The Pattaya wrecks , Le Hardeep, Shipwreck diving in Pattaya, Thailand, with the 5-star Dive Academy Thailand diving center.

The Pattaya wrecks Le Hardeep

Another unique dive site in Pattaya

Le Hardeep

Rating: 4-star: Depth 25-28m: Visibility: 5-15m

The Hardeep was sunk by Allied bombers during World War II. It was a ship of the Indonesian cargo had been requisitioned by the Japanese army to carry supplies to Thailand where they built the railway from Burma.

The Hardeep is 64-meters long and has only a few hundred meters from the coral island Koh Chuang where the captain made ​​a vain effort to fail.

Her hull is largely intact and there is access to the engine share a home where you can see the huge crankshaft. There are still fire bricks in the square near the boilers.

The time taken on the superstructure and penetration becomes risky, but it is possible to swim along the bridge for about half the length of the boat.

The remains of the funnel remain on the seabed, an end that extends in 28 meters of water. The foremast is close. A short swim, following the line of the funnel, will lead to an unexploded bomb right in the sand.

Try using it for luck with the handle of your knife. If it starts ticking, you're not lucky. Place your fingers in your ears, and swim like hell! Just mocking - just look and no doubt do not touch!

Although Hardeep is well lit by natural light is available to carry a torch to examine the dark corners as well as to enjoy the marine life in it because there true colors.

After more than 60 years fong estla the marine life that has taken over and there:. Angelfish, batfish, groupers, stingrays, barracuda, wrasse, butterflyfish, crabs and nudibranchs at home.

 

The Wreck of the Steamship Suddhadib

a.k.a. The 'Hardeep' shipwreck (An Anglicization of Suthathip, or S.S. Suddhadib)

(Pattaya, Thailand)

 

Vessels name:- Suthathip, Registration:-Thai,Sunk:- 1st June 1945

Depth=26meters ; Suitable for Air, Nitrox, technical diving

All Computer generated images courtesy of Mr Alex Beuchel, alexbeuchel@gmail.com Used with permission.

New images from Latest Alex Beuchel Survey Jan 2008

"I recently started working with a 3D software called SketchUp which can be downloaded free through Google. They distribute it as public domain software for people around the world to model their cities and homes in 3D to be used in Google Earth

.

 "It is quite simple to learn and they have great online tutorials. Next to it they published a program called SketchUp Viewer for people who only want to view a model in 3D, rotate it and walk around in it without modifying the model.

"I took all my existing data that we had collected to draft up the 2D maps that I had done and now applied it to a 3D model. Took some time, but was a lot of fun to see the Suddhadib grow in 3D on my screen. But as you know me, no little detail went unnoticed. If a hole in a bulkhead had a certain shape it now has that shape in my model - nothing random" - Alex Beuchel

All Computer generated images courtesy of Mr Alex Beuchel, Used with permission.

Suddhadib- Hardeep shipwreck DVD

A truly outstanding example of shipwreck research and wreck diving documentary.

Diver & shipwreck researcher Peter Walker assisted by a team of keen professional divers unravel the history of one of Thailand's most popular shipwrecks.
From a standing start Peter has succeeded in completely researching the history of what was, a mystery shipwreck. Never before seen footage and actual aerial photography of the bombing raid that sunk the Suddhadib, establish for the first time what really happened in 1945 when the Royal Thai Navy at anchor was attacked by a squadron of B24 liberator bombers.
Peter's clear 'BBC style' presentation and multi-lingual detective skills comb through Thai naval history and cross the world to trace the actual bomber crews involved in this raid 65 years after the sinking, for a first hand 'on camera' interview of what it was like to be there during a low level bombing run against enemy shipping.
Underwater video footage clearly documents all aspects of diving this wreck including penetration diving into the more challenging areas that are out of reach to recreational divers. The video survey also documents the many unexploded bombs that still litter the seabed around her, and the dozens of species of marine life that have made this shipwreck there home.