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SaltwaterOceanShipwreckSource Checked

NBM Dive Site Resource

USS Lagarto (SS-371)

Offshore Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Thailand, Thailand

USS Lagarto, a Balao-class submarine lost with 86 crew in 1945, rests upright in the Gulf of Thailand and is a protected U.S. Navy war grave.

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Historic Photograph

Historic U.S. Navy photograph of USS Lagarto (SS-371) underway during trials in late 1944.
USS Lagarto (SS-371) underway during trials in late 1944. This photograph depicts the actual vessel.U.S. Navy photograph NH 79774, Naval Historical Center, via Wikimedia Commons. · Public domain — U.S. Navy workSource ↗
WaterMarine
AccessPermission-controlled expedition access only. U.S. Navy guidance identifies the wreck as a war grave and U.S. government property; secure every required U.S. and Thai authorization before planning a visit.
ExperienceTechnical trimix/CCR expedition divers with explicit legal authorization
Maximum depthApproximately 230 ft / 70 m to the seabed; published technical references report portions of the wreck shallower. Verify the current profile.
Best seasonMonsoon, sea state and permit windows govern access.
VisibilityConditions vary with Gulf of Thailand weather, current, plankton and bottom disturbance.

Aquatic life at this dive site

What divers may encounter

Three reviewed connections are featured here. Sightings vary by season, conditions, and chance, so they are never guaranteed.

Profile connection reserved

Aquatic life research in progress

NBM is reviewing a likely local species for this position.

Profile connection reserved

Aquatic life research in progress

NBM is reviewing a likely local species for this position.

Profile connection reserved

Aquatic life research in progress

NBM is reviewing a likely local species for this position.

Site media

Photographs

Three views rotate from the published gallery on each visit.
Illustrated scuba diver reserved for a future dive-site photograph
Dive Photograph PlaceholderDive-site photograph pending
Illustrated scuba diver reserved for a future dive-site photograph
Dive Photograph PlaceholderDive-site photograph pending
Illustrated scuba diver reserved for a future dive-site photograph
Dive Photograph PlaceholderDive-site photograph pending

Contributor media

Dive videos

Three featured video positions are reserved on every profile.
Dive-site video pending
Dive-site video pending
Dive-site video pending

Recent field observations

Diver-reported temperatures

Automatically checked observations from dives during the past 14 days. Three reports are visible at a time; scroll for more.
Automatically checked
No recent diver reports from the past 14 days

A report that passes the automatic checks will appear here with the dive date, diver’s display name, and temperatures at each depth.

Reports are automatically checked for plausible dates, depths, and temperatures. They are observations, not forecasts; confirm conditions before diving.

Diver field observation

Report temperatures

Reports publish automatically when the date, depths, and temperatures pass the checks. You must be signed in to submit.

Depth readings

Why divers know this place

Highlights

Balao-class submarine discovered in 2005 and verified by the U.S. Navy in 2006; the wreck remains a memorial to all 86 crew.

Shipwreck-only module

The wreck

This section appears only on shipwreck records and brings the vessel, its loss, present condition, access, and responsible wreck-diving considerations into one place.

Vessel type
Balao-class submarine
Protection or memorial status
U.S. Navy war grave and U.S. government property; permission required; no penetration or artifact recovery

Before you arrive

Access notes

No diving without required permission. No penetration and absolutely no artifact recovery. Treat the wreck and its crew with full war-grave respect.

Plan within your training

Conditions and hazards

Extreme depth and decompression, current, reduced visibility, entanglement, fishing gear, unstable structure, overheads and possible ordnance. Legal restrictions are a primary hazard and constraint.

At the site

Facilities and support

No onsite facilities; any authorized visit requires fully self-contained expedition support.

Independent resource notice

This record is a starting point for independent verification. Access, closures, moorings, weather, currents, depth, visibility, operator availability, and site conditions can change without notice. Confirm current information with the responsible operator, property owner, managing authority, or another qualified local source before planning or attempting a dive.