This ship was built in Germany in 1920 as a cargo steamship, 134 m long. In 1940 the crew sank her in the waters of Pulau Weh. The date and the rest of the story are not one account: one says 1 May, one says 10 May, and one record says the ship was later raised, repaired, and used again. What is dived in Pria Laot bay is still called the Sophie Rickmers.
The descent follows the mooring line. Batfish often come along on the way down and on the way up. The wheelhouse appears first, at about 37 m. The decks are around 45 m. The straight bow lies on the bottom, past 55 m, and one account says 56 m. This site map lists 18–30 m. That map figure is far shallower than the wheelhouse. This is a deep dive, with stops on the way up. It is not a dive to add at the end of the day.
The hull is covered in coral, not bare steel. On the wreck there are large groupers, large morays, and large trevally. Unicorn filefish often pass at depth. Black-spot angelfish, usually rare because they prefer deep water, are fairly abundant here. There are also marble rays and large scorpionfish. Current in this bay is usually light. Visibility can be 1 m or more than 25 m. The water is about 27–30°C. Come back up the same line.
- Map coordinate
- 5.84482, 95.30005
- Dive type
- Deep wreck
- Entry
- Boat
- Depth
- Wheelhouse about 37 m. Decks about 45 m. Bow past 55 m. Map: 18–30 m.
- Water
- Salt water, about 27–30°C
Marine life
Batfish
They accompany the mooring line, down and up.
Grouper
A large grouper lives on the wreck.
Moray eel
Large morays are in the hull.
Trevally
Large trevally are at depth.
Unicorn filefish
Often pass on the deep part.
Angelfish
Black-spot angelfish are fairly abundant here.
Ray
Marble rays are around the ship.
Scorpionfish
Large scorpionfish are on the coral on the hull.
An animal on this list is not guaranteed on every dive.