This is just a data point. I am not trying to argue for or against going to Thailand to dive. This is my personal take on the situation as a diver from outside the SEAsia region who has saved money for a trip and will be coming over to dive there.
I have been traveling to the region for almost 40 years, first to Thailand, and in the last 10 years to Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore and of course, more Thailand. I only got scuba certified the end of 2009. My upcoming trip will be my first to the region as a diver.
I’ll be spending 3 weeks in Thailand in Feb-Mar, including 10 days of diving from Phuket. I am going with a few friends who have never been to Thailand, I have a great agent in Phuket, friends living in Phuket and Bangkok and am looking forward to a wonderful time. I started planning this trip last June.
All that said, if I were looking at dive destinations in the region now, Thailand would not be my first choice. I am nothing if not adaptable, but the misguided and heavy-handed (though quite possibly well-meaning) Thai governmental approach to preserving the marine environment really has me second-guessing my decision to come there to dive.
And the media coverage doesn’t help: “Will Close Andaman.” “Diving paradises may be closed.” “Similan and Surin Diving Paradises May Be Closed.” “Dept presses ahead with dive site closures.” “Thailand: Banning divers to save coral.” “Reefs ruined: dive sites face closure.” Nothing like typical media sensationalism of even more typical political bloviation to put the worst possible spin on any situation.
What I am trying to say is, I am still coming to Thailand to dive, and I know I will have a great time, but wow, this all looks really bad to someone living outside the region. This is not going to be good for the Andaman side dive operators and other visitor-based enterprises. The image of Andaman diving has suffered a hit, and like with the coral bleaching, the damage is done, and it will take time to heal.
If you want to argue the last point, help yourself, but IMO you are wasting your breath. Better to face the situation and work toward a solution than deny that there is a problem.
Dive operators can outfit all vessels with septic holding systems, prohibit trash dumping (including cigarette butts), subscribe to a permitted diver system (ala Sipidan), support and help pay for mooring blocks on sites and just generally clean up their side of the street. Or they can point fingers at fishing boats and corrupt officials.
See you all in about a month!