Thailand bans cameras without AOW

[boulderjohn]

The week after the trip I mentioned in post #18, I was with another group, and that group included a couple friends whose names ScubaBoard people back then would have known well. they, too, had big camera rigs, but they did no damage to the reefs. Both were cave certified.

I am not saying cave certification should be required. The big difference between a technical and/or diver and the general population of divers is their ability to dive and especially hover in horizontal trim with their feet higher than their hips. It is a critical part of the training. Perhaps that skill should be part of dive photography courses.

 

[Redtwo]

I also read somewhere they are reducing group sizes for instructors (1 to 4) and for DsD even 1 on 1 or 1 on 2. All small steps for the better i think.

And yes better bouyancy is always a plus!

 

[tursiops]

I also read somewhere they are reducing group sizes for instructors (1 to 4) and for DsD even 1 on 1 or 1 on 2. All small steps for the better i think.

And yes better bouyancy is always a plus!

Who is 'they'?

 

[Allen-1]

The week after the trip I mentioned in post #18, I was with another group, and that group included a couple friends whose names ScubaBoard people back then would have known well. they, too, had big camera rigs, but they did no damage to the reefs. Both were cave certified.

I am not saying cave certification should be required. The big difference between a technical and/or diver and the general population of divers is their ability to dive and especially hover in horizontal trim with their feet higher than their hips. It is a critical part of the training. Perhaps that skill should be part of dive photography courses.

Skill is certainly part of it, but a much bigger factor as far as I can tell is diver attitude.

I learned to dive under an instructor, and with a group, that emphasized moving gracefully and calmly through the environment, not touching anything.

I've since seen divers standing on coral, grabbing onto coral, swimming directly into other divers, and other clumsy maneuvers. Many of these divers are focused on their cameras and "getting the picture" to (presumably), show their friends and family.

Most DM's won't speak to these divers about it because they're like waitstaff in a restaurant - dependent upon the good will and tips of the divers they're guiding.

 

[Redtwo]

Who is 'they'?

Thai government

New Snorkeling Rules in Thailand – What You Need to Know - 5 Star Marine Phuket

As a company committed to sustainable tourism and ocean conservation, we fully support the latest update from the Thai Government aimed at protecting our coral reef ecosystems.

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