Report Thailand Bans Underwater Photography for Diving Trainees to Protect Corals

[sammieuk1]

Us people that hate Starmer and Trump for telling outlandish lying brollocks must be in awe at this story 🤔

[KhunLA]

6 hours ago, 2long said:

While people like to jump on the bandwagon and say how stupid this is, actually it makes sense.

If I read it correctly, the rule is preventing those taking part in or teaching scuba courses from taking pics and clips. This make absolute sense.

The instructor should be teaching the course and the student is learning the course. These courses are typically OWC or AOWC, or even DSD/Intro dives. Everyone involved needs to be paying attention to the trainees' buoyancy and behaviour, and it's not the time to take pics or clips.

 

Many a time I have seen divers who aren't the best regarding buoyancy or air consumption racing around or overt the reef with a camera or GoPro in their hands. It takes a long time and many dives to become an accomplished diver who can control oneself.

Guess it all depends on the student, but it came natural to me & my buddy.   Instructor was quite happy about that, as after 2nd dive, he taught us a couple other things.

 

1 st dive, tested buoyancy control, no prob. 2nd dive, he had us take all the gear, drop all to the sand, no mouthpiece in for 30 secs, then put back on.   At that point, he realized we didn't need any hand holding.

 

Took us to a small, open-ish wreck, and purposely tangle our one leg, unexpectedly.   Test our panic mode.

 

He got bored, 3rd & 4th dive, so taught us better navigation, which came in real handy.

 

5th & 6th dive (5 needed), and vis was getting real bad on 5th one.  He said if you want, you're done & certified, come back again for 2 dives, instead of going back in now for 6th.  We weren't going to be around, so we went back in for #6.

 

Should have listened to him, as vis went to near 0.  With a slight current.  Me & my buddy got split up kind of fast, and both surfaced immediately.  Got back together, back down, and navigated back to the boat.

 

Instructor thought for sure, he'd have to come pick us up.  I was surprised myself that what he taught us actually worked.  Swimming blind looking at your compass ain't the best feeling underwater.  Half way through the dive, we did pop back up to check our bearings, to his relief.

 

Then when we took an advanced course at a different shop, we didn't learn anything new. and learned it in the 'open water' course.

 

So that instructor took us to a couple challenging site, and an awesome deep wall @ Puerto Rico.  One of our best dives along with a night dive there.

 

Lucky to have a great instructor, for book and pool learning, NJ, USA.   And a few in the class/pool didn't pass.  Then referred our dives to warm water FL, USA.

 

On topic, we, me, have never dove with any incompetent divers, or instructors, that I noticed teaching, though rare on those type trips.  Seen plenty of vids of idiots though.

 

If I can't dive my computer, I don't use them.   If the say 20 or 30 mins down time, then back up.  I just ignore them, I don't do set time limits.

 

I dive with a spare air anyway.  

 

 

[WHansen]

I can understand the logic of keeping coral healthy and they are doing it because it costs nothing.

Keeping the lungs of Thailands population healthy by controlling PM25 on the other hand is not important enough because it would cost lots of money. Priorities 555

[dukebowling]

We will not comply!!! Come on trainees! Bring your Gopros! Let's do some civil disobedience! Fight the man! This is unconstitutional! Wait...what country am I in?

[2long]

3 hours ago, KhunLA said:

1 st dive, tested buoyancy control, no prob. 2nd dive, he had us take all the gear, drop all to the sand, no mouthpiece in for 30 secs, then put back on.   At that point, he realized we didn't need any hand holding.

 

Took us to a small, open-ish wreck, and purposely tangle our one leg, unexpectedly.   Test our panic mode.

 

He got bored, 3rd & 4th dive, so taught us better navigation, which came in real handy.

 

5th & 6th dive (5 needed), and vis was getting real bad on 5th one.  He said if you want, you're done & certified, come back again for 2 dives, instead of going back in now for 6th.  We weren't going to be around, so we went back in for #6.

 

Should have listened to him, as vis went to near 0.  With a slight current.  Me & my buddy got split up kind of fast, and both surfaced immediately.  Got back together, back down, and navigated back to the boat.

 

Instructor thought for sure, he'd have to come pick us up.  I was surprised myself that what he taught us actually worked.  Swimming blind looking at your compass ain't the best feeling underwater.  Half way through the dive, we did pop back up to check our bearings, to his relief.

If you're saying this is for your OPEN WATER course, then I have to call bullsh*t on all of this.

[stevenl]

12 minutes ago, 2long said:

If you're saying this is for your OPEN WATER course, then I have to call bullsh*t on all of this.

No, no bs. Old style courses were taught that way. Could have been he learned in the 80's.

[still kicking]

On 4/25/2025 at 7:07 PM, johng said:

How on earth does taking a photo endanger coral ?

Thai corals are very sensitive. 

[2long]

1 hour ago, stevenl said:

No, no bs. Old style courses were taught that way. Could have been he learned in the 80's.

No mouthpiece for 30 seconds?

Tangling a leg on a wreck?

OWC divers getting separated and surfacing alone? Then having to navigate back to the boat without the instructor.

 

Pull the other one!

 

[KhunLA]

59 minutes ago, stevenl said:

No, no bs. Old style courses were taught that way. Could have been he learned in the 80's.

1990 ... even better, the guy that taught the book & pool part, was amazing.  Heart surgeon, and I think half the class were his students.  Went into amazing details of what can go wrong.  

 

That will spook you and make you pay attention, when doing multiple dives.

 

Also clued us into the med to take if you got a trip planned and paid for, if you get head cold, congestion.  As you won't want to cancel, but good luck clearing on descending.  Sudafed (old script, not Thai BS), though I already knew that.  Just didn't know it's the only thing that 'might' work enough, to save a trip.

[KhunLA]

33 minutes ago, 2long said:

No mouthpiece for 30 seconds?

Tangling a leg on a wreck?

OWC divers getting separated and surfacing alone? Then having to navigate back to the boat without the instructor.

 

Pull the other one!

 

Reading comprehension, 6th dive, certified at #5.

 

If he didn't trust us, he probably wouldn't have let us go back in.  If you can't see each other, vis near 0, then yes, you surface, before getting too far apart.  It wasn't where is he, let me do quick search, can't be that far.  I couldn't see 2 meter in front of me.  My buddy popped up about a minute after I did.

 

The leg, he was right there, and just wanted to see how I'd react, not panic, reach down, and cut it away.  Not like he tied me up in a fishing net.  Pretty cool actually, apparently planned, as had it rigged with 2 d-rings.  Looped my ankle, then hooked to a piece of steel.  Too funny.

 

I don't care if you 2 don't believe me.   If that's not believable, you definitely wouldn't believe half the stupid sh!t I've done, and not killed myself.  That's calm and wasn't even dangerous.  Good stuff, as made you pay attention to your surrounding.

 

Thankfully never had any issues diving,  

 

Does make you realize how crazy wreck & cave divers are.   Not a whole lot of margin for errors.

 

I only dove through a small, very short tunnel, one side of coral to the other, and didn't like that at all.  And I'm not claustrophobic.  I'll swim with sharks, but not small places.  No thanks.

 

OW was with NAUI, excellent

Advanced was with PADI, hard to judge, as didn't really teach us anything.  But obviously much better dives.

[VBF]

On 4/25/2025 at 12:20 PM, connda said:

The gamma-ray ocular quantum gizmo-convert kills coral when the lens aperture opens and the sound of the shutter causes coral to commit suicide.  Fact!  Honest to goodness.  Cameras and coral - deadly combination!!! 🐠

Lovely answer to a stupid question 👍😂

[BusyB]

7 hours ago, VBF said:

Indeed.  When I got my basic PADI Open Water certificate, I thought I was "good to go". Then a friend who was a DM, Instructor and former professional diver took me into a wreck. It was then that I found that my buoyancy control was very far from perfect!

If I'd had a camera to manage as well, even in open water, I'd have been a positive liability!

 

I was at the stage where, yes I was qualified but needed a lot more experience to call my self competent. 

A bit like driving a car - you pass your test, then learn to drive alone on busy roads.

 

This!

 

You are doing yourself and everyone else a disservice by trying to learn a skill like diving without complete focus on the tasks at hand. And probably taking miserable pix at the same time.

 

Very much the case with diving as with all other things including flying and driving and most professional qualifications. Passing the test means you've demonstrated enough competence to actually start learning properly without posing too much of a danger to yourself and others. It definitely doesn't mean you can do it.

 

Spoken after some hair raising learning experiences, much luck and assistance over 6 decades 555

 

 

 

[Moonlover]

On 4/25/2025 at 6:47 PM, johng said:

On 4/25/2025 at 6:32 PM, Moonlover said:

Learn to dive first, then consider taking a camera with you

Why can't the instructor take a photo ?

Because he/she should be concentrating on teaching the student(s), not faffing around with a camera. Apart from anything else, it's called 'presenting a good roll model'.

[LittleBear57]

On 4/26/2025 at 8:29 AM, BritScot said:

What utter nonsense! Having been a diving instructor in Thailand, having probably 400 plus dive in Thailand let me assure you this will destroy a very fragile industry for tourism.  Dive photos and dive videos are all part of the experience. If you want to save coral ban long-tails and crazy thai boats from fragile dive sites. I've seen anchors being dropped and dragging through protected sites with not a word being said.....

The biggest threat to damage coral is the anchor thrown onto it by fishermen and tour boats. Then of course we have warming, salinity and chemical issues. These boats often do it daily and cause massive issues.

[stevenl]

11 hours ago, KhunLA said:

1990 ... even better, the guy that taught the book & pool part, was amazing.  Heart surgeon, and I think half the class were his students.  Went into amazing details of what can go wrong.  

 

That will spook you and make you pay attention, when doing multiple dives.

 

Also clued us into the med to take if you got a trip planned and paid for, if you get head cold, congestion.  As you won't want to cancel, but good luck clearing on descending.  Sudafed (old script, not Thai BS), though I already knew that.  Just didn't know it's the only thing that 'might' work enough, to save a trip.

Sniffing seawater also does the trick.

[KhunLA]

47 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Sniffing seawater also does the trick.

I'm sure he purposely scares the sh!t out of students.  Goes into details about embolism, paralysis if sh!t goes wrong, and you can't get to chamber.   Might not happen or even notice it right away, and manifest later.

 

It worked on me, made me calculate charts & down time, along with computer as a extra warning.  And then you jump in the water with 100 sharks 

[KireB]

On 4/26/2025 at 10:34 AM, stevenl said:

As an instructor, i don't care if my students take photos or videos. I just make sure they don't come to close to corals or marine life.

Are your students using a telescope?

[stevenl]

2 minutes ago, KireB said:

Are your students using a telescope?

Huh?

[Hellfire]

On 4/25/2025 at 6:01 PM, snoop1130 said:

File photo for reference only

 

In efforts to protect fragile marine ecosystems, Thailand's Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has enacted a new regulation forbidding scuba-diving trainees and instructors from taking underwater photographs during training and examination dives. This directive, signed by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Chalermchai Sri-on, was officially published in the Royal Gazette.

 

The ban underscores urgent conservation measures aimed specifically at preserving the country's critically endangered corals, which have suffered significant damage from diving activities. The new rule stipulates that any underwater photography must be conducted by qualified divers who have completed the Advanced Open Water course through recognised organisations such as the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), Scuba Schools International (SSI), or the Advanced Scuba Diver course from the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI), or an equivalent qualification.

 

Additionally, the ministerial order imposes restrictions on snorkelling activities over corals in shallow waters. Individuals are prohibited from snorkelling where seawater depths are less than two metres above coral formations and are required to wear life vests unless they have completed scuba diving or freediving courses.

 

 

 

Pinsak Suraswadi, director-general of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, indicated that any diving operators found infringing on these regulations could face legal consequences. Violators risk receiving a jail term of up to two years and/or fines reaching 200,000 baht, in accordance with the Act on the Promotion of Marine and Coastal Resources Management.

 

This new directive reflects a pivotal move to safeguard Thailand's marine biodiversity and highlights a growing emphasis on sustainable practices in diving and related activities. By restricting underwater photography to only qualified divers, the ministry aims to mitigate further harm to coral ecosystems while promoting responsible and eco-friendly diving practices.

 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-04-25

 

 

 

I have nothing against those bloody corals, but they should first prioritize organizing a proper water supply for inmates in Thai prisons. Start treating humans in a civilized way before focusing on trees, stones, and ghosts.

[KhunLA]

On 4/26/2025 at 10:34 AM, stevenl said:

As an instructor, i don't care if my students take photos or videos. I just make sure they don't come to close to corals or marine life.

Plenty of free time while doing certification dives, as long as too much hand holding isn't required.  Most stuff you should know and have done in the pool.

 

Think cert dives are just to build you confidence, when variables are added.  A little current, less vis, clearing pressure as you go deeper.  Make sure you don't get panicky.  Conserve air, as now your actually exerting yourself.  Throw in the distractions of fish and the view, remember to pay attention to your gauges.

 

Comes easy for some, and not easy for others.  Remember I got distracted during the advance dives, along an awesome wall @ Puerto Rico.  Instructor started banging on his tank, gave me the 👍, get you butt back up here.  Broke the depth threshold by a bit more than I realized.

 

And yea, you suck up some air at depth.  There's so much to look at down there, and never enough time.  Everyone likes seeing the big stuff, I was interested in the  smaller, more intricate life on the coral.

 

 

[Yagoda]

If you want a nice environment, you have to have rules that even the dumbest can understand.

[Luuk Chaai]

On 4/26/2025 at 9:37 AM, SABloke said:

 

. How the hell is this supposed to work/be enforced? 

 

Probably ..       because some numb from the neck up fool will post the picture of them fondeling a sea cucumber

causing sensational headlines like Foreign Diver destroys Thailand seabeds

[paul1804]

On 4/26/2025 at 8:29 AM, BritScot said:

What utter nonsense! Having been a diving instructor in Thailand, having probably 400 plus dive in Thailand let me assure you this will destroy a very fragile industry for tourism.  Dive photos and dive videos are all part of the experience. If you want to save coral ban long-tails and crazy thai boats from fragile dive sites. I've seen anchors being dropped and dragging through protected sites with not a word being said.....

 

On 4/26/2025 at 8:29 AM, BritScot said:

What utter nonsense! Having been a diving instructor in Thailand, having probably 400 plus dive in Thailand let me assure you this will destroy a very fragile industry for tourism.  Dive photos and dive videos are all part of the experience. If you want to save coral ban long-tails and crazy thai boats from fragile dive sites. I've seen anchors being dropped and dragging through protected sites with not a word being said.....

If you have in fact done 400 plus dives then you would have been around a few novices who often struggle with buoyancy control and in doing so end up sticking a fin or their knee onto the reef/coal which causes damage to the often fragile coral. Having a camera and attempting to take pictures enhances their instability and also takes their focus off keeping their fins & knees etc off the coral. Having logged more than 3500 dives in Papua New Guinea  I have seen this coral destroying practice many times and even from certified divers which you obviously are so you should really know this happens and support the law. I am sure other divers associations members would totally agree with this as most like myself are keen to preserve the reefs. I hope you are also!!!! 

Yes the dropping of anchors is devastating to reef life and the practice of the ill informed, uneducated & selfish!

[stevenl]

1 hour ago, paul1804 said:

If you have in fact done 400 plus dives then you would have been around a few novices who often struggle with buoyancy control and in doing so end up sticking a fin or their knee onto the reef/coal which causes damage to the often fragile coral.

Unguided diving is practically not done here. Up to the guide or instructor to correct and prevent. Which is where the issue is, with the instructor or guide.