Phuket · Thailand · Wreck
Marla's Mystery Wreck
A 34 m barge lying open at 30 to 34 m off Racha Yai's east coast
Area photo: Jeanvenotella · CC BY-SA 4.0
Marla's Mystery is a 34 m barge sunk deliberately in 2000 off the east coast of Racha Yai, lying at 30 to 34 m. It is an advanced dive because of the depth and because the wreck is sometimes hard to find, and the reward is an open hull that draws moray eels, snappers and tuna.
Also known as Marla's Mystery.
Where it is and how deep
7.6055° N, 98.3805° EPublished position for this site.
The dive
This is a deep, short dive. The barge sits on the seabed off Racha Yai's east coast at 30 to 34 m, so the descent is a straight drop to the wreck and the bottom time is set by your no-decompression limit at that depth rather than by your gas. The position is described as sometimes elusive, which is why a crew that has dived it before matters more here than on the island's bays.
The barge is 34 m long and its hull is open, which is where the life is: moray eels in the structure, snappers around it and tuna passing over. Work around the hull at whatever depth your plan allows, keep an eye on the time, and leave enough gas for the ascent through open water and a safety stop before the boat picks you up.
The wreck
- Vessel
- Marla's Mystery
- Type
- Barge
- Length
- 34 m (112 ft)
- Sunk
- 2000
- Cause
- Sunk deliberately in 2000
- Lies
- On the seabed off Racha Yai's east coast at 30 to 34 m
Marine life and season
- Tuna
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Prime | Prime |
Season follows Phuket: Calm, dry conditions mid-Oct to May; the May–Oct monsoon cuts clarity but Phuket's sites stay open, unlike the Similans (closed 16 May–15 Oct).
Know before you go
- The depth of 30 to 34 m gives a short no-decompression time; plan the dive on a computer and turn early.
- The wreck's position is described as sometimes elusive, so confirm with the operator that the crew has dived it before.
Questions divers ask
How deep is Marla's Mystery Wreck?+
The barge lies at 30 to 34 m off Racha Yai's east coast, which is why it is rated an advanced dive.
What certification do I need for Marla's Mystery?+
Advanced Open Water with deep training. The whole wreck sits at 30 to 34 m, so there is no shallow version of this dive.
Sources
- Marla's Mystery Wreck — Scubago
More dive sites in Phuket
Pinnacle
Large schools of barracuda on an exposed pinnacle in strong current
Reef
Boulders and coral off Karon Beach, dived from the shore in mild current
A wreck at 8 m and a drift south down a slope that reaches 40 m
Reef
A 3 to 12 m house reef off the beach for training, macro and night dives
Wreck
Small wrecks and concrete cubes in one calm bay, with batfish in the hulls
Similar dives elsewhere
The 27 m liveaboard Atlantis X, bow at 16 m
Samaesan's most famous wreck, on her starboard side at 27 m
Navy wreck off Koh Phai with lines to 28 m, clearest November-March
US-built landing ship, scuttled as an artificial reef in 2006