PHUKET: A timeline of events on a Phuket dive boat that became holed and was beached to prevent a sinking has been released by one of the Phuket dive companies involved.
A British diver on the vessel has already raised several issues about safety on board and says she still intends to contact the British embassy in Bangkok and Padi to express her concerns.
In an email attachment addressed yesterday to ''All agents and colleagues,'' Narong ''Mr. Tea'' Chaimo, the well-regarded General Manager of Kamala Dive Center, writes:
This is a report of the events that occurred on May 4 2012 from Kamala Dive Center which resulted with the beaching of the boat Prapis 7 on Koh Keaw.
The Parapis 7 boat is a rented vessel from Aloha, the captain and three boat crew are also from Aloha. The captain personally has over 30 years of experience as a captain, each of the boat crew has a minimum of five years experience being out at sea.
The boat was rebuilt after the [2004] tsunami, it was last on dry-dock for major repairs from mid July 2011 to mid August 2011.
All necessary safety equipment was on board; 45 life jackets, emergency oxygen and medical kit. The captain's cabin is equipped with sonar, compass and radio.
The time-line is an as close as possible account to actual events described by the crew, staff and captain.
The Time-line of Events
09:00 All six customers, five staff, captain, cook and three boat crew board Prapis 7 at Chalong pier. The boat leaves for Phi Phi.
12:10 Prapis 7 arrives at Koh Bida Nok for the first dive.
13:10 The divers are picked up and lunch is served.
14:10 Second dive at Phi Phi Ley.
15:10 The divers are picked up and the boat leaves for Chalong pier.
16:00 One of the crew discovers water in the engine room. He finds that the bilge pump is not working and tries to repair it.
16:20 The pump is repaired but water is still leaking in. A crack is discovered on the starboard side at the bow of the boat. The crack is approximately 10cm x50 cm.
16:30 The captain and crew notify the Thai Royal Navy, Marine Police, Speed Boat Operators, near by dive boats and all other relevant parties.
16:35 All customers are moved up to the top deck and given life jackets. The captain decides to beach the boat at Koh Keaw.
17:00 The boat is beached on the west side of Koh Keaw.
17:30 A local dive boat (Andaman Ocean Safari) arrives at Koh Keaw to assist. The crew and staff from both boats assist in the transfer of customers from Prapis 7 to the assisting boat both in the water and out. The distance between the two boats was approximately 100m.
17:45 All 6 customers plus staff are safely on board the assisting vessel. The assisting vessel head towards Chalong.
18:30 The assisting vessel detours to help another boat at Koh Doc Mai.
19:30 The assisting vessel arrives at Chalong pier, customers are transferred to their respective hotels.
Current situation
Approximately 70 percent of all equipment and tanks have been recovered from the boat. Maintenance is on going, the boat will be recovered within the next few days and brought to dry-dock.
The staff are busy working on our new branch in Kata.
Future plans
For the moment Kamala Dive Center will not be running a day-trip boat for at least one month. We will still take on courses and customers. It is not yet decided weather Prapis 7 will be the boat for future day-trips.
We would like to thank all that were involved in the events of 04.05.2012; Andaman Ocean Safari, the Thai Marine Police, Thai Royal Navy. All others that are too many to list. Thank you for your thoughts and support throughout this incident.
We will keep you appraised of any changes.
Narong Chaimo (Mr. Tea)
General Manager, Kamala Dive Center.
British tourist and diver Wendy Bain, who told on Saturday of her concerns as the boat took water, was sent the time-line by Phuketwan. She responds:
''It's a pretty accurate account, there are a few discrepancies.
''I didn't know the blige pump wasn't working. The crew and our dive master were excellent at evacuating us and I thank them for that but a broken pump and a crack in the side - I was told a part of the boat had broken off?!
''In fact, I and my husband were the only divers above deck, all the rest were below.
''The waves were quite high and the boat was being thrown and tossed. I heard air cylinders banging and clanking hard - I think one may have come lose.
''Seconds later a huge bang, then the captain came out and looked out over the side of the boat and immediately made a phone call. The other crew members came up from below and did the same.
''I knew we were in trouble because of their faces, and the boat was tilting.
''When we had the dive briefing, there was no information on where the life jackets were, oxygen - flares etc. In other countries I've dived they always give this info, as well as where the life buoy is.
''There should be some life jackets on the upper deck as well - all of theirs were in the 'basement' of the boat.
''Not sure if I agree with there being all those life jackets - if so, why was our dive instructor Qui wearing one with the polystyrene blocks falling out of it and the front clip fasteners ripped off it?
''Maybe ask her. Qui also told me this boat was used for nine years and that there was no life raft as it 'created drag'.
''Neither Sharkey Scuba (our dive master) or Kamala Dive has contacted us since the ordeal to ask if we have any questions about what happened. My husband and I were disappointed with Sharkey Scuba and are still awaiting reply from them.
''I still think that this boat was not fit for purpose - long trips to Phi Phi - and that we were fortunate there was so few of us on board that day.
''We won't be coming back to Phuket and I will not be recommending diving here.''
Khun Tea's time-line is useful. All parties agree the crisis was handled expertly by the captain and crew, and that the rescuers did an excellent job.
What's surprising is that, given the drama of the event, there was no immediate debriefing for customer-divers afterwards, and, it appears, no contact at all since.
At least one other dive boat experienced difficulties between Phi Phi and Phuket and required assistance in Friday's storm.
Dive company employees on Phuket expect sudden squalls at this time of the year and are conditioned to handle them. But tourist divers do not put to sea on holiday outings thinking that their trip will become dangerous.
Divers visiting Phuket probably need to be better informed and at the very least, warned that weather forecasters are unable to accurately predict the behavior and strength of all Phuket monsoon-season storms.
A British diver on the vessel has already raised several issues about safety on board and says she still intends to contact the British embassy in Bangkok and Padi to express her concerns.
In an email attachment addressed yesterday to ''All agents and colleagues,'' Narong ''Mr. Tea'' Chaimo, the well-regarded General Manager of Kamala Dive Center, writes:
This is a report of the events that occurred on May 4 2012 from Kamala Dive Center which resulted with the beaching of the boat Prapis 7 on Koh Keaw.
The Parapis 7 boat is a rented vessel from Aloha, the captain and three boat crew are also from Aloha. The captain personally has over 30 years of experience as a captain, each of the boat crew has a minimum of five years experience being out at sea.
The boat was rebuilt after the [2004] tsunami, it was last on dry-dock for major repairs from mid July 2011 to mid August 2011.
All necessary safety equipment was on board; 45 life jackets, emergency oxygen and medical kit. The captain's cabin is equipped with sonar, compass and radio.
The time-line is an as close as possible account to actual events described by the crew, staff and captain.
The Time-line of Events
09:00 All six customers, five staff, captain, cook and three boat crew board Prapis 7 at Chalong pier. The boat leaves for Phi Phi.
12:10 Prapis 7 arrives at Koh Bida Nok for the first dive.
13:10 The divers are picked up and lunch is served.
14:10 Second dive at Phi Phi Ley.
15:10 The divers are picked up and the boat leaves for Chalong pier.
16:00 One of the crew discovers water in the engine room. He finds that the bilge pump is not working and tries to repair it.
16:20 The pump is repaired but water is still leaking in. A crack is discovered on the starboard side at the bow of the boat. The crack is approximately 10cm x50 cm.
16:30 The captain and crew notify the Thai Royal Navy, Marine Police, Speed Boat Operators, near by dive boats and all other relevant parties.
16:35 All customers are moved up to the top deck and given life jackets. The captain decides to beach the boat at Koh Keaw.
17:00 The boat is beached on the west side of Koh Keaw.
17:30 A local dive boat (Andaman Ocean Safari) arrives at Koh Keaw to assist. The crew and staff from both boats assist in the transfer of customers from Prapis 7 to the assisting boat both in the water and out. The distance between the two boats was approximately 100m.
17:45 All 6 customers plus staff are safely on board the assisting vessel. The assisting vessel head towards Chalong.
18:30 The assisting vessel detours to help another boat at Koh Doc Mai.
19:30 The assisting vessel arrives at Chalong pier, customers are transferred to their respective hotels.
Current situation
Approximately 70 percent of all equipment and tanks have been recovered from the boat. Maintenance is on going, the boat will be recovered within the next few days and brought to dry-dock.
The staff are busy working on our new branch in Kata.
Future plans
For the moment Kamala Dive Center will not be running a day-trip boat for at least one month. We will still take on courses and customers. It is not yet decided weather Prapis 7 will be the boat for future day-trips.
We would like to thank all that were involved in the events of 04.05.2012; Andaman Ocean Safari, the Thai Marine Police, Thai Royal Navy. All others that are too many to list. Thank you for your thoughts and support throughout this incident.
We will keep you appraised of any changes.
Narong Chaimo (Mr. Tea)
General Manager, Kamala Dive Center.
British tourist and diver Wendy Bain, who told on Saturday of her concerns as the boat took water, was sent the time-line by Phuketwan. She responds:
''It's a pretty accurate account, there are a few discrepancies.
''I didn't know the blige pump wasn't working. The crew and our dive master were excellent at evacuating us and I thank them for that but a broken pump and a crack in the side - I was told a part of the boat had broken off?!
''In fact, I and my husband were the only divers above deck, all the rest were below.
''The waves were quite high and the boat was being thrown and tossed. I heard air cylinders banging and clanking hard - I think one may have come lose.
''Seconds later a huge bang, then the captain came out and looked out over the side of the boat and immediately made a phone call. The other crew members came up from below and did the same.
''I knew we were in trouble because of their faces, and the boat was tilting.
''When we had the dive briefing, there was no information on where the life jackets were, oxygen - flares etc. In other countries I've dived they always give this info, as well as where the life buoy is.
''There should be some life jackets on the upper deck as well - all of theirs were in the 'basement' of the boat.
''Not sure if I agree with there being all those life jackets - if so, why was our dive instructor Qui wearing one with the polystyrene blocks falling out of it and the front clip fasteners ripped off it?
''Maybe ask her. Qui also told me this boat was used for nine years and that there was no life raft as it 'created drag'.
''Neither Sharkey Scuba (our dive master) or Kamala Dive has contacted us since the ordeal to ask if we have any questions about what happened. My husband and I were disappointed with Sharkey Scuba and are still awaiting reply from them.
''I still think that this boat was not fit for purpose - long trips to Phi Phi - and that we were fortunate there was so few of us on board that day.
''We won't be coming back to Phuket and I will not be recommending diving here.''
Khun Tea's time-line is useful. All parties agree the crisis was handled expertly by the captain and crew, and that the rescuers did an excellent job.
What's surprising is that, given the drama of the event, there was no immediate debriefing for customer-divers afterwards, and, it appears, no contact at all since.
At least one other dive boat experienced difficulties between Phi Phi and Phuket and required assistance in Friday's storm.
Dive company employees on Phuket expect sudden squalls at this time of the year and are conditioned to handle them. But tourist divers do not put to sea on holiday outings thinking that their trip will become dangerous.
Divers visiting Phuket probably need to be better informed and at the very least, warned that weather forecasters are unable to accurately predict the behavior and strength of all Phuket monsoon-season storms.
This is from the United States Government's Website warning travellers coming to Thailand. Google it yourself. Google 'dive boat sinks Phuket' and see how many recent dive boat sinks/rescues come up. YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH YOUR BOATS! Is this what you want Phuket diving to be known for???
'Boat Safety: Boat safety is a concern in Thailand. Ferries and speedboats used for transport to and from the many islands off the Thai mainland and along rivers are often overcrowded and do not carry sufficient safety equipment. Several years ago, three US citizen tourists died when the overcrowded speedboat they were in capsized and sank off the coast of Koh Samui. Three months later, two US citizens narrowly escaped death when their dive boat sank off the coast near Phuket. Avoid travel on overcrowded boats and ensure that proper safety equipment (including life preservers) is available before boarding any boat or ferry.
I will be contacting the British Embassy to do the same and inform all British Travel agents to warn visitors to be aware - even if it's expat diving schools. And speaking to Padi to see if something can be done from them about Padi diving schools using unsafe boats. Come on diving community, you help ensure your own and clients safety - you hire the boats. You are who visiting divers put their trust in. There's already been a program made in Austrailia about the Dive Asia boat where six people were drowned, warning tourists about your conditions there. How much more bad publicity do you want ruining your businesses - next time it could be you or your family! There's a problem - how do you make it better? What do you need?
Posted by Wendy on May 8, 2012 11:44