Stories tagged with diving
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Pattaya’s reefs coming back to life
In September, around 100 disused cement pipes were dropped to the bottom of the sea about 3kms off the coast of Pattaya’s and Jomtien’s beaches, adding to an ongoing effort to recreate artificial reef environments in the area. The project to rehabilitate Pattaya’s marine environment has been underway for three years, and the local conservation groups have confirmed that the efforts are working.
The population of fish and coral at the artificial reef sites is steadily growing. This is welcome news for the tourism operators and fishermen of Pattaya, who see a healthy marine environment as essential to future prosperity. The latest reef will be created along a 4km strip of seabed from Pattaya Park south towards the Zigma Hotel.
Pattaya’s Deputy Mayor Verawat is fully behind the initiative, stressing the importance of preserving and propagating the coral reef scenery that was once prevalent off Jomtien Beach. Bans on the use of explosives for fishing and fish-netting near the coast are also helping to restore the environment. The Pattaya Fishing Club noted that their competitive catches have grown significantly since the project was started, and the local boating and diving industry is seeing an increase in business.
Posted by: Andrew on 29 Sep 2008, 07:51 -
Australian lifeguards give courses in Phuket
The rainy season on the Thai island of Phuket will be rolling into town next month, and the period immediately preceding the wet season means hazardous swimming off of Phuket’s shores for all but the most experienced and strong of swimmers. Local lifeguards are undergoing a few days of supplemental training with help from the Avoca Beach Surf Life Saving Club from Australia’s New South Wales state.
Avoca Beach SLSC’s John Mitchell says, “Being a surf lifesaver in Australia is very serious. The Avoca Beach Surf Life Saving Club has about 800 lifeguards, ranging from children right through to elderly people, who help to take care of tourists on the beach. We want to raise the skills of Phuket lifeguards to international standards, so we are training them in how to rescue people who are in trouble in the water and how to use the latest lifeguard equipment.�
Visitors to the island will be happy to know of the extensive training of the lifeguards, who after their SLSC training can spot various problems before they materialize, such as recognizing drifting currents in surf and swim zones.
Posted by: DaveB on 16 Apr 2008, 13:47 -
Phuket lobbies to host dive conference
The World Diving Association is shopping around the world’s best dive sites to choose a location for their upcoming conference, and both the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Thailand Diving Association are pushing hard to bring the conference to the island of Phuket in southern Thailand.
The director of the southern office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand Suwalai Pindradep says, "[The world diving association] will have a meeting to choose the venue and one possible venue could be Egypt. We must show our readiness to beat the opposition. We believe Phuket should be chosen. It's important because Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi have many important dive sites."
Phuket and the dive sites within its reach are some of the best and most popular dive sites in the world, bringing in over 100 million baht to the country every year. The island’s credentials aren’t the issue for hosting the conference however, as even now there aren’t enough hotel rooms and flights to the island for the number of tourists coming, let alone a delegation of conference participants.
Posted by: DaveB on 06 Apr 2008, 12:18 -
Diver killed in Kata struggle
Chalong Police are still investigating the killing of a scuba diver who attacked a Swiss yacht owner and his Thai friend, K Porntip, late Wednesday night, January 9.
Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander, Col Paween Pongsirin, told Thai media that K Porntip called police late on Wednesday from a yacht anchored offshore from Kata Beach.
She said that Pierre-Alain Oberson, 50, had been shot and needed medical attention. K Porntip later fired three flares to let police know of her location.
The Swiss national was subsequently rushed to Phuket International Hospital and placed in intensive care.
The body of a Caucasian male wearing a diving suit was discovered near the boat with two large wounds; one to his to his left wrist and the other to his left eye.
K Porntip explained to police that the man had swum up to the yacht and they had invited him aboard after he said he enjoyed diving at night. The man drank beer and coffee with the couple and stayed chatting for about an hour.
After bidding them farewell, the man pulled a gun and knife from his bag and told K Porntip to tie up Mr Oberson. After having exchanged glances, however, Mr Oberson and K Porntip rushed him and Mr Oberson hit him with a boat hook.
The man fired his gun catching Mr Oberson in his shoulder, before jumping overboard.
Police and Immigration are still trying to identity the intruder.
Mr Oberson was visiting Thailand with his wife and children, who were staying in a resort on the mainland at the time, Col Samarn said.
Posted by: Andrew on 15 Jan 2008, 06:17 -
Swim in the Sea, Save the Turtles
Maritime authorities met with environmentalists on Tuesday to discuss how best to balance beachside development and the needs of local wildlife.
A total of 40 experts in various fields and government agencies met in a Thalang district hotel, near Phuket to discuss the plight of sea turtles in Thailand.
The development of beaches, along with refuse left by tourists including plastic bags and waste water have directly contributed to a decline in local turtle’s egg laying.
Sea turtles have become the focus of numerous conservation efforts but many groups trying to protect the local wildlife have been hampered by a lack of qualified personnel, funds and expertise in the area.
Although tourism, in part, has contributed to the problem, for many organizations, taking advantage of the expertise and volunteer work of passing travelers is one way to help save the sea turtles.
Lost Horizons Asia is one organization combining tourism with conservation. The group offers tourists the opportunity to enjoy excellent Thai food, a beautiful beach, lessons in Thai culture, massage and yoga and contribute to conservation efforts, all on the remote island of Phra Tong (also known as Golden Buddha Island.)
Naucrates is an Italian organization inviting volunteers to Koh Khao and Koh Phra Thong, just north of Phuket to learn to scuba dive, see turtles in their natural environment and work towards their preservation.
There are plenty of opportunities to help out with the cause, all while enjoying Thailand’s beautiful coast and lovely islands.
Posted by: Jen on 04 Jul 2007, 06:38