HTMS Sattakut LCI 742 - Koh Tao - Update

Koh Tao's new wreck the HTMS Sattakut has settled just south of Hin Pee Wee at a depth of 32m according to local reports. A few dive schools have taken a look already and several videos are available on YouTube. Planet Scuba are taking a look later today with a few experienced staff.

We're not sure who owns this video so we cant give credit at the moment.

We received the following letter this morning from the 'Tao Tourism Association'. "As of June 18,2011, the Royal Naval vessel HMS Sattakut was sunk off sairee beach, south of dive site 'Hin Pee Wee' on Koh Tao. Unfortunately because of bad weather on the day the Sattakut was sunk and unfortunately rested on its side, rather than the desired upright position."

"Becaucse of this, agencies and staff involved with the project are currently working on revisions to have the vessel position changed to an upright position. Therefore we would kindly ask if any divers are planning to dive the Sattakut, they must be properly trained or be very experienced in this field of diving for their own safety. We would kindly ask all dive schools on the island for their cooperation with this matter in order to avoid accidents or even fatalities"

So we're not sure when this is likely to happen. Stay safe when you dive it :)

HTMS Sattakut LCI 742 - Koh Tao - Sinking delayed

The HTMS Sattakut soon to be Koh Tao's new wreck gets to float for 1 more day. More than 25 boats from local dive schools turned out to watch the show but were treated to only a slight listing as the wreck took on some water. Sea conditions were choppy with swells around 1m. Much less that what had been predicted. Thankfully Whaleshark 1, Planet Scuba's smallest boat is one of the most stable boats on Koh Tao. Although some of our local guests turned slightly green.

HTMS Sattakut - Listing but not sinking today

The video below is of the HTMS Prab, the sister ship to the Sattakut that was sunk in Chumphon as an artificial reef. Hopefully the Sattakut goes down straighter than this!

According to Bangkok sources the boat has been fitted with valves that once opened will flood the ship. Why it didn't happen today is still up too speculation. We were contacted at 12:30 pm by colleagues who were aboard the press boat to say that conditions were not good to continue the sinking. So the Sattakut gets to float for another day, even if it is listing. We're also getting the ship's history from when she was taken over by The Royal Thai Navy sometime this week. I doubt that it was as active as it had been during World War 2.

This video is from the HTMS Prab which was sunk last month in Chumphon.

Were waiting to hear what time tomorrow. My advice would be to watch out for Crystal 1. They're carrying the journalists so its unlikely anything will happen until they arrive.

Koh Tao's New Wreck - The HTMS Sattakut - The History

Koh Tao will have a new wreck to scuba dive on from the 18th of June 2011. The former World War 2 landing craft will be sunk as an artificial reef on the west coast of Koh Tao. After years of campaigning to secure a vessel the Royal Thai Navy will sink the HTMS Sattakut LCI - 742 (formally the USS LCI - 739). Wild Planet and sister company Planet Scuba will be at the sinking ceremony just south of 'Hin Pee Wee' dive site.

The landing craft was built in 1943 by the 'Commercial Iron Works' in Portland, Oregon USA. She was launched on the 27th of February 1944 and commissioned the USS LCI (L) - 739 on the 6th of March 1944. The vessel was to be assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theatre of operations. It was exactly 6 months later when the LCI -739 saw action as part of the capture and occupation of the Southern Palau islands. The campaign was known as the 'Western Caroline islands' operation and lasted until October 14th 1944. She was re-classified as a 'Gunboat' on the 31st of December 1944 before seeing action again in the assault and occupation of Iwo Jima. The Iwo Jima operation lasted from the 19th of February to the 3rd March 1945.

It wasn't long before the 'Sattakut' was in action again. Just 3 weeks later she was part of the 'Okinawa Gunto Operation' which lasted from the 26th of March to the 14th June 1945. During which time the vessel was again re-classified to a 'mortar' boat. At the close of the war the USS LCI (L) (G) (M) 739 received 3 battle stars for its service during the above campaigns. She was taken out of service with the US Navy in 1947. I will find out more about her service with the Royal Thai Navy and include it in the blog on Saturday.

If you want to be part of the sinking ceremony please contact Planet Scuba - Mae Haad - 077 456 110 before Friday the 17th June. 

Wild Planets' Climbing Expert Ben

Ben Grasser – France

Ben had always been climbing the trees around his village from a very young age, so his parents had the good idea to send him to the rock climbing and caving association when he was big enough at 11 years old. He’s from the East of France, province of Jura, not far from the Alps so he spent his teenage years pursued outdoor and mountain sports. At 18 years old he left school and went to the entrance examination for the French official rock climbing school (named CREPS). After three years of technical stage/examination with the Mountaineering and Climbing French Federation he qualified as a Rock Climbing and Canyoning instructor and Mountain Guide (BEES).

After travelling around Europe and north of Africa climbing, in 2001 the came for one month to Thailand to climb the sea cliffs of the Krabi area. He is still here several years later having met and married his wife Joy (also a climber) and now spends his spare time bolting new routes in Central and Northern Thailand and when not advising the Wild Lodge he works as a ropes course designer and erector and offshore on rope access contracts. Ben collaborated with us on the design and erection of our high ropes course and Zip wire. The second half of 2008 projects for Ben at The Wild Lodge include the protection and surveying of our proposed dry canyon route from the Khao Mot Deng Plateau and the finalising of alternative abseil and canyon routes on Than Rattana Waterfall.

Wild Planets' Operations Manager - Dave Milne

Continuing the theme of meet the staff.......

Dave Milne has been actively involved in the outdoor adventure industry since 1988 from mountaineering in England, Scotland, Wales and Greenland to canyoning, scuba diving and white water rafting in Australia.  He moved to Thailand in 1998 where he has been teaching scuba diving, as well as heading up outdoor adventure activity programs and IYA programs for International Schools in the region.  Dave is a PADI IDC Staff instructor, an SSI Master Instructor, an Emergency First Response Instructor Trainer, a BCU Level 3 Inland Kayak Coach, a Swift Water Rescue Technician and has a Bsc (hons) in Environmental Science.. 

Dave is Bangkok based where he lives with his wife Ai (also a qualified Scuba Instructor) and his son Joshua. When not in Asia he is a keen skier, and thinks that the only thing missing from Thailand is snowy peaks.

White Water Raft Guides - The Wild Planet

Nutthawat Boon-you ‘Num’ – Thailand

Num is responsible for the organisation and leading of all of our freelance Thai river guides. He has extensive experience with student groups and logistics involved with multi day raft trips. He has worked with the Wild Planet for a number of years and been instrumental in developing the routes on some of our more strenuous outdoor programs. In addition to his water based skills Num is a skilled ropes facilitator and often instructs on our new staff training programs.

In the off season Num can be found on the Nam Wa in Nan running mutli day trips with his own guiding company Sabai Dee on Tour.

Witoon Boon-you ‘Noo’ – Thailand

Num's younger brother and another skilled river guide and a great campfire cook. If Num isn’t at the helm of a multi day white water trip, then Noo will be. Noo is also a skilled ropes facilitator and safety guide and also spends the off season in Nan rafting the Nam Wa with Sabai Dee on Tour.