New dive industry rules come into effect

PHUKET CITY: -- Phuket Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura yesterday signed the new dive industry regulations into effect, giving dive operators on the island 30 days from September 1 to register with the Phuket Marine Office.

Phuket Provincial Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) Nivit Aroonrat told the Gazette today, “The provincial government will issue a public notice this week announcing that dive operators on the island have from September 1 to September 30 to register with the Phuket Marine Office,” he said.

The notice will be posted on the official notice board at Provincial Hall and announcements will also be made through the media, he said.

K. Nivit added that one major change was made to the draft regulations that had already been distributed to dive operators on the island: dive operators will now also have to report at which dive sites they operate.

He added that Thai Diving Association President Ronnachai Chindapol and Kanakorn Limkraidej, Managing Director of dive operator White and Blue Harmony Co Ltd, have been added to the committee that will review applications, so that the private sector is represented.

The Phuket Marine Office is located near the Deep Sea Port at Cape Panwa, at 88/5 Sakdidet Rd, Moo 7, Tambon Wichit. Tel: 076-391174.

--Phuket Gazette 2006-08-10

New dive industry rules come into effect

PHUKET CITY: -- Phuket Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura yesterday signed the new dive industry regulations into effect, giving dive operators on the island 30 days from September 1 to register with the Phuket Marine Office.

Phuket Provincial Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) Nivit Aroonrat told the Gazette today, “The provincial government will issue a public notice this week announcing that dive operators on the island have from September 1 to September 30 to register with the Phuket Marine Office,” he said.

The notice will be posted on the official notice board at Provincial Hall and announcements will also be made through the media, he said.

K. Nivit added that one major change was made to the draft regulations that had already been distributed to dive operators on the island: dive operators will now also have to report at which dive sites they operate.

He added that Thai Diving Association President Ronnachai Chindapol and Kanakorn Limkraidej, Managing Director of dive operator White and Blue Harmony Co Ltd, have been added to the committee that will review applications, so that the private sector is represented.

The Phuket Marine Office is located near the Deep Sea Port at Cape Panwa, at 88/5 Sakdidet Rd, Moo 7, Tambon Wichit. Tel: 076-391174.

--Phuket Gazette 2006-08-10

Seems the Phuket Gazette jumped the gun a bit there as the rules are being looked over by lawyers before the governer signs them. They are a bit prohibative

Dive industry rules imminent

PHUKET CITY: Phuket Provincial Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) Nivit Aroonrat confirmed today that although the new dive industry regulations have not yet been signed by Phuket Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura, he believes that they will be “soon”.

Yesterday K. Nivit told the Gazette that the documents had already been signed but this afternoon, after rechecking, he said that they were currently awaiting review by Vice-Governor Worapot Ratthasima before being passed to the Governor for signature.

so what they mean is that they haven't yet decided who gets the spoils from the "costs" that will be associated with the "registration"

"He added that Thai Diving Association President Ronnachai Chindapol and Kanakorn Limkraidej, Managing Director of dive operator White and Blue Harmony Co Ltd, have been added to the committee that will review applications, so that the private sector is represented."

SOUNDS MORE LIKE WHO DO WE WANT IN THE CLUB ?

Why phuket only? I think Samui+Tao and Krabi+PhiPhi they have more or al least as much divers.

why they aren't targeted?

apparently this is going to be a pilot projetc and if it works ( $$$$ for whoever ) then it will become country wide