Police meet with Pattaya "sea-walker" companies in wake of molestation case and false insurance claims

 

Image: Tnews

 

Police in Pattaya have called in representatives from all 17 sea-walker companies in a belated move to regulate the industry.

The companies that provide surface air to tourists who walk on the sea floor have been largely unregulated for years.

Several deaths have occurred in the past but recently a group of Cambodian men have been questioned over claims they fondled a 13 year old Thai/US girl under water off Koh Larn.

Yesterday tourist and regular police met with the operators at Pattaya police station to try to bring some standardization to the growing industry.

Safety was discussed along with the standardization of equipment and procedures that the operators should follow to ensure tourists were safe.

This included giving proper briefings and ensuring that tourists were dress appropriately for the activity.

Staff background checks are also being introduced.

A further problem has been Chinese tourists who have never been on the adventures making false insurance claims to the companies.

The operators said they had paid out in many cases when they had never even seen the tourists.

Ways to register tourists to stop the scam were discussed.

 

Source: Tnews

 

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2017-07-15

I'm sure the chat will have about as much effect as asking a bunch of Pikies to talk coherently and to start paying taxes.

If there is an award for talking, Thais would be world class!

There was a saying in my corner of the entertainment business "Never give a Thai a microphone"

"The operators said they had paid out in many cases when they had never even seen the tourists.",I bet.
 

regards Worgeordie

"sea walker" operators sure do love red Fanta

5 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Several deaths have occurred in the past

That doesn't matter, but finally we found some pesky foreigners to blame for something

Police representatives concluded their meeting by reiterating the need to not get caught out whilst scamming and molesting their customers, with further suggestions to prohibit the use of personal cameras, by tourists, who might take incriminating photos of criminal activity, which might cause embarrassment to Thailand.

Molestation under water. How low can these people get?

55 minutes ago, Gandtee said:

Molestation under water. How low can these people get?

Mariana Trench is about 11000 meters deep.... I have supreme confidence they they can get much lower than current benchmarks, especially as the economic situation worsens ?

It is one of the many activities that should be properly regulated...

 

Ask any of the operators what is their maximum depth and:

• how do they verify it?
• What is the maximum safe time at that depth for a normal fit person?
• What conditions could reduce the safe time or even make a person unfit to sea walk? 
• What are the symptoms of the bends (Decompression sickness) and what action should the take if they suspect a customer or employee showing signs of.. ?

Bet one would find it very hard to find any operator who could satisfactorily answer the above.

  The farce is strong with.....bad air!