Thai Law concerning Dive Guides

The Day before Yesterday, my girlfriend and I were Told by one of the Instructors at Simple Life Diving in Koh Tao that it is Thai Law that we cannot Dive alone with out a guide. Is there such a Thai Law?

We recently did a couple of 30msw dives out of Pattaya unescorted, and also did some unescorted dives with another outfit in Koh Tao recently.

Otherwise Koh Tao is a great place. I'll be adding it to my top 10 Dive Destinations.

Never heard of such a law.

I can't comment with knowledge on whether there is a national law in Thailand... perhaps it is just a rule established by that dive operator. I know I did all my dives with a guide while I was there, but that was fine with me because I wasn't filming then.

drbill:

perhaps it is just a rule established by that dive operator.

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Nope, he actually told me it was I quote " It is the Law in Thailand that you can not dive without a guide"

BTW Howdy Dr Bill hopefully I'll be in Catalina soon, maybe for a little diving and Karaoke? Looking forward to both if your around on my next trip, I really miss the kelp forest.

Been here for over 15 years and I have also not heard of such a law. Perhaps the Instructor you spoke to has been misinformed.

I live and work here and have never heard of such a thing. Simple Life have a very good reputation and good standard. I would say that its just a mis-understanding somewhere along the way.

I work and live here now for over 10 years and have never heard of such a law.

Probably a misunderstanding indeed.

on KT now and just learned that it IS a Thai law, indeed, albeit, not normally enforced.

So what is than the definition of a guide for diving according to Thai law?

Is this kind of resurrection of the whole CMAS thing?

limbo:

So what is than the definition of a guide for diving according to Thai law?

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Very good question, given that Thai law also require anyone who works as a 'guide' to be a Thai national. I've been told that foreigners cannot have their work permits include roles/responsibilities listed as 'dive guide' for this reason (the law states the the occupation of 'guide or conducting sightseeing tours' is prohibited to foreigners). Maybe there's some way of phrasing it so that dive guides are listed as 'dive leaders' or something. But then the question remains, what is the definition of a dive guide according to the law cited by the operator the OP used? Would a 'dive leader' suffice?

No matter how interesting the issue may be to us here in the industry, the real point is, John, that for all intents and purposes, even if there is such a regulation about diving (in a Marine Park?) being permitting only under supervision, there has been no enforcement in living memory, so there is something odd about the dive op giving you this information--maybe as Ayesha suggests, there's been a misunderstanding somewhere along the way.... between some "enforcer" and the shop management, or the management and the staff, or just a confusion in the staffer's mind?