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Please refrain from discarding water bottles, sweet wrappers and other forms of litter/garbage into the surrounding waters. When thrown overboard, debris such as cigarette butts, plastic straws, and plastic bags are accidentally ingested by marine creatures such as turtles and result in death. Please collect all refuse and dispose of it in the garbage containers provided on the mainland, or if bins are not available then pack it back to your hotel or the dive shop. |
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Polystyrene containers and plastic bottles are non-biodegradable. They accumulate on reefs and pollute the marine environment. |
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Ensure that all polystyrene and plastic containers on board are stored in appropriate locations on the boat and firmly secured to prevent them from accidentally falling overboard, or use alternatives for storing food and liquids. |
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Be mindful of walking on live corals or other delicate marine organisms whilst paddling or snorkelling. |
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SEA TURTLES
All four species found in Thailand are endangered.
Leave nesting turtles well alone.
Please do not attempt the "rescue" of eggs or hatchlings. Notify the Royal Thai Navy or the Phuket Marine Biological Centre (PMBC) or both if nests are found. Record the date and time and location of your discovery. This will aid in attempts by professional staff to locate and protect the nests. If you are on a Marine National Park, find a ranger and urge him/her to protect the site while help is on the way. |
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If you venture into the forest on islands, walk only on marked trails. Snakes abound on most islands. They will bite when stepped on, disturbed or threatened. |
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Respect the marine environment.
Remember - take only photographs and memories. Leave only bubbles. |
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The marine environment is extremely fragile and easily damaged. To ensure the future survival of these magnificent treasures of the deep, and the diving pleasure of those who come after you, avoid all contact with living surfaces and marine life. |
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Killed By A Single Touch
Corals are highly vulnerable and can be easily damaged simply by being touched. All coral have a thin mucous covering, secreted by the creature for its protection. Simply touching the coral removes this coating, thereby leaving the coral exposed to risks of infection that can spread throughout the entire colony. Surprisingly, the large slow-growing boulder corals are the ones most susceptible to damage.
Other creatures, such as the Whale Shark - the largest fish in the ocean, also have a similar coating.
Please try to avoid touching the reef at all times. If you must (for example in a strong current or to stop yourself from crashing into it), then please choose a dead piece of coral or bare rock to hold onto, or use your knife or hands in the sand.
Please also try to avoid the use of gloves (except when wreck diving).
If using gloves, remember that they protect the reef from you, not the other way around. When close to the reef, try using a frog kick instead of the usual flutter kick. This stirs up much less sand which can easily smother the corals. |
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Practice ecologically sound diving practices.
Do your very best to control buoyancy. Corals and other static marine life are damaged or killed when trampled or knocked. Avoid causing inadvertent damage by taking special instruction or refresher classes before diving on reef areas.
If you are new to diving and unsure of your buoyancy control, please hover a little higher over the reef than the experienced divers. |
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With marine animals such as turtles, puffer fish, leopard sharks and whale sharks,
keep a respectful distance and do not touch or intimidate them by holding on or deliberately try to block their route. |
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Also try to avoid feeding marine creatures whilst diving. This can incite unnaturally aggressive behaviour from them. |
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Adopt a work ethic that is conservation-minded and avoid practices that are driven by profit and short-term gain. |
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Keep diving operations environmentally friendly. Avoid dumping of waste, plastic, or oil into the sea. Pump grey water tanks away from anchorage and dive sites. |
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Update charts and maps with the location of mooring buoys. Always tie boats to the buoy mooring line from the bow. Tying boats to the mooring buoys from the rear or the side of the boat can damage the buoy. |
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Please refrain from dropping anchor on top of coral reef areas, inside or outside of Marine National Parks. |
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Provide alternatives to plastic food containers, plates, bowls and eating utensils for divers and encourage their use. |
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To discourage divers from touching marine life, do not provide gloves on the boat. |
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Ensure that you provide a sufficient number of strategically placed containers on board the dive vessels to encourage the proper disposal of garbage. |
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In case of accident or breakdown radio the Third Naval Unit, Royal Thai Navy for assistance. |
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Work only with ground or dive operators who have demonstrated interest in marine conservation, abide by laws and regulations, have environmentally sound working codes of practice and teach and promote good conservation ethics. |
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ACKNOWLDEGEMENTS
News Room sincerely thanks the Chulabhorn Research Insitute, the Princess Chulabhorn 36 Marine Park Project, the Third Naval Unit of the Royal Thai Navy, the Phuket Marine Biological Centre, Dive Master, Southeast Asia Liveaboards, the organisers of Asia Dive Expo, the JW Marriott Phuket Resort and Spa, World Wide Fund for Nature - Thailand Programme for the enthusiastic support and kind assistance in providing either information and/or images for this feature.
Contact information: |
Thailand is among the world's finest dive destinations. With over 2,700 kilometres of coastline bordering the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea which is part of the Indian Ocean, and surrounding offshore islands, Thailand offers a variety of coastal environments and a great variety of dive destinations, each offering tremendous diversity in colourful marine life.
Not only are the tropical waters around Thailand at optimum temperatures for marine dives, they provide an ideal habitat for hundreds of species of coral and a myriad of other fascinating marine life, ranging from minute creatures to the 7-8 metre whale shark.
Coral reefs thrive in the seasonally calm and clear waters of the Thai seas. There are a great variety of coral outcrops of all shapes, sizes and colours extending over large areas. Some grow to very impressive sizes, such as the spectacular giant sea-fans.
Visibility is also second to none. Visibility can extend as far as the eye can see, particularly in the Andaman waters.
Accessibility and travel time are also important considerations. The dive sites around Thailand are within easy reach and are easily accessible by air, by sea or overland by road and rail in a matter of hours, rather than days. Most of the key diving destinations around Thailand have decent service infrastructure and offer a reasonable degree of comfort and convenience.
There are also a wide variety of dive products and packages featuring beach dives, day dives, and live aboard options, to meet varying needs and budgets. Ranging from budget travel backpacking packages to top-end luxury products such as the Dive Master Live-aboard packages, there is extensive choice in the range and pricing of products and services on offer.
Divers consider the Thai sea to be a "friendly sea". Of moderate depths ranging between 60-120 feet or 15-35 metres, with moderate wind and wave conditions, Thai seas are usually peaceful and diver-friendly.
The best time to be in the Gulf of Thailand is between May and September while the Andaman is at its best between October and April. With access to one of the two locations at various times of the year, ideal snorkelling and diving conditions are available all year round.
An exotic culture, a nation of friendly people, the Thai tradition of hospitality and impeccable service are significant pluses adding to the natural appeal of the dive destination and the dive experience itself. The added luxury of Thai food and Thai massage offered on live-board packages are just a few of the creative touches incorporating a "Thai touch" that transforms a dive trip or holiday into a total cultural experience.
Dive industry standards in Thailand are based on internationally-recognised standards. In recent years, industry operators have made significant efforts to offer improved standards of facilities and services and various conservation projects have been implemented. There is a much higher level of state and private sector awareness of environmental issues and increased participation and involvement in initiatives taken to promote environmental protection and conservation. For example, marine national parks are closed as a pro-active measure to restore the balance of nature and to allow nature to revive before irreversible environmental damage and degradation occurs. The natural wonders are protected while at the same time, they are accessible to those wishing to explore the beauty of the world of the deep without upsetting nature's delicate balance.
Such initiatives to achieve higher standards have also contributed to an improvement in environmental quality, as well as the quality of the destination and the service offered overall, thereby increasing Thailand's attractiveness and competitive edge as a dive destination.
On-going promotions by individual dive operators and publicity and promotional campaigns by the Tourism Authority of Thailand keep the international dive audience interested and well-informed of the latest developments in Thailand's dive scene.
The return of the Asia Dive Expo (ADEX), to Bangkok in 2003 raised Thailand's visibility as a dive destination within the local as well as international community and continues to generate a high level of international interest in Thailand as one of the world's finest dive destinations.
DIVE MASTER SAFETY PROCEDURES & DIVE SAFETY
http://www.tatnews.org/emagazine/1644.asp
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Dive Master, a PADI 5 Star Diving Centre founded by a group of passionate Thai divers and diving instructors, is Winner of the Thailand Tourism Awards - Award of Excellence, in the "Diving" category, for its entry entitled "Save Thai Sea by Safe Diving with Dive Master".
Contact information:
Dive Master
E-mail: info@divemaster.net
Web site: www.divemaster.net
Phone: 66-2-259-3191
Fax: 66-2-259-3197 |
