Hi all,
Can I just say thank you very much for those of you who have been concerned about the crew on the Mandarin Siren, it has really meant a lot to my partner who worked on it, Michel, who had in fact worked on this boat for over 5 years when it was originally the "Mimpi" live aboard operated by Simone from Thalassa Dive Centre. He lived on this boat and had absolutely everything he owned on it and was in tears when he told me about the accident. He personally loved the Mandarin, so much so, that he worked on it for a year and a half without a holiday ....
On a personal note, I was really sad that I was not informed about this accident and don't seem to have received an apology despite writing to the office with regards to our belongings. I was worried sick when I didn't hear from him over New Year as we have texted each other every day since meeting last January whilst I led a trip on the same boat when it too encountered a bad accident, entering and sailing through a storm for 4 hours from Kri Island despite asking the guide if we could turn back and stay in Yenbessar village instead of going to Batanta island. Water entered the engine room that night, quite scary indeed. It shook me up for months but I was told by the marketing person in charge that I was taking things too seriously and that I needed to move on and forget it.
As soon as I heard about the accident, 4th January, I got in touch with the office asking if I could go and see Michel as soon as I finished work on 15th and would he be there? I was told that he was resting. I asked if I could buy him a couple of the gifts which I gave him for his birthday last year and for saving us all on the Mandarin in January to surprise him with, a little iPod shuffle and a Man United t-shirt which had his name on it. I asked if there was a way that I could sort it out directly with the company's insurance as I didn't want Michel to know.
I received a reply from one owner telling me that they had had a whip round for the crew for their belongings. I was quite shocked at how cold this statement was. I was then told that I needed to forward receipts (which I understood) and that the money would be repaid through Michel's bank account. I asked how Michel could then get the money to me in England for me to buy the gifts and then how was I going to get them back to him when he worked on the boat for 48 weeks of the year ... Wouldn't there be an easier way and also how I was surprised that they couldn't help me when he has worked for the company since 2009 and I have been helping them behind the scenes here promoting WWDS through my courses and talks at the dive shows and even offering to be an investor when they needed it.
I then received a stern response from the main owner telling me that Michel was scheduled to return to work on the 13th and that he was too tired from dealing with this **** to answer my email just then--choice words indeed after this kind of catastrophe and the heartbreak that everyone who lost their personal belongings must be feeling ....I was totally shocked .... I have worked with dive operations such as Nautilus Explorer, and many others throughout 10 years of working in the dive industry and have never been spoken to like this. I was simply asking if there was a way to help replace Michel's gifts to celebrate our one year anniversary, Valentines Day and his birthday .....
I saw Michel this week for one day and despite him asking the office in Makassar about replacing his belongings he simply receives a response saying that it is nothing to do with them and he has to speak to the office in Thailand. He still only has 2 t-shirts, one of them being the one which I took out for him which he gave me when I needed it ... we are both big Manchester United fans!!!
Surely we all as divers have a responsibility to look after the staff who look after us, carrying 18 tanks 4 times a day and working from 5 am until 10 pm at night for a few dollars per day should be appreciated particularly after fighting a fire to save everyone's belongings and the boat itself which he loved dearly - and the staff still keep smiling to make sure that we all have a really lovely holiday .....
I am sorry to have to bring this to the forum, but as we are getting absolutely nowhere sending emails and calling, there is sadly no choice and really hope that this can be rectified soon so that Michel can start to rebuild his belongings and we can have a future together .... I also lost a Sea Shepherd hoodie which I was really proud of - Darren from Sea Shepherd UK gave it to be because of the work I put in to raise money for them and I lent it to one of the crew to stop Anita from getting wet in a storm as she had no jacket. Michel was going to give it back to me when he saw me ...
I simply don't understand why there has been no response from anyone .... I've also found out that he has been diving to 16 metres to the Mandarin Siren without a diving licence ....
- to say that I am shocked is an understatement .....
If lessons are to be learnt from this accident, I sincerely hope that we all as divers can appreciate the crew who look after us so well and treat them with the love and fairness that they all deserve.
Sincerely,
Maria
