PHUKET: The drowning of a Chinese tourist on a snorkelling day trip off Phuket today has alarmed the Chinese Consul-General, Xu Mingliang.
The latest victim in a spate of snorkelling-related deaths is a 56-year-old woman* holidaying on Phuket with her daughter and son-in-law.
The woman died in Phuket International Hospital in Phuket City about 3pm after being rushed from Racha Island, where the family was enjoying an outing.
A series of deaths and narrow escapes clearly indicates that more education is needed in teaching non-swimmers how to use snorkels properly.
While the process seems simple, it has become a life and death issue. Phuket tourism will suffer unless local authorities insist on boat ''captains'' and crew instructing inexpert visitors in how to use snorkels.
Most of the time, snorkels, fins, goggles and flotation jackets are distributed to day-trip tourists without any instruction.
The Consul-General has made the point on visits to Phuket from his office in Haad Yai that safety standards on Phuket have to be maintained or Chinese tourists will go elsewhere.
The woman today was carried from Racha to Phuket by the Kaimook and Narenthorn rescue centres.
Her death follows the death of Chinese tourist Kang Xiao Xue, 24, who was killed early this month when the banana boat on which she was riding was slung into the side of a speedboat.
The ''captain'' of the speedboat towing the banana boat was fined and banned from working on speedboats for six months.
*Initial reports to Phuketwan and to the Consul-General were that a Chinese man had drowned.
The latest victim in a spate of snorkelling-related deaths is a 56-year-old woman* holidaying on Phuket with her daughter and son-in-law.
The woman died in Phuket International Hospital in Phuket City about 3pm after being rushed from Racha Island, where the family was enjoying an outing.
A series of deaths and narrow escapes clearly indicates that more education is needed in teaching non-swimmers how to use snorkels properly.
While the process seems simple, it has become a life and death issue. Phuket tourism will suffer unless local authorities insist on boat ''captains'' and crew instructing inexpert visitors in how to use snorkels.
Most of the time, snorkels, fins, goggles and flotation jackets are distributed to day-trip tourists without any instruction.
The Consul-General has made the point on visits to Phuket from his office in Haad Yai that safety standards on Phuket have to be maintained or Chinese tourists will go elsewhere.
The woman today was carried from Racha to Phuket by the Kaimook and Narenthorn rescue centres.
Her death follows the death of Chinese tourist Kang Xiao Xue, 24, who was killed early this month when the banana boat on which she was riding was slung into the side of a speedboat.
The ''captain'' of the speedboat towing the banana boat was fined and banned from working on speedboats for six months.
*Initial reports to Phuketwan and to the Consul-General were that a Chinese man had drowned.
Tour guides and boat crews are not hability to teach apnoe and snorkeling as it is tauch by diving organisation around the world.
Anyway a course like that needs a ratio of 1:4 to be efficient in learning.
CMAS Standards: http://www.cmas.org/technique/one-star-snorkel-diver-training-programme
Posted by Whistle-Blower on November 20, 2012 18:50