DOCT PRESS STATEMENT after the Tsunami
The Dive Operators Club of Thailand , Phuket Branch (DOCT), would like to express our condolences to the victims, and families and friends of victims, who suffered so terribly on 26th December 2004. We have all received so many calls and e-mails of support from our former guests and friends who have visited and gone diving with us over the past years. We thank you.
Most of us could not imagine this type of situation before December 26th ,and are uncertain as to how to make an appropriate statement. We hope that you will continue to support Thailand 's diving community as most of the diving centres were operationally unaffected by the tsunamis. Perhaps the most appropriate statement is simply about the quality of scuba diving.
Diving operations, both in terms of live-aboard boats, day trips and courses, remain unaffected and unchanged. Dive sites along the coast, including the Similan Islands , Ko Bon, Ko Tachai, Surin and Richelieu Rock, and into the Mergui Archipelago are not damaged in any significant way. Some sites were affected slightly, others not at all. There is absolutely no truth to rumours of heavy devastation, and loss of marine life. We have had divers out diving since the waves and surge hit, and although there are some changes to dive sites, mostly around Island No 9 in the Similans, all of the areas still offer world-class diving. The dive sites in the Mergui Archipelago were completely unaffected by the waves or surges.
We encourage you to continue diving and not cancel your live-aboard or other diving plans, out of Phuket. In this way you can support the local economy so that the people, (especially Thai locals), in southern Thailand will not face another tragedy, this time economic, in 2005 and beyond. Please visit our websites for more detailed information. The website ‘www.phuketgazette.net' has a very comprehensive list of help centres, donation centres and many contact numbers for those who wish to offer their services or make donations.
DOCT (Dive Operators Club of Thailand).
