Contacting the bottom.

[Pullmyfinger]

Police involvement after tourists stepping on coral.

Interesting.

Diving instructor, company to face charges - The Nation

 

[Caveeagle]

This gives new meaning to "The SCUBA Police"..

 

[Pkishino]

great to see something is done. Hopefully this will encourage others to also report such activities.

 

[snowdog61]

Good! You'd think if any one group would be self-policing, it would be the Charters. Don't *crap* where you eat your lunch.

 

[TMHeimer]

Good article. There have been many discussions about destroying coral. I figure these shouldn't be even necessary. Even back 40-50 years ago when there were so fewer divers, why would anyone even think about stepping on coral---and for what purpose? Most will say it's not intentional, just awful buoyancy, and that is probably the case most often. I admit to touching the bottom while shell collecting, poke spearing flounders, etc. And do often pull myself along seaweed-covered rocks. But this isn't the tropics and there is no coral. Seaweed and rocks will recover and don't grow like an inch every 10 years.

 

[iamrushman]

they have the photos as evidence.....


"The punishment for endangering marine life in Thailand is a maximum of one year in prison, a 100,000 baht fine, or both."

 

[ScubaWithTurk]

“The tourists had purchased the diving trip through a third party, so we could not find out their details. We believe they may already have gone back to their country,” said Suchat.

So a dive op has a third part book this trip and they do not have any details of the divers? Yeah I don't believe this at all. There are waivers to sign and the shop would have to have names so the divers could check in upon arrival.

 

[TMHeimer]

Curious as to who took the photos uw? Other divers in the group?

 

[teknitroxdiver]

 

[tilikum]

The world needs fewer divers, I am sure this happens every day somewhere. This group just happened to be caught. (On film anyways)