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Koh Samet: Divers find unidentifiable matter under the sea

webfact

By webfact
in Thailand News

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webfact Grand Master Member

webfact

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Divers find unidentifiable matter under the sea
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation
Samet, Rayong

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KOH SAMET: -- Preliminary investigation by State Marine Watch officials showed some unidentified black matter in the sea near Koh Samet's Ao Phrao beach in Rayong province.

"We found that some of the coral near the beach had also turned black," Achit Sitthichai, a marine expert from Marine and Coastal Resource Conservation Centre Division 1 in Rayong, said after a 30-minute dive to study the changes caused by the oil spill. He also found black sediments under the seabed in the shallow zone.

"I cannot explain the cause of this change. We will have to wait for experts to identify these black objects and the change in the coral reef's colour," he added.

Achit and his team began their mission to survey and monitor the damages caused to the coral reef and marine lives around the island on Tuesday.

After the dive just off Ao Phrao beach, the team headed for Pla Tom Bay to the south of the island. The dive mission had to be temporarily called off due to bad weather conditions.

"We have to stop for a while. It's too dangerous," he said.

Once the storm had passed, Achit and his team travelled to Pla Tom Bay, which is home to hump, staghorn and disc coral. Five years ago, this reef was found naturally degraded and now they are waiting for its recovery.



After 30 minutes under water in this spot, Achit and his team found that though the physical condition of the coral reef had not changed, there was an oil film on the area. He also found red sediment floating in the sea at this site. "I could smell oil while diving there," he said.

Achit and his team will be diving regularly for a few months to ensure that the precious coral remain in good condition.

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-- The Nation 2013-08-01
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OzMick Diamond Member

OzMick

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True, the beach will never be exactly the same, but nothing ever is. But within a short period of time, it will be very similar to its condition a few weeks ago.

Prince William Sound seems to have recovered after a far worse spill 24 years ago. While that seems a long period to mere mortals, geologically it is bugger all.

Edited by OzMick
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thaicbr Diamond Member

thaicbr

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True, the beach will never be exactly the same, but nothing ever is. But within a short period of time, it will be very similar to its condition a few weeks ago.

 

Prince William Sound seems to have recovered after a far worse spill 24 years ago. While that seems a long period to mere mortals, geologically it is bugger all.

Actually it will probably be cleaner than it was... keeping beaches tidy isn't a Thai strong point unless money can be made :rolleyes:

Sent from my i-mobile i-STYLE Q6

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amitsch Apprentice Member

amitsch

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Holy shit, who teached that guy diving???

His tank wont last longer than 30 mins on 10m with that breathing frequency.
Also hittig the coral with his cam is mayb not the optimum to say it mildly.

Sad who gets a Scuba licence nowadays :-(

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tomyummer Gold Member

tomyummer

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True, the beach will never be exactly the same, but nothing ever is. But within a short period of time, it will be very similar to its condition a few weeks ago.

Prince William Sound seems to have recovered after a far worse spill 24 years ago. While that seems a long period to mere mortals, geologically it is bugger all.

Of course Prince William Sound had armies and teams of professionals in the clean-up and billions of dollars paid over the years and that took 24-years to get where they are today.

A team of 350 soldiers and a 2-million dollar insurance policy won't cut it I'm afraid.

They might as well start using Koh Samet as an Air Force bombing site to attract visitors on the mainland shore for what they think are fireworks.

For the next few decades it's going to suck for the local Rayong population.

Let's hope that the authorities can at least keep the sludge from going around the corner of the coast.

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oldsailor35 Ruby Member

oldsailor35

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Holy shit, who teached that guy diving???

His tank wont last longer than 30 mins on 10m with that breathing frequency.

Also hittig the coral with his cam is mayb not the optimum to say it mildly.

Sad who gets a Scuba licence nowadays :-(

ERE hang on mate! he was probably trained in Marine Biology at one of Thailand's "Second to none" universities. So would have had second to none dive training. coffee1.gif

Edited by oldsailor35
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IMA_FARANG Ruby Member

IMA_FARANG

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whistling.gif As I said in another post a couple of days ago .... people assume that an oil film simply goes away when they spray dispursants onto it.

It doesn't ... it only clumps together and sinks to the ocean bed.

People live on the land ... land dwelling mammels.... so what they can't see there or on top of the sea is assumed not to exist.

But it doesn't work that way.

the fish and marine life know about it.

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Briggsy Diamond Member

Briggsy

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Authorities response, Wait till all obvious signs have mostly disappeared and then pretend it never happened.

Public response, sniff the fish before purchasing for the next couple of weeks.

Coral and marine life response, die.

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