Officials table banning destructive diving practice
Phuket Gazette


Most of the coral where the boats were operating was completely destroyed. Photo: Thon Thamrongnawasawat/Facebook

PHUKET: -- Authorities are looking to ban destructive dive practices that have been developed on Phi Phi Island to cater to mass tourism.

Officials are specifically looking to ban a practice they are calling ‘Try Diving’.

“In this case, ‘Try Diving’ is where people with no dive experience at all are brought to a shallow reef to walk around and see the marine life. There were companies on the island that just give the tourists rubber clogs to walk on the delicate coral reef and allow them to handle the wildlife,” Thon Thamrongnawasawat, a member of the National Reform Council (NRC) and a professor at Kasetsart University’s Faculty of Fisheries, told the Phuket Gazette today.

“The ban wouldn’t be for those seriously wanting to learn about scuba diving and the underwater world. Of course, legitimate operations can still offer Discover Scuba courses and open water courses.”

The ban was tabled by Dr Thon after officials had to chase off five ‘try dive’ boats moored near the protected reef in Ton Sai Bay on Friday. After being ordered off their spots on the reef - where they have been stationed for the past three years - all five moved just 500 meters from the reef. The boats were named Dive Dream, World Dive, Lok Tai Talay, OK Dive and Sea Angel.

The Gazette was unable to reach the other four companies for a comment. However, the manager of Sea Angel explained that his company was more than willing to comply with the enforcement of the rules.

Full story: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/Officials-table-banning-destructive-diving-practice/62325?desktopversion#ad-image-0


-- Phuket Gazette 2015-11-10

"The ban was tabled by Dr Thon after officials had to chase off five ‘try dive’ boats moored"

Well. er, we can't ban them if we have to actually enforce it...so, er, we just tabled the idea.

dupe removed

Yeah blame the dive boats. How about the local fisherman dragging their nets through the place at night.

Yeah blame the dive boats. How about the local fisherman dragging their nets through the place at night.

Fishermen dragging nets with those boats moored there on top?

Yeah blame the dive boats. How about the local fisherman dragging their nets through the place at night.

Fishermen dragging nets with those boats moored there on top?

What part of night don't you understand?

No boats are moored there at night.

Yeah blame the dive boats. How about the local fisherman dragging their nets through the place at night.

Fishermen dragging nets with those boats moored there on top?

What part of night don't you understand?

No boats are moored there at night.

Those boats were moored there for 3 years continously, day and night. Guests were transfered by the ferries.

Yeah blame the dive boats. How about the local fisherman dragging their nets through the place at night.

Fishermen dragging nets with those boats moored there on top?

What part of night don't you understand?

No boats are moored there at night.

hansgruber, sorry old boy but you're wrong. Those boats have been anchored there 24/7 for the last 3 years. As a Padi certified advanced open water diver I have seen first hand the damage done by the "try diving" morons & their clientele. I was actually on a dive with a friend who was having his first dive after completing his open water and our dive boat was anchored not far from these boats. Their clients were walking all over the coral and destroying it without a thought to the long term effects. Legitimate dive companies have been trying to get these usurpers removed for ages. Finally the Thai authorities have come to their senses and done something positive for a change. In this case reactive is better than doing nothing.

This is a great idea.

One lousy dive school operating from Koh Phangan takes people for these types of courses at sail rock one of the prized dive sites around Koh Tao..

I agree though, the fisherman are also a cause.

Idiots!

I'm confused here, doesn't the word "table" mean to put off or not do something

Since when do Thai authorities have to wait to do anything

Ban the practice and then worry about writing a law or regulation after wards, isn't that how things are done in a dictatorship ?

The word table in Thai means " waiting for the right offer" from whatever side.