Unregistered dive boat sinks rapidly - Thailand

[DandyDon]

More photos and video at Horrifying Video: Diving Boat Sinks into Ocean Amid Screams as Passengers Scramble for Their Lives | Video | TheBlaze.com

VIDEO Dramatic Tourist Rescue as Similans Dive Boat Sinks: Vessel Not Registered - Phuket Wan

PHUKET: A dive boat sank in the Similan islands with a ''frantic rescue'' required to save all on board, it was revealed today.

The dive boat Aladdin with 13 on board was not registered and operating near the park illegally, officials told Phuketwan.

On a second boat nearby, Swedish diver Dennis Karlsson, 46, took dramatic photographs showing the panic as the Aladdin quickly sank to the bottom about noon yesterday.

It was between Bon Island and Tachai island. Fortunately for the people on the Aladdin, the Phuket-based vessel Peter Pan was close by and able to rescue them all.

Scandinavians were among divers on both vessels, Mr Karlsson told Sweden's Aftonbladet newspaper where his photographs were published today.

The Aladdin sank in minutes, he said. ''It was just coincidence that our boat was there and could come to the rescue,'' Mr Karlsson said. ''It was really, really serious.''

The wooden hull of the boat was holed and the Aladdin tipped then sank, with people scrambling to get off.

''People threw themselves headlong into the water. Some disappeared under the surface. It was a very close thing for some of them and people were so grateful that the Peter Pan was there.''

It's believed the vessel Aladdin, based in Ranong, a Thai port on the border with Burma, was on a four-day live-aboard adventure.

According to park officials Phuketwan spoke to today, the Aladdin was not a registered vessel and should not have been operating.

Peter Pan operates out of Phuket. Andaman coast and Phuket authorities, with the help of the British Embassy, are attempting to lift marine safety standards.

Yesterday's sinking of the Aladdin is likely to trigger a closer investigation of illegal boats that are said to operate in the Similans region with corrupt payments made to renegade marine park rangers.

The Director of the Surin Island National Park, Kongkiert Temtamnan, confirmed today that the sinking happened between Bon Island and Tachai Island and not in the Surin park region.

The Director of the Similan islands national park, Nat Kongkasem, said today that both the islands were part of the national park but the Aladdin sank between the islands. in a location that was not part of the national park.

''The vessel operates out of Ranong,'' he said. ''It was not registered to operate in the national park and the hull was clearly of poor quality.''

 

[Namreg 58]

Normally they just roll over and play dead!

 

[Seymour Fisch]

I'm just a newbie diver, but from what I've learned in this Forum, they were in an overhead environment. Shouldn't they have had redundant air, 3 lights, and a continuous guideline to the surface?

 

[DandyDon]

I'm just a newbie diver, but from what I've learned in this Forum, they were in an overhead environment. Shouldn't they have had redundant air, 3 lights, and a continuous guideline to the surface?

Funny, sorta...

There are two real reminders one can take from the story: (1) Don't just shop charters based on prices. Research before booking and avoid bad risks. "We haven't sunk yet" is not sufficient reason to think they won't.

(2) Wear a flotation device on most moving boats. Most don't bother, but I do! People snicker at me and my snorkel vest, but I don't care. Many boats don't even carry life vests.

 

[rjk75]

I dive in cold water most of the time (and even if I didn't) I keep my wetsuit on until I get back to the dock. However, if the boat sinks on the way out before I get my W/S on, then I'll be swimming with the fishes, too.

 

[iamrushman]

thanks for the info....good to know.

 

[maniago]

I pack away my all gear as we're headed back, in a typical mesh backpack bag. And then I hang it on my tanks on the dive deck so I can grab it and go over the side with it - wetsuit, bcd, fins etc all in one. Might not float until I can get the lead out or manage to air the bcd, but I've thought about it...

I also get that this was a live-aboard, and that thinking is not derigeur.

 

[Seymour Fisch]

Funny, sorta...

Yeah, I wouldn't have joked if they hadn't all gotten out safely. That's an amazing video!

There are two real reminders one can take from the story: (1) Don't just shop charters based on prices. Research before booking and avoid bad risks. "We haven't sunk yet" is not sufficient reason to think they won't.

Any advice on how to do this? What to look for?

One of the things I really appreciate about living in a highly developed nation is that there are all these safety nets, maintained by dedicated, well-trained people, with the resources to do things right, and with inspection and enforcement by non-corrupt officials. I don't need to inspect every restaurant kitchen I eat at, I trust the safety of packaged foods in the store, and I trust the airliners I fly in to be well-maintained and competently piloted. But if I'm booking a dive trip in a developing country, what are good things to look out for?

(2) Wear a flotation device on most moving boats. Most don't bother, but I do! People snicker at me and my snorkel vest, but I don't care. Many boats don't even carry life vests.

I recall there's a South Park episode where this is a running gag... (Google "Feegan the Vegan")

 

[sphyrnidus]

Ships do sink, and as liveaboards are ships, sometimes they sink. And this does not only happen to cheapy, unregistered ships. Read this S/Y Oriental Siren incident in Layang Layang of a ship of the Siren fleet. I know Mrs. Sittlinger who who endured this shipwreck. I did two liveaboards with this company, this is a solid operation and yet...

 

[rjk75]

Even big cruise ships sink, too. MS Costa Concordia most recently, in calm seas and overcast weather, under command of a seasoned Captain.