stevenl

The creatures (believed to be non-harmful) were all over the sand, in a similar way to the recent Patong infestation,

So far, their presence has only been detected on the east coast, except for one sighting at the north end of Bang Tao Bay.

So Patong is on the East Coast, or there was no infestation in Patong.

Well we are gay, but did not realize they (playboy) are an agent, so does that mean they just find a diving outfit for us?

You will dive with one of their instructors, on a boat where you will find people from different diveschools.

If you are a UK/EEA passport holders spouse, you do not need to show travel arrangement in document form. As under EU law, the spouse of a member is entitled to a visa, without a fee for travel to any other member state.

That is not my experience with the Dutch embassy.

You can obtain a visa from any Schengen country, whether you'll go there or not, but officially you need to apply in the country you'll be spending the majority of your time. And they will ask for accommodation information etc., so applying in a country you will not spend any time in could end up a very bad idea, and I think it will end up being a very bad idea.

German Ambassador Blasts Thai Authorities, Embassies 'not being told quickly about arrests, deaths'

On a visit to Phuket, Germany's ambassador has blasted local Thai authorities for their failure to notify embassies about the arrests and deaths of citizens, as international convention dictates.

Are they not notifying or not notifying quickly enough?

a daytrip boat considered to be the most comfortable in Phuket,

I like their boat, but it is far from the most comfortable daytrip boat.

Also, they don't do daytrips anymore, only overnight trips to Phi Phi twice a week.

If national characteristics can be extrapolated from the figures, then Italians and Swedes seem to prefer long-term visas while Italians prefer the short-term ones.

Those Italians, they do everything.

We're going a bit off topic though.

blind or limited experience

the standard of diver training on phuket is woeful

No, open minded and extensive experience all over the world, including 10 years Phuket diving.

If you have a 3 month visa, after those 3 months you have to go and get another visa (or enter Thailand visa exempt, 15 days if entering over land/sea, 30 days if entering by air).

If you have a 1 year visa you have to report at immigration every 3 months, and renew that visa after one year. That renewal can be done on Phuket, so without leaving the country.

On the second point I can assure you that the majority of people learning to dive here and some experienced dive tourists have no concept of personal safety and what it entails. They rely on operators to take care of them and training agencies condone and encourage this for commercial reasons.

The standard of diving courses here on Phuket is high, and certainly comparable to those in Western Europe, and IMO higher than those in the USA or Australia foe example.

Joking, right?

No, speaking from experience.

On the second point I can assure you that the majority of people learning to dive here and some experienced dive tourists have no concept of personal safety and what it entails. They rely on operators to take care of them and training agencies condone and encourage this for commercial reasons.

The standard of diving courses here on Phuket is high, and certainly comparable to those in Western Europe, and IMO higher than those in the USA or Australia foe example.

Question. Did the skipper not check the radar frequently as he must have had a weather report from the Met before he set sail?

Answer. TIT; proberbly didn't know how to switch it on

This is not only a cruel remark, but also ridiculous.

I have been on many dive boats (working in THailand ) and never one that I know of with inflatables that automatically dislodge and inflate.

On about 50% of the liveaboard boats here have these life rafts. The more expensive boats in general do have them.

Wow I never heard this story.. which boat was that?

That was the old Kingfisher boat. As a liveaboard boat it catered to maximum 12 people, allowed on board maximum 20. They got in trouble after the tsunami, the boat was sold and then resold again, and ended up in Phi Phi or Krabi, I'm not sure, with some rich Thai as a snorkeling boat. On the trip LOS is talking about it capsized close to Phi Phi with over 50 people on board, one dead and one hit by the prop.

Maintenance was poor and it was overloaded.

You're right,. my mistake.

the changes are made to avoid cheap backpackers travelling bordercrossings

I doubt that is the reason.

Also i just heard they stopped the visa's to thailand in penang

I hear lots of things every day, but not everything I hear is true. How reliable is your source?

I am however very surprised by Dive Asia's apparent lax SOPs [standard Operating Proceedures] when

reacting to a late boat.

The boat was not expected back in port untill around 08.00 in the morning. So it was not missed until then as well.

I contacted a local dive operator in Kao Lak who has used this boat in past.

He states the boat was new - some 6 months old.

The boat was new this season, and not used by anybody else but Dive Asia. So that local dive operator has NOT used this boat in the past.

Hi, thanks for all the helpful replies! We'll probably end up making a reservation before going there. Has anyone heard of Eden Divers? They operate the Sea of Fantasy I, and are offering us a pretty good deal. Thanks!

I would expect them to come with a last minute offer.

when ever theres an article in sports about an athlete going to jail, 99% of the time, they are what color?

Maybe because 99% of the athtletes are black?

I have my household insurance with QBE. Have not needed them yet, so can not comment on their service.

Health insurance I have with Bupa, a collective insurance for the business, and am happy with them. Before that I was insured on a privaye basis with Goodhealth, and was also happy with them. Would have liked to stick with them, but their collective premiums were not attractive, so ended up with Bupa, also to my full satisfaction.

Your first paragraph is silly and again based ojn nothing

My first paragraph is based on the 'inconsistencies' you wrote in an earlier post.

Again your email defers from the point. You said this place is based on respect,

I have said no such thing. What is the point of having a discussion if you if you make up things?

There are no problems with the law here - there are problems with the people implementing it.

So if you agree with the law, and therefor with the possible penalties, what is your point?

There never had to be a problem here - if the guy was stupidly rude then slap his wrists and send him on his way - ban him if you must but they didnt do that they let there crazy ego loose

That is in contradiction with your earlier point that there are no problems with the law here.

None of your points say anything at all.

I am just pointing out some things in your post that are not true. So if these 'inconsistencies' don't mean anything, why did you mention these points in the first place?

I don't mind a discussion, but a discussion should be held with valid and argumented points, not with made up things or 'I don't agree with you so you're a bastard' kind of arguments.

IMO the punishment is very harsh already, but that is the punishment in the country I'm living in. Don't like the law in the country you're living in? Try to change it, accept it or leave the country, just moaning about it here on a (mainly) foreigners forum won't do any good at all. But if it makes you feel better ...

Well....well.....that sounds strange to me. I have never reached the airport from Chalong in less than 1 hour, not even when not rush hour! Maybe I drive too slowly???

Yes, dangerously slow.

From Chalong the normal time would be around 40 minutes, bit more in rush hour, bit less in the middle of the night.

So, the imig officials

studied the passport (which was ok for the officials letting him into the country and into Phuket) for more than 30 mins making a passenger miss his plane.

won't let anyone check the photo that was issued by a respected international authority

have recorded evidence but you cant chack that either

wont let you check the state of the prison cause its very dangerous

insulted britain, cambodia and laos

plan to keep the guy in prison for another 7 weeks before hearing a non existing case

& this is the countrys premier holiday location during an economic crisis when tourists numbers are down.

Hahahahahahhahahahhahah - this is a wind up right!

Checked the passport for 30 minutes according to mr. Burrowes.

He is not in prison at the moment.

I am not sure it was the same official that examined the passport and talked about Britain, Cambodia and Laos, and everybody calling those words 'insults' is greatly exaggerating IMO.

For an international flight I am always at the airport 2 hours before flight departure, and after check in have almost those 2 hours available. So half an hour delay would be irritating but not causing me to miss the plane. He planned things really, really tight IMO, which would also explain his irritation.

The question remains: why was he in jail for 3 weeks, did he nor anybody else attempt to get him out? Should have been easy. I am also wondering what happened to his friend. Travelling with a friend I would wait directly after the check, and not go to the plane on my own.

What I still don't understand is why he had to spend 3 weeks in jail, without getting out on bail.

The embassy failed to do something useful here, but also any lawyer would have been able to get him out within a few days.