Dive-site story
Sunk intentionally in late 2012 by the Royal Thai Navy as an artificial reef, the HTMS Mataphon rests upright on a flat sandy seabed just east of Koh Sak. Originally built as an amphibious landing craft, the steel structure now serves as a central hub for marine training and wreck exploration in Pattaya Bay. The wheelhouse and main cargo deck remain largely intact, offering wide access points for divers trained in wreck penetration.
Upright former military landing craft with accessible deck structures
Schools of juvenile chevron barracuda circling the mast and wheelhouse
Sandy flats surrounding the hull harboring blue-spotted stingrays and benthic gobies
Location
Use the map to plan with your operator and confirm the exact entry point on the day.
Seasonality
Calmer surface conditions and the best water clarity typically occur during the northeast monsoon.
Marine life
| Species | Likelihood | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevron BarracudaSphyraena qenie | Common | ||||||||||||
| Tall-fin BatfishPlatax teira | Common | ||||||||||||
| Blue-spotted StingrayNeotrygon kuhlii | Common | ||||||||||||
| Yellowtail ScadAtule mate | Common |
Marine forecast
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