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April 2003
The Artificial lake of Khao Sok-search for a lost city
Purpose of the project:
To find the lost underwater city of Lake Khao Sok.
Description of dive site:
We heard an unbelievable story about an artificial fresh water lake located inland in Khao Sok southern Thailand, down here a whole village, complete with temples and school buildings was now deep underwater. We tried to find information about it (which is really hard here) and learned the following: in 1982 a dam was built in this valley, which left the area of 165km2 underwater. Some rumors told that the last communists of Thailand, whom no one could get under control, were living there and so the decision to build a dam was made. Others told that there is no truth in these rumors and the dam was built to get electricity. We could not find any maps, photos, drawings or other information about this area before 1982. We did find several maps and drawings after the building of dam, which were of no use.
Details of the dives:
We decided to go and have a look, organizing a daytrip with a local boat driver. (presumably knowing the area well) With us were a few Finnish divers (Jaska Rantala dive team) who were on a holiday here and eager to find a lost city…
During our research trip we found the following logistical problems in this area: long drives with the car and boat to the dive sites, a total lack of services for basic needs made the project difficult. On the surface you could see splendid scenery; vertical hundred meters high cliff walls which seemed to continue all the way underwater. We measured the depth from boat, about 10 meters off the cliff side: an amazing 60 meters. The First test dives were done with Tuomo Vauhkonen and Antti Asu leading the dive, next to this wall which seemed to go on for ever. The wall was full of caves, big trees growing from the bottom and quite big fresh water fish. As the visibility turned suddenly really muddy due to sediment around the 20 meter level, so the divers stayed above that depth
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We decided to make our next dives in the middle of the biggest bay where the city had been according to the boat driver.
The Dive was completed with air by Janne Miikkulainen and Adam Kelsey, the depth of the lake in this spot was only about 50 meters. When going down, the visibility was good until 20 meters, after which we encountered a sediment layer. The sediment looked like light green custard, so thick that you could not read your gauges even with a light. We continued going down blind, when suddenly the sediment ended and everything was clear again though pitch-black. The Depth was around 35 meters, hulls ??? and branches of trees, fishing nets all around. We held tightly to the rope, not wanting to have any misadventures among the trees and fishing nets with minimal light. After looking around for a while, we decided to go up and come back another time with better lights.
 
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May 2003-new dives in an artificial lake
Three of us, Janne Miikkulainen, Jani Makinen and Adam Kelsey, returned to the artificial lake in May. We had long talks with the boat drivers who told us that they knew exactly where the city was located. We were told that through the middle of the lake a river once ran, along the banks of where the villages were once located. After deciding that the river must have flown through the deepest spot of the ridge, we continued there by boat. The Boat driver assured as that we were in the right place.
To our surprise the depth was only 35 meters, which made the project much easier. After going through the sediment, we saw that on the bottom there were much less trees and no brushwood or fishing nets. During the search on the bottom we did not find any buildings. On our second dive, where by word of the boat drivers, the city should have been ”for sure”, nothing was found.
As June’s monsoon rains were looming, we had to leave this area, a little bit disappointed, knowing we had to drop this project for awhile. We will still be returning here; with better equipment, make some through research of the area and try to find this lost city.
 
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