Andaman Closures?

[limbo]

Quero,

It's also possible that the original measures were taken and published and after the public outcry that occurred, damage control has come into place!

 

[Quero]

Perhaps. I was going by the early reports that further inspections would result in an announcement on the 20th (today), which does seem to be the day the DG is holding meetings with the relevant government bodies. But who knows? The machinations of governments in formulating regulations are often unfathomable to those of us merely ruled by those regulations. And backpedaling is a time-honoured strategy in policy-making!

 

[watboy]

In an ideal democracy you'd think it would go hypothesis, analysis, discussion , conclusion. There's several things in thailand that ensure the above never happens. We all know what the quality of debate is like in Thailand, but I want to point out another source of confusion: People of standing find it hard to keep silent. In the west, when someone is asked a question they are not prepared to answer, they easily state "No Comment". You ask a Poo Yai in Thailand a question, they feel compelled to give an answer due to their standing. So i'm curious in this case, did the gov't official call a press briefing on the matter after having thought it out, or was he approached by a reporter and just blurted out a response. I can invision the latter going as "what are you doing about the coral bleaching?" to which they respond "in order to save the coral, we're going to close the parks", before they've completed their fact finding and analysis. PR in thailand is always an after the fact response to foot in mouth communications.

 

[limbo]

A Quero and Watboy,

Both excellent observations and comments.

Looks like I have to find new ways again to fill my Samui IDC's. :blinking:

 

[Buadhai]

7 National Park Dive Sites Closed Due to Coral Bleaching - Thai Rath

 

[JTinSD]

In English, from Phuket Wan:
Phuket Reef Diving Closures to Begin from Tomorrow

In Phang Nga province - Mo Koh Surin Island, Ao Sutep, Ao Mai Ngam, Koh Ster, Ao Pakkard; Mo Koh Similan, East of Eden, Ao Faiwab.

In Krabi province - Nopparat Thara Park, Phi Phi, Hin Klang.

In Satun province - Hat Chao Mai National Park, Koh Cher; Mu Ko Phetra National Park, Koh Bulon Mai Pai, Koh Bulon Don; Koh Tarutao National Park, Kohtakiang, Koh Hin Ngam, Koh Rawi, Koh Dong.

In Chumporn province - At Mo Koh Chumporn, Koh Maprao.

 

[AleG]

In English, from Phuket Wan:
Phuket Reef Diving Closures to Begin from Tomorrow

In Phang Nga province - Mo Koh Surin Island, Ao Sutep, Ao Mai Ngam, Koh Ster, Ao Pakkard; Mo Koh Similan, East of Eden, Ao Faiwab.

In Krabi province - Nopparat Thara Park, Phi Phi, Hin Klang.

In Satun province - Hat Chao Mai National Park, Koh Cher; Mu Ko Phetra National Park, Koh Bulon Mai Pai, Koh Bulon Don; Koh Tarutao National Park, Kohtakiang, Koh Hin Ngam, Koh Rawi, Koh Dong.

In Chumporn province - At Mo Koh Chumporn, Koh Maprao.

Aw shoot!, I´m going to Phi Phi in April.

 

[JTinSD]

7 National Park Dive Sites Closed Due to Coral Bleaching - Thai Rath

Can a local confirm that the "7 National Park Dive Sites" break down like this:

(Phang Nga province)
1. Mo Koh Surin Island, Ao Sutep, Ao Mai Ngam, Koh Ster, Ao Pakkard;
2. Mo Koh Similan, East of Eden, Ao Faiwab.

(Krabi province)
3. Nopparat Thara Park, Phi Phi, Hin Klang.

(Satun province)
4. Hat Chao Mai National Park, Koh Cher;
5. Mu Ko Phetra National Park, Koh Bulon Mai Pai, Koh Bulon Don;
6. Koh Tarutao National Park, Kohtakiang, Koh Hin Ngam, Koh Rawi, Koh Dong.

(Chumporn province)
7. At Mo Koh Chumporn, Koh Maprao.

To me, it looks like two dozen plus sites, but I am not familiar with the areas, and the punctuation in the article in Phuket Wan suggests a grouping of seven as above.

I am scheduled for four days LOB in the Similans, and was considering the Phi Phi overnight and a couple of daytrips. I see at least one typical Similan site, East of Eden, and Phi Phi on the list.

I hope someone with real area knowledge can shed light as to how this will affect Similan island liveaboard itineraries, Phi Phi overnight trips, and daytrips from Phuket.

 

[Quero]

Aw shoot!, I´m going to Phi Phi in April.

Don't worry. Hin Klang a very shallow (+/- 10 m max) reef which was, and will be again, a lovely snorkel site. There are Phi Phi sites that are really more appropriate for scuba than for snorkeling, and they're not closed.

 

[Quero]

The punctuation does make it very hard to read!

Essentially, these are all shallow sites most of which are used primarily for snorkeling, and in the case of the Similans reefs, either night dives where the boat is moored or checkout dives at the beginning of the trip. East of Eden is indeed one of the old standards on liveaboard itineraries, but because it has large staghorn forests, the bleaching has taken its toll. There are other sites nearby where staghorns are not such a prominent feature of the dive site, and these can be used while we wait for Eden to recover. As for Ao Fai Wab, if I'm not mistaken, that's what we call Honeymoon Bay. Liveaboards often moor there overnight and consequently stop there for night dives. There are other places to moor besides Honeymoon Bay. Island 4 (where Honeymoon Bay is located) is especially busy because it is one of the two areas where overnight visitors are allowed to stay in the park (the other is Island 8), so there are campers and backpackers around as well as speedboat loads of daytrippers, so that particular bay gets a lot of use.

The long and the short of it is that most of the sites are ones that dive boats don't visit, and for the couple that are traditonally part of the itinerary, boats have been avoiding these dive sites this season, so they have made the necessary adjustments already.

I understand that it's hard from halfway around the world to get a handle on how these little islands are affected by the closures, but rest assured that the issues are much more amplified in the press than they are on the water (even with the magnification factor that, as we divers know, water produces).