Complaint about recent diving experience.

[Edward3c]

Are they checking all the comments on this website ? I am scared . oh well i am not not gonna go. . My GF did DSD in Utila. They look after her. Everything was done from shore. She really like it.

No, but if the dive operator reports it to the Thai authorities its entered into their immigration system. Negitive reviews are considered an insult to the King. Their country, their rules.

 

[Trilobite]

I’ve just come back from Egypt, there the practice you describe is common.

Be warned, giving a negative review of a Thai organisation, like a dive centre, is illegal and you could be arrested on your next visit. There was a case a year or so back when an English tourist was jailed for such action.

Here is a link to a NYT article on the subject: Thai Hotel That Put American in Jail Gets New Label on Tripadvisor (Published 2020)
It involved repeated negative reviews of a hotel, the Sea View resort on the island of Koh Chang; and the hotel contacted the guy and tried to work things out before it filed the criminal complaint. The guy was released from jail after two days after he and Trip Advisor met certain conditions.

The Thai law is called "criminal defamation" in the article. Defamation means making false statements, so if your statements are true, that might be a valid defense. Though the military is running the country, so you can't count on that.

Seems like it would be a wise precaution to post negative reviews of Thai businesses anonymously. But I also expect that most Thai businesses that service tourists will see that filing such criminal complaints is not in their best interest.

 

[34109411]

Here is a link to a NYT article on the subject: Thai Hotel That Put American in Jail Gets New Label on Tripadvisor (Published 2020)
It involved repeated negative reviews of a hotel, the Sea View resort on the island of Koh Chang; and the hotel contacted the guy and tried to work things out before it filed the criminal complaint. The guy was released from jail after two days after he and Trip Advisor met certain conditions.

The Thai law is called "criminal defamation" in the article. Defamation means making false statements, so if your statements are true, that might be a valid defense. Though the military is running the country, so you can't count on that.

Seems like it would be a wise precaution to post negative reviews of Thai businesses anonymously. But I also expect that most Thai businesses that service tourists will see that filing such criminal complaints is not in their best interest.

 

[Macfod]

just back from a Fiji resort with Padi 5 star..convinced our mature daughter to do a DSD course..The instructor wanted to take her straight into ocean water to a 6/7m depth. We said no way and made him take her into a pool first… then next when she was happy to do a giant stride dive of a boat the instructor said…ah…we cannot take you in as on your Padi form you said you vape…Padi requires a doctors note..SO. no dive and a would be diver put off …so sometimes even PADI fail on things

 

[dmaziuk]

just back from a Fiji resort with Padi 5 star..convinced our mature daughter to do a DSD course..The instructor wanted to take her straight into ocean water to a 6/7m depth. We said no way and made him take her into a pool first… then next when she was happy to do a giant stride dive of a boat the instructor said…ah…we cannot take you in as on your Padi form you said you vape…Padi requires a doctors note..SO. no dive and a would be diver put off …so sometimes even PADI fail on things

Were they asking after the pool dive? 'Cause the form says in the very first sentence "during scuba training program". If they asked for the signed form after training her in the pool, you could rat them out to PADI for standards violation.

 

[JonnieB]

No, but if the dive operator reports it to the Thai authorities its entered into their immigration system. Negitive reviews are considered an insult to the King. Their country, their rules.

You're are confusing the slander/defamation and les majeste laws. As in most Asian countries, libel and slander/defamation laws are much stricter and are subject to both civil and criminal penalties. People and business reputations are taken much more seriously in Asian cultures. Unfortunately, this can, and does, sometimes lead to the suppression or self-censorship of legitimate criticism. That being said, the likelihood of even finding out who posted a negative review on mostly anonymous social media and internet sites is de-minius. The les majeste laws regarding the royal family in Thailand are a completely different thing and it's best, as a foreigner, to not even discuss the issue in public or private or online in the country.

 

[Scooby Scuba Scuba]

just back from a Fiji resort with Padi 5 star..convinced our mature daughter to do a DSD course..The instructor wanted to take her straight into ocean water to a 6/7m depth. We said no way and made him take her into a pool first… then next when she was happy to do a giant stride dive of a boat the instructor said…ah…we cannot take you in as on your Padi form you said you vape…Padi requires a doctors note..SO. no dive and a would be diver put off …so sometimes even PADI fail on things

What!? Why vaping+scuba diving requires a doctors note?

 

[Barefoot_Lawyer]

What!? Why vaping+scuba diving requires a doctors note?

Over age 45 on the diver medical form: “I currently smoke or inhale nicotine by other means.” - Not sure how old the mature daughter is, but if 45+ then that explains it.

 

[Macfod]

Were they asking after the pool dive? 'Cause the form says in the very first sentence "during scuba training program". If they asked for the signed form after training her in the pool, you could rat them out to PADI for standards violation.

yep after the pool session…my wifes a PADI AI and she wasnt happy believe me..