such as Wreck Diver and Nitrox Diver.

A descent line is usually attached to the stern of the ferry, which helps during descent and ascent, especially when currents are strong. Since most divers start and finish their dive at the same point and around the same time, it is important to be prepared for some crowding during the safety stop. However, in my experience, divers are friendly and try to help each other.

The wreck is covered with soft and hard corals, attracting many species of fish. Around the wreck you can see large schools of small fish, tuna, barracudas, and even leopard sharks. Inside the structure, you may find large groupers, snappers, and giant barracudas. The site is also home to lionfish, scorpionfish, and stonefish.

King Cruiser offers interesting diving opportunities for both experienced divers and beginners.

More advanced divers can explore different parts of the wreck, including the engine room with narrow passages - ideal for divers using sidemount configuration.

For beginner divers, there are safe and simple routes around the exterior of the wreck.

Water temperature at the site remains between 28--30°C all year round. Visibility usually ranges from 5 to 15 meters, depending on weather conditions. Because the ferry lies in open sea, currents are quite common and can sometimes be very strong.