There are millions of people coming to Thailand to dive. A few years ago when there was a quake in Indonesia, there were four million. Yet there’s no official government department to oversee / establish some safety and environmental regulation.  Yet, when Angelo and I were there in 2007 we still wanted to explore the ocean seas.

So all these diving centers are operating with their own guidelines. It isn’t surprising that some dive sites are quickly getting ruined. It’s interesting that the dive centers emphasize that you are required to get a dive license before you dive here. In reality, there’s no law to enforce it. Sure, it is vitally important for everyone’s safety to take such course but there should be a strict legal body to enforce it. With this many divers, how long can those beautiful reefs sustain the abuse?

Here, most thai dive masters depends on PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) to design a course and give them qualification. However, I think to be appropriate, it should be that any dive master, PADI or not, who wants to operate in Thailand, they should get a local license that will comply to local water diving regulation. Each dive site are different and more fragile than others.

Business wise, right now, any dive masters from anywhere in the world can come and run a dive business here, no need for work / operation permit. Whoopie. Happiest people are PADI in Australia. Thai divers will have to pay them, just to dive in Thailand. Now that’s a successful marketing company.

I’m scheduled to go to Thailand in October and do some shots of underwater sea life during these dives. I hope Angelo can come along as well =)

- Sunday