Boonsung Wreck, Khao Lak: Depth, Level & Trip Guide
Diving the Boonsung Wreck off Khao Lak: depth, who it suits, what the trip involves, how it compares with nearby wrecks, and what to ask before booking.
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Last updated November 2026. The Boonsung wreck is a sunken tin-mining vessel off Khao Lak, and operators describe it as a shallow local dive for beginners through intermediate divers. Most trips run as a half-day or full-day outing with two dives. This guide covers depth, level, marine life, cost and how it compares with other local wrecks, as part of our wider Khao Lak diving guide.
Featured image: henriette-einstein, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr.
Boonsung Wreck at a Glance
Boonsung is a wreck dive resting at roughly 18–20 m (59–66 ft), according to local dive operators. One operator lists 20 m in its description and 18 m in its spec box, so treat the exact figure as a range. Visibility is listed at 10–15 m (33–49 ft) and water at 27–29 °C (81–84 °F). Those are the operators' general figures, not guarantees for any given day. You may also see the site written as "Boon Sung" or "Boonsung". All three spellings refer to the same dive.
| Detail | Per operators |
|---|---|
| Dive type | Wreck |
| Depth | About 18–20 m (59–66 ft) |
| Level | Beginner to intermediate |
| Visibility | 10–15 m (33–49 ft) |
| Water temperature | 27–29 °C (81–84 °F) |
| Typical format | Half-day or day trip, 2 dives |
What the Wreck Is and How It Got Here
Boonsung is an old tin-mining vessel that sank in 1984. Operators disagree on the label. One calls it a tin-mining boat and another a dredger, so a neutral description is safest. It sits on open sand, which makes it the main structure for fish in that stretch of seabed. One operator says the 2004 tsunami split the wreck into several parts and made the site larger. Another gives its length as about 60 m (197 ft), with several entrances and passages. Neither claim is independently documented here, so ask your guide what the layout looks like today.
What You Can See Underwater
Locals describe the wreck as "fish soup", because the water around it fills with schooling fish. Operators name snappers, fusiliers, batfish and trevally in the open water. Barracuda and stingrays are also listed by one shop. Closer to the hull and the sand, the list shifts to small and camouflaged species.
- Nudibranchs on the wreck structure, which one operator calls the kings of the site
- Ornate ghost pipefish, a favorite target for macro photographers
- Lionfish, scorpionfish and stonefish resting on or beside the hull
- Crocodile fish and moray eels in gaps and corners
- Honeycomb and white-eye moray eels, boxfish and clownfish, shown in one shop's photo gallery
Whale Sharks and Other Big Animals
Two operators say whale sharks are regularly spotted here. Treat that as a possible bonus, not a reason to book. No dive shop can schedule a whale shark. For turtles, which are a separate topic, see our Khao Lak turtle guide. For marine-life rules in Thai waters, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources is the official body.
Who the Boonsung Wreck Dive Suits
Operators rate Boonsung beginner to intermediate, and one says it also suits experienced divers. Your real checks are certification depth limit, comfort at about 18–20 m, and any wreck experience. An Open Water diver is normally limited to a shallower depth than an Advanced diver, so ask the shop which limit applies to your card. A guide is recommended. One operator advises exploring the wreck with an experienced dive guide. Several entrances and passages exist, but penetration needs wreck training. Stay outside the structure unless you hold that training and your guide agrees. Snorkelers cannot see the wreck from the surface at this depth. Head to our Khao Lak snorkeling guide instead.
How a Boonsung Wreck Trip Works
Booking models differ by shop. One operator runs the wreck daily on request with a minimum of 2 divers. Another visits every Monday and Friday through contract partners. The first model gives flexibility. The second gives you fixed dates to plan around. A typical outing is two dives, with a surface break between them. One operator's nearby wreck page describes about an hour at the surface, which is enough for lunch and a second dive of around 60 minutes. Prices and hours checked November 2026. One shop lists a 2-dive day trip from ฿4,200, all inclusive. That covers guide, tanks, weights, a full equipment set, Thai lunch, fruit, drinks and hotel transfer. Boat type, departure pier and travel time are not published in the sources we reviewed, so ask your shop directly.
Boonsung vs Premchai, Sea Chart and T-13
Boonsung is the gentlest of the deeper local wrecks. Premchai sits deeper and its visibility is affected by the coastal tide. Sea Chart is a deep technical-leaning dive for advanced divers. T-13 is the shallowest and the best fit for new divers. Figures below come from one operator's site descriptions. For other options, browse our Khao Lak dive sites list.
| Wreck | Depth | Level | Visibility | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boonsung | About 18–20 m (59–66 ft) | Beginner / intermediate | 10–15 m | Mixed-level groups, fish life |
| Premchai | About 22 m (72 ft) | Intermediate | Often about 10 m | Divers watching no-decompression limits |
| Sea Chart | 30–40 m (98–131 ft) | Advanced | 5–15 m | Experienced deep divers; ship about 84 m long |
| T-13 wreck park | 12–15 m (39–49 ft) | Beginner | 10–15 m | New divers; patrol boat sunk in 2014 |
When to Go: Season, Visibility and Water Temperature
Operators quote 27–29 °C and 10–15 m visibility for local wrecks. Coastal sites sit close to shore, so tide and weather can change what you see on a given day. One operator notes that Premchai visibility is affected by the coastal tide, and Boonsung is also a coastal dive. Our Khao Lak diving season guide covers the broader calendar. For numbers by month, see our Khao Lak water temperature page. A short local wreck day can also fill a gap when weather rules out the Similan trip. Our Similan Islands trip guide explains that longer outing.
Mistakes to Avoid and Safety Notes
Most problems come from treating this like a different kind of trip. Keep these points in mind before you book.
- Do not book it as a Similan outing. It is a short local wreck dive, not a liveaboard or national park trip.
- Do not expect whale sharks. Operators report sightings, but nobody can promise one.
- Watch your no-decompression limit. At about 18–20 m, bottom time runs down faster than on a shallow reef.
- Do not touch the wreck or the sand beside it. Stonefish and scorpionfish are camouflaged and venomous.
- Do not enter the structure without wreck training and a guide who approves.
- Ask about minimum group size. A "daily on request" trip with a minimum of 2 divers may not run for a solo diver.
How to Book and What to Ask a Dive Shop
Start with our Khao Lak dive shops guide to compare operators. For one example of a local center, read about Sea Dragon Dive Center, though we cannot say whether it runs this trip. You can also search shops through the SSI Dive Center Locator. Ask these questions before paying a deposit.
That shop's two-dive trips start from ฿4,200 and cover guide, tanks, lunch and hotel transfer. Compare other shops' quotes against it before you pay a deposit.
- Which days does the Boonsung trip run, and is there a minimum number of divers?
- What depth limit applies to my certification level?
- Is the price per two dives, and does it include lunch, equipment and hotel transfer?
- Which boat and pier do you use, and how long is the ride?
- Will a guide lead the dive, and what is the maximum group size?
- What happens if weather or tide cancels the trip?
Where to Go Next
If Boonsung suits your level, build a fuller plan from the main Khao Lak diving hub. Add a deeper wreck or a Similan day once you have a few local dives logged. Park rules for offshore islands are published by the Department of National Parks.
Notes for your next dive trip
Optional updates to our Thai diving guides.
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