Satun dive sites

The Yong Hua was a Chinese-flagged cargo vessel approximately 40 metres in length that sank in the waters south of Koh Lipe. The exact circumstances of the sinking are not well documented, but the vessel appears to have gone down in relatively calm conditions as it rests upright and largely intact on the sandy seabed. The wreck has been underwater long enough for extensive marine colonisation to transform it into a thriving artificial reef.

The wreck offers several penetration routes suitable for divers with wreck speciality training or equivalent experience. The main cargo hold is open from above and provides wide entry and exit points with natural light visible throughout. The engine room is accessible but tighter, requiring careful buoyancy and fin control. All penetration routes have been assessed by local dive operators who guide divers through established paths. Silt disturbance is the main hazard, so precise finning technique is essential.

Most Koh Lipe dive operators include the Yong Hua as part of a two or three dive day package. The wreck pairs well with the granite boulder sites of Koh Lipe such as Stonehenge and 8 Mile Rock. Typical itineraries run the deeper wreck dive first when air consumption is most efficient, followed by shallower reef dives. The boat ride to the wreck site takes approximately 25 minutes from Koh Lipe's main beaches.