HTMS Chang

Built as the US tank landing ship USS Lincoln County in 1944, she served at Okinawa and Inchon before joining the Thai Navy as HTMS Chang, and was scuttled off Koh Chang on 22 November 2012. The roughly 100–117 m hull sits upright facing north on sand at 30–32 m, with the main deck around 24 m and the tower reaching to within about 5 m of the surface. Big schools of bigeye trevally, chevron barracuda, fusiliers and batfish surround her, along with large groupers and snappers; whale sharks pass occasionally.

Facts

• Region: Thailand – Pattaya & Koh Chang
• Area: Koh Chang (south & HTMS Chang)
• Depth: 5–32 m
• Level: advanced
• Current: moderate
• Type: wreck
• Coordinates: 11.89486, 102.25748
• Highlights: bigeye trevally, chevron barracuda, great barracuda, batfish, giant grouper, fusiliers, snapper, whale shark
• Tips: About 30 minutes by boat from Bang Bao; a full lap takes around 35 minutes. Deck level is an Advanced Open Water dive; Open Water divers stay on the upper structure in good conditions. Wreck trips run mainly in high season.

Sources

• https://thaiwreckdiver.com/htms-chang-lst-2-uss-lincoln-county-lst-898/
• https://www.kohchangdivers.com/divesiteskohchang
• https://bbdivers.com/koh-chang/dive-sites/
• https://kohkooddivers.com/