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HTMS Chang Wreck Dive Koh Chang Thailand
Thailand's Longest Shipwreck at 119m!
Koh Chang’s premier Wreck dive, “The Chang Wreck” is the largest Wreck Dive site for recreational divers in Thailand. HTMS Chang (LST-898), [Landing Ship Tank ] – 898) has become one of the most impressive wreck dives in Thailand!
Into The Past - History
This ex US World War II Navy vessel (formally USS Lincoln County LST-898), was an LST-542-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named after counties in 23 U.S. states, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.Size Does Matter
Go Big Or Go Home
On November 22, 2012, HTMS Chang was scuttled to make an artificial reef for scuba diving. It is one of Thailand’s biggest wrecks with her bottom sitting on the sand at 32m and the crow’s nest just 3m below the surface.
A Giant To Behold. It really is hard to fathom the goliath size of this wreck until you see it; luckily it is accessible to all levels of divers, with 3 main decks and 7 sub decks decks from Bridge to bottom with troop cabins, briefing rooms, captain’s cabin, corridors, engine room and hold to explore..
Check Out This Amazing HTMS Chang Video From John Clark!
A New Reef of Diversity Grows
In 6 years since its sinking, the HTMS Chang has begun to really come into it own beauty in terms of growth. Although it still has some years to go before it catches up to some of the older Southeast Asian shipwreck counterparts. So don’t embark on this dive with the expectation of exploring a well developed coral systems and its accompanying small macro-life. This dive is all about getting to swim in, on and around the massive ship with schools of unrecognizable fish.Having said that, the wreck site seems to be coming along quickly from when it was sunk. Where once shiny railings were, a thick layer of rust and barnacles have taken hold. We can’t wait to see the HTMS Chang in 20 years time!
HTMS CHANG Wreck - Facts
TYPE:: Landing Ship Tank (LST)
CONSTRUCTION::15/10/1944 –Build @ Dravo Corporation, Pittsburgh
NAME::USS Lincoln County (LST-898)
PURPOSE::Warcraft built for efforts during WWII
FEATURES::l8 × 40 mm guns
FEATURES::12 × 20 mm guns
STATUS::Recreation dive site / artificial reef
REPUTATION:: Largest Artificial Reef for Scuba Diving In Thailand
POSITION & DEPTH:: Sitting perfect on her hull upright in 32m
Aquatic Life Thriving With HTMS Chang
To Present date HTMS Chang has invited alot of aquatic life to it residence. Large schools of Damsels and rabbit fish can be seen everywhere. Juvenile Yellowtail Barracuda and Huge school of Batfish can be found here regularly. As you peep inside the portholes and various room openings you’ll witness giant Groupers, and schooling snapper hanging out whith a keen eye you will notice the macro life if beginning to develop in small holes of the structure.As you swim around the wreck itself, often you encounter large rouge great Barracuda and more and more often Whale sharks are sighted here multiple times throughout the season so dont forget your camera and dive on!!
