Unregulated for 13 years, Pattaya’s sea-walker diving companies again under scrutiny following tourist death

PATTAYA:--Pattaya officials are again promising to crack down on Koh Larn “sea walker” tour companies after yet another underwater death of a foreign tourist.

Koh Larn officials say an unnamed Indian tourist went out on sea walking tour and died of heart failure on the morning of February 27.

Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh and Watchara Jiemanukul of the Pattaya Marine Department met with operators of all 12 sea-walker companies March 12 at city hall. The companies offer tourists opportunities to walk on the ocean bottom using helmets and surface-supplied air.

- See more at: http://www.pattayamail.com/localnews/unregulated-for-13-years-pattaya-s-sea-walker-diving-companies-again-under-scrutiny-following-tourist-death-36638#sthash.7yC9jVqV.dpuf

-- Pattaya Mail 2014-04-11

Well it's hardly their fault if the guy did in fact die of heart failure while partaking in this activity. However, the companies should be regulated for the safety and maintenance of their equipment and the impact on the ocean floor...but I won't hold my breath.

In both the 2010 and 2014 cases, the operator told customers and authorities the diver died of heart failure, not due to any equipment failure.

Is that the the opinion of the operator or the finding of autopsy's carried out by a qualified medical examiners (doctor), although it may have been a heart condition that caused the onset of events that lead the the deaths I would have thought the cause of death to be drowning.

I can also see many other issues that would lead to such tragic events such as panic attacks, equipment failure, CO2 build up, carbon-monoxide due to air intake too close to boat or compressor exhausts, the list is long and it is ridicules that this activity goes unregulated.

"Unregulated for 13 years........"