Phuket diving to be regulated

Phuket diving to be regulated

ACHADTAYA CHUENNIRAN

Phuket _ The provincial administration is to regulate local diving businesses in response to complaints that foreign operators have been exploiting the Andaman coastal provinces' marine resources. Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit said a committee comprising representatives from relevant authorities would be set up to outline regulations to govern diving businesses in the province.
The move was in response to recent e-mail complaints urging the provincial administration to regulate local diving businesses which have been dominated by foreign operators.
Mr Niran said currently there are no specific laws and regulations to control the businesses.
Some foreign diving instructors also doubled as tour guides, in violation of the Tour Guide Act which states that the profession is reserved for Thai nationals. Mr Niran admitted that provincial officials were focusing on tourism promotion and tourism facility development and often failed to curb tourism activities that could have a negative impact on natural resources.

Bangkok Post

Money spinner....they'll want to get the money for themselves.

I worked for a Thai operator many years ago....god help anyone who dives with them, no maintenance, no care.

Mind you, they've threatened this before many times, it never goes anywhere.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bobcock

Money spinner....they'll want to get the money for themselves.

I worked for a Thai operator many years ago....god help anyone who dives with them, no maintenance, no care.

Mind you, they've threatened this before many times, it never goes anywhere.

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The reason the foreign operators are dominant is people don't want to risk being chewed up in propellers (solly, no see) and left behind on badly managed boats. I dive as deep as 95M off Phuket (some great wrecks) - no way am i gonna trust local run company on equipment, gas mixes, surface support + underwater buddying. Looks like another own goal, but there just aren't enough thai divemasters/instructors with good language ability to run the industry in Phuket, so i guess it'll be a way to get more money from foreign owned businesses. Of course there's always cave exploration if u want a locally trained guide.

https://teakdoor.com/images/smilies1/You_Rock_Emoticon.gif
anyone know identity of this? We found this 92 m down off West coast of Phuket from info from local fishermen. Its giving off a heavy gas which rises slowly off wreck cargo bay visible at surface on a calm day. Markings on lifeboat on sea bed are in russian - although some evidence it may be german. makers plate on nav light (on sea bed) says 1966 - so poss vietnam war era - anyone got any idea who it belongs to? We haven't identified it yet - it appears to be about 130m L so need an u/water scooter thing to have any chance to survey properly - only 15-20 mins max bottom time with trimix and 32/50/100 dec gasses. Its on shipping route to Burma - other ships pass within 1-2 km. Not seen any evidence of hole in it..... have some evidence that chinese involved in very technical (possibly a one off project/research/military?) way either with cargo or ship's operation - most likely cargo.