Thread: Two Foreign Divers to be Deported for Taking Selfies in Marine Park

Two foreign divers, who took a selfie of themselves with protected marine wildlife while scuba diving, are to be deported. Thailand’s immigration has revoked their visa’s and will be blacklisted and deported.


The pair were identified as Hungarian national Attila Ott and Italian Francesco Simonetti. Mr. Ott is a diving instructor who also owns a restaurant and a scuba club on Pha-ngan Island. While Mr. Simonetti is a chef at the Barracuda restaurant and owner of a speed boat, also on Pha-ngan Island.


According to Thai immigration police, the two men are considered to be a “social threat.” Because they used a selfie stick to poke protected species, in the seas off Pha-ngan Island. The divers then caught them for a photo shot, which was posted on social media for publicity purposes.


Those images have drawn fierce criticism of the two divers from Thai netizens.


Pol Col Suparoek Pankoson, the immigration police chief in Surat Thani province, told Thai PBS on Thursday that the penalties inflicted on the two men will serve as a lesson to all divers. Preventing other divers from doing anything which may harm protected marine and wildlife species.


He added, however, that Thailand always welcomes law-abiding visitors.


Protected marine animals in Thailand refers to those living things of significance to an ecosystem; and the diminishing of whose population may affect that ecosystem. The law defined the “controlled animals” as being protected in accordance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

Two Foreign Divers to be Deported for Taking Selfies in Marine Park

Deported for disturbing marine life, actually.

But pretty harsh, nonetheless.

Something fishy.

???

CITES is about T for Trade, not S for Selfies.

The law doesn't stop you taking a selfie with a rhino, should you so wish.
Here in Thailand they farm CITES protected crocodiles.

So what did these guys do to upset someone?

Jesus... The guy is making it in Thailand and gets deported for poking something with a selfie stick.

That's just brutal. The guys life is destroyed

I've watched thais dynamite fishing in the Similans under the noses of the "rangers". Not to mention the case of a certain high born child being killed whilst jetskiing in a National Park with several minders.

As ever it's who you are that counts in Thailand. Lowly farang get the book thrown at them.

Originally Posted by Shutree

So what did these guys do to upset someone?

Having competing businesses ?

Originally Posted by Shutree

So what did these guys do to upset someone?

Maybe nothing. Just a simple way to steal the business.

Not uncommon in these parts.

Originally Posted by Lostandfound

I've watched thais dynamite fishing in the Similans under the noses of the "rangers". Not to mention the case of a certain high born child being killed whilst jetskiing in a National Park with several minders.

As ever it's who you are that counts in Thailand. Lowly farang get the book thrown at them.

We are guests in their country.

^ unwanted guests it seems now, the Chinese have more to offer......

Originally Posted by helge

Having competing businesses ?

My first thought as well . . . still, disturbing protected animals and taking pics and posting them . . . dumb.

And yes, foreigners ARE held accountable to a higher degree, whether that is fair or not is irrelevant. It just is.

MUFF DIVING IN THE MARINE BAR. naughty boys.

it's the way you tell 'em.

" So, how come you were deported from Thailand?"

" I prodded some fish and took pictures".

Alice in Wonderland writ large.

Possibly the silliest country in the world.

Originally Posted by panama hat

My first thought as well . . . still, disturbing protected animals and taking pics and posting them . . . dumb.

And yes, foreigners ARE held accountable to a higher degree, whether that is fair or not is irrelevant. It just is.

It's called fucking racism and xenophobia and not acceptable, unless you are some addled Asian with your head up your arse.

Also, you silly sanctimonious twat, there is a Thai owned zoo that regularly featured baby orang utans in boxing matches and trafficked in protected species to stock its exhibits, despite membership of CITES. And never mind the doping of tigers and parading them as fucking toys for hapless tourists, or the breaking of baby elephants for tourists to play with.

Thai are fucking hypocrites.

Don't forget it, you pompous arse.

. "pompous", "sanctimonious" . . .

Ok, SA-
* Where did I say it was acceptable? Here's a clue: I didn't.
* A Thai zoo that does something ridiculous has nothing to do with two westerners doing something illegal. Comparing the two is both "pompous" and "sanctimonious" on your part.

So, settle down . . . have a cuppa and think of the sinking of the British Empire, sure to put a smile on your face

You gormless moron, a baby orang utan is trafficked into a zoo contrary to CITES, dressed in boxer shorts and T-shirts and forced to fight in a pseudo boxing contest and you label it as merely "ridiculous" but poking a fish in the fucking sea is "illegal".

Christ, you idiot.

Originally Posted by panama hat

And yes, foreigners ARE held accountable to a higher degree, whether that is fair or not is irrelevant. It just is.

And that is where you said it was acceptable, you dozy clot.

Is English not your first language?

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

a baby orang utan is trafficked into a zoo contrary to CITES, dressed in boxer shorts and T-shirts and forced to fight in a pseudo boxing contest and you label it as merely "ridiculous" but poking a fish in the fucking sea is "illegal".

Correct. Dislike it as much as you wish but that's the way it is.

Oh, you do realise I don't actually word the laws nor enforce them, don't you? I understand that in your world of piss and vinegar logic has little chance of surviving, but those basic truths shouldn't be too difficult to accept . . . oh, and repeating yourself from post to post changes nothing about the content

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

And that is where you said it was acceptable, you dozy clot.

Actually, it doesn't, you .. you ... you . . . well, you.

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

Is English not your first language?

No. Yours?

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

It's called fucking racism and xenophobia and not acceptable, unless you are some addled Asian with your head up your arse.

Also, you silly sanctimonious twat, there is a Thai owned zoo that regularly featured baby orang utans in boxing matches and trafficked in protected species to stock its exhibits, despite membership of CITES. And never mind the doping of tigers and parading them as fucking toys for hapless tourists, or the breaking of baby elephants for tourists to play with.

Thai are fucking hypocrites.

Don't forget it, you pompous arse.

(Some would say miraculously) SA has a point here.

The Thais will exploit any animal, no matter how endangered, for a bit of fun or to make a few baht, so for them to point an accusing finger at a farang for taking a photo is a fucking joke.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

The Thais will exploit any animal

And now they're even charging foreigners to watch them not exploiting animals.

Roll Up Roll Up For The 'Thais Stop Hitting Elephants On Head With Spike' Show.

“The New Era Of Elephant Care Tourism”.

https://teakdoor.com/thailand-and-as...ml#post4156521 (Tourism Authority of Thailand to Host Travel Fair for Expats)


You have to admit...they've got chutzpah.

Even tax was impressed.

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

It's called fucking racism and xenophobia and not acceptable, unless you are some addled Asian with your head up your arse.

Also, you silly sanctimonious twat, there is a Thai owned zoo that regularly featured baby orang utans in boxing matches and trafficked in protected species to stock its exhibits, despite membership of CITES. And never mind the doping of tigers and parading them as fucking toys for hapless tourists, or the breaking of baby elephants for tourists to play with.

Thai are fucking hypocrites.

Don't forget it, you pompous arse.

Guests are held to a higher standard in every country. Very egalitarian of you to think that you should be treated the same as a guest as a native.

Originally Posted by panama hat

And yes, foreigners ARE held accountable to a higher degree, whether that is fair or not is irrelevant. It just is.

If that's just a posh way of saying farang are more frequent targets because they can be bilked of more cash, you're right.

^ Pretty much the same

One foreign diver deported, one clings on after Koh Pha-ngan eco assault


Immigration authorities have deported one of the two foreign divers who disturbed marine animals off Koh Pha-ngan in Surat Thani province in August. The other has appealed to stay on in Thailand.

Hungarian national Attila Ott and his Dutch-Italian diving buddy Francesco Simonetti were charged on September 1 and fined Bt10,000 each after posting pictures and video of themselves poking and tickling sea creatures in a protected area of the ocean.

Ott, a diving instructor and owner of the island’s Pink Panther Scuba Dive Club, was deported after having his visa revoked, said Sophon Thongdee, director-general of marine and coastal resources.

Meanwhile Simonetti, who worked at Koh Pha-ngan‘s Barracuda restaurant, has posted Bt50,000 bail and is awaiting the result of his appeal to stay, lodged with the Immigration Bureau.

Surat Thani governor Witchawut Jinto has urged authorities to close the case quickly since it concerns the sensitive issue of environmental preservation in the province.


He said tourists who visit Surat Thani in the future will receive information warning them not to disturb the environment.

One foreign diver deported, one clings on after Koh Pha-ngan eco assault

egged on by racist jealous xenophobic thai "netizens", the thai courts have yet again persecuted 2 foreigners who appear to have made a success of their lives on koh phangan.

but what else can you expect from the repulsive upcountry inbred chickenheads that run these third world fiefdoms.

He said tourists who visit Surat Thani in the future will receive information warning them not to disturb the environment.

meanwhile, on koh samui the garbage problem that wont go away.