PHUKET'S underwater squadron in the Sky Dive Reef has lost a battle, not the war, says Thailand Diving Association CEO Rainer Gottwald.

Most of the artificial reef, sunk off Bang Tao beach with a lot of effort and ceremony, has been battered into pieces. Only one aircraft remains.

''It's very sad,'' Mr Gottwald said. ''But we have to keep trying to preserve the environment.''

The Sky Dive Reef, also known as the Coral Reef Squadron, was a bold idea to offer alternative diving that would have relieved some of the pressure on the region's natural reefs.

''It was working very well,'' Mr Gottwald said. ''We had reports of sharks and manta rays around it. The site was being used by divers every day and thousands of divers went to see it.''

Now the appeal is going out for large, unwanted steel vessels that can be sunk off every beach around Phuket.

''The best material is steel,'' Mr Gottwald said. ''The aluminium of the planes and the helicopters was quickly damaged by trawler nets, anchors and winches.''

Mr Gottwald said the TDA, now headquartered on Phuket, plans to go ahead with the artificial reef program with the intention of learning from the first attempt.

''In the US they built an artificial reef from thousands of tyres, then discovered they were not good for the environment and spent a fortune taking them out again,'' he said.

''We know that the right kind of artificial reefs will be good for the environment, good for diving, and good for fishing. We really need to do something for our environment.''

Train carriages are another alternative, although globally, shipwrecks have been the most successful attractor of both fish and tourists.

Local authorities have supported the continuation of the project and the publicity surrounding the first attempt had been of huge benefit, Mr Gottwald said.

A TDA team, including one representative from Phuket, is currently taking part in the Fin Swim World Championships in Russia.

Phuket and regional schools have the opportunity for students to qualify as TDA Marine Environmental Scouts. A one-day course teaches students under 15 about mangroves and marine sustainability.

Every qualifying student is issued with a reference diary. Teachers who wish to be involved can call Mr Gottwald on 089 736 4409.


Burma Visa Runners Face Temperature Checks
Latest Phuket expats who cross to Victoria Point in Burma for visa renewals will find themselves subjected to a temperature check for reasons that so far remain a mystery.
Burma Visa Runners Face Temperature Checks

Phuket 'Scene of FBI, North Korean Arms Dealings'
Latest Phuket appeals to everyone, even, according to a news report on North Korea's counterfeit black market, arms dealers and FBI agents. It's the Uncle Sam Sham Scam.
Phuket 'Scene of FBI, North Korean Arms Dealings'

MediaWATCH: Expats 'Control Phuket Beachfront'
News Digest Expats 'control Phuket beach'; Obama attack 'a rumor'; Bali tourist terror site to be redeveloped; Saving Malaysia motorcyclists; Centara Phuket boost; Jackson as Frankenstein.
MediaWATCH: Expats 'Control Phuket Beachfront'

Phuket Romances its Way onto Movie Screens
Latest Phuket, in real life all comedy, drama, action and romance, has finally been made into a movie. ''It's very small but it's big,'' says the leading man. Yes, that's Phuket.
Phuket Romances its Way onto Movie Screens

Pacific Blue, Jetstar Open to Australia, Singapore
Latest Two low cost flight providers produce new flights and offer bargains between Australia and Phuket and Singapore and Phuket. Could it be War in the Air? Passengers hope so.
Pacific Blue, Jetstar Open to Australia, Singapore

Phuket's Beaches Fail the Five-Star Enviro Test
Latest A new star rating system for Thailand's beaches leaves the best on Phuket lagging a little. There's one local island with a five star beach, but it's not Phuket.
Phuket's Beaches Fail the Five-Star Enviro Test

Phuket's Favorite Traffic Snarl Gaining Ground
Photo Album November remains the deadline for works in Thalang Road, Phuket City, that will see the power, telephone and water lines placed underground.
Phuket's Favorite Traffic Snarl Gaining Ground

Phuket Prepares for Just One Kind of Disaster
Latest Phuketwan goes to a tsunami drill and meets the deputy PM, a pleasant experience except for the nagging thought that it shouldn't be this easy. Not carrying an unchecked backpack . . .
Phuket Prepares for Just One Kind of Disaster