Was the Phutthayotfa Chulalok scuttled near Koh Chang?

No. The planned scuttling of the Phutthayotfa Chulalok near Koh Chang has been cancelled. The required permits were not obtained, and the ship is being used elsewhere.

Why was the Phutthayotfa Chulalok scuttling project cancelled?

The project was cancelled due to missing permits. The ship will not be sunk as an artificial reef near Koh Chang and is no longer available for this purpose.

What is the Phutthayotfa Chulalok?

The Phutthayotfa Chulalok is a 134-meter former frigate of the Royal Thai Navy, named after King Rama I of Thailand. It was planned to be scuttled near Koh Chang as an artificial reef dive site, but the project was abandoned.

Where can I dive wrecks near Koh Chang?

Koh Chang still offers excellent wreck diving at the HTMS Chang (max 31m), the T11 wreck (max 20m), and the Koho Maru 5 (max 43m). All are accessible by boat from Koh Chang.

Phutthayotfa Chulalok Frigate – The Cancelled Wreck Project near Koh Chang

The Phutthayotfa Chulalok frigate, a former warship of the Royal Thai Navy, was planned to be scuttled at 40 meters depth near Koh Chang to create an artificial reef dive site. However, this project has been cancelled. The required permits were never obtained, and the ship is now being used elsewhere. It will not become a dive site near Koh Chang. We have kept this page as an informational record for divers who may have read about the planned project.

Phutthayotfa Chulalok Frigate Details

Length: 134 meters overall, 126 meters at the waterline.
Beam: 14.25 meters.
Draft: 7.54 meters.
Displacement: 4,065 tons (standard), 4,260 tons (fully loaded).
Propulsion: Combustion Engineering steam propulsion with 35,000 HP (26,000 kW), achieving a speed of 27 knots (50 km/h).
Armament (historical):
- 1 x 127 mm Mark 42 gun.
- 8-round ASROC launcher for anti-submarine rockets.
- 4 Mark 32 torpedo tubes (324 mm).
Features: Helicopter deck and hangar, later modified for SH-2D Seasprite helicopters.

Project Status: Cancelled

The scuttling of the Phutthayotfa Chulalok near Koh Chang will not take place. The necessary approvals and permits were not secured, and the ship has since been repurposed elsewhere. There is no planned alternative date or location for this project near Koh Chang.

If you are looking for wreck diving near Koh Chang, please visit our existing wreck dive sites listed below.

What Was Planned

Planned Depth: 40 meters – targeted at Deep Diver or technical divers.
Planned Location: Approximately 2–5 km south of the HTMS Chang.
Access: Would have been boat only.
Status: Project cancelled – permits not obtained, ship used elsewhere.

What other divers discovered

Real reviews and experiences from our guests – see what others found on their diving adventures with us!

Wreck Dives You Can Do Now

While the Phutthayotfa Chulalok project was cancelled, Koh Chang still offers excellent wreck diving. Explore these real, accessible wrecks with us today:

⚓ HTMS Chang Wreck

Thailand's most famous wreck dive! (Max depth: 31m)

🚢 T11 Wreck

Explore the T11 shipwreck with its intact structure and abundant marine life. Perfect for wreck diving enthusiasts! (Max depth: 20m)

⚓ Koho Maru 5

Dive the historic Japanese cargo ship from WWII. An atmospheric wreck with fascinating history and marine encrustation. (Max depth: 43m)

🗺️ View All Sites

Explore all 13 dive sites around Koh Chang.