The Hardeep Wreck Dive
Here at Seafari Dive Center, we can arrange your visit to the Hardeep Shipwreck with dive trips running 3 or 4 times a week or when requested by our customers.
The Hardeep Wreck is undoubtedly one of the best wreck dives around Pattaya and located in a small fishing area called Samae San, only 30 mins from the pier you will discover yourself moored over the battle sank wreck and many scuba divers would say it’s among the finest shipwrecks Thailand has to offer with more than 70 years Of History !!
This wreck was officially identified as S.S. SUDDHADIB, today often known as the Hardeep wreck, often spelled Hardeep.
The Hardeep wreck was built 70 years before as a 70m freight & passenger steam vessel built by Dearn Rua Thai company (Thai Shipping Co.), it was originally meant to be used as a cargo ship for Hong Kong and the Vambua company.
During the late part of the second world war the Hardeep Wreck was bombed on 1st of June 1945 by The British RAF, all of the crew were luckily able to escape safely and swim towards the nearby islands.
During that fateful morning in 1945, fires raged aboard the Suddhadib, but regardless of this, it was not the fires or explosion which caused the S.S. SUDDHADIB to sink, instead, an individual bomb was thought to have come into the forward hold, damaging the hull causing her to sink, and she now lays in 26-28m of water in the Gulf Of Thailand, Samaesan
The wreck is entirely covered in corals and macro life and has now become a healthy and balanced home for a huge selection of marine creatures including Tusk fish, Parrotfish, Sting Rays, Bat Fish, Turtles, the usual giant grouper, and a giant starry pufferfish. The odd whale shark has also been known to visit the area.
Key Details
Depth:
26 meters
Minimum Certification:
Advanced Open Water or equivalent
Can be part of Advanced course
Suitable for:
Air, Nitrox, Technical Diving
Dive Type:
Wreck, Deep
Penetration is optional
Best Conditions:
The best diving conditions for the Hardeep are between December and March with water temperatures of between 28 and 32 degrees.
Your day at the Hardeep
The day begins at 08:00 am when our driver will collect you from your hotel in Pattaya.
A day trip to the Hardeep includes one dive on the wreck and one coral reef dive after lunch.
Driving from Seafari Dive Center in Pattaya, our Minibus takes just 50min to Samae San Fishing village. The boat journey to the wreck is a further 40min away, just time enough to assemble your equipment, have a coffee and listen to the dive briefing from your Instructor.
Duration of the dive is usually around 30 mins or 40 min or more with Enriched Air Nitrox. Occasionally, if the dive conditions are favorable it is possible to make a double Hardeep dive in one day and for this, we would recommend using Nitrox,
After your wreck dive, the boat will move to a nearby sheltered bay for any try divers and snorkeling passengers. Here we will also serve a delicious lunch of Thai curry, rice, vegetables, and fruit.
By now you would have had a sufficient surface interval, so the instructors will select a final nearby dive site that is suitable for everybody on the boat. The maximum time on the 2nd dive is usually 60 min which is more than enough for most experienced divers.
A slow cruise back to the pier with enough time to breakdown your equipment and fill out your log books.
Return time to your Pattaya Hotel is usually about 4:30 pm.
For ex-pats living in Bangkok, it is easier to drive your self directly and meet us at the Samae San Pier by 9:30 am. We would estimate your arrival back in the city by 7:00 pm.