FIVE of the 12 Miss Slovensko (Slovakia) contestants now enjoying a break in the sun on Phuket took to the water off Patong today. A Phuketwan photographer splashed in after them.

The young women are staying at the Graceland Resort and enjoying a week on Phuket as part of the television coverage of the event back home.

They have also enjoyed a few days in Bangkok, but rate their Phuket stay so far as highly entertaining. Yesterday they visited Phang Nga and James Bond island. Tomorrow they're off to Phi-Phi for the day.

Enjoying the romp on Patong were Radka Andrlova, Viera Brezna, Lydia Firkora, Lubica Kvasnicova and Petra Mackova.

We'll be loading more photographs into the album as they arrive.

On January 17, the contestants head for home, but whoever wins the contest, the young women have all pledged to return to Phuket.