PHUKET A strange blue and yellow object sighted floating in the water off Racha island is a local attempt at a DIY tourist attraction, authorities have discovered.
The locally-constructed vessel contains a submersible platform. The idea is the vessel floats over a reef, lowers the submersible platform, and then tows along the submersible platform so the seated diver can view the reef.
The Director of the Phuket division of the Tourism and Sport department, Santi Pawai, said that the floating innovation would not be allowed to operate unless it had all necessary permits.
One Racha island local involved in the project said that application had been made to Phuket's Marine 5 office but the chief of the office, Phuripat Theerakulpisut, said he had no knowledge of the application.
A meeting is to be held on August 18 to talk through aspects of the concept but it's considered to be unlikely to meet international standards for tourists' safety.
The locally-constructed vessel contains a submersible platform. The idea is the vessel floats over a reef, lowers the submersible platform, and then tows along the submersible platform so the seated diver can view the reef.
The Director of the Phuket division of the Tourism and Sport department, Santi Pawai, said that the floating innovation would not be allowed to operate unless it had all necessary permits.
One Racha island local involved in the project said that application had been made to Phuket's Marine 5 office but the chief of the office, Phuripat Theerakulpisut, said he had no knowledge of the application.
A meeting is to be held on August 18 to talk through aspects of the concept but it's considered to be unlikely to meet international standards for tourists' safety.
I have watched this contraption being built over the last year just down the road from me at the far west end of Rawai beach, and noticed it the other in Bay 2 (Ter Bay) at Racha Yai. I am happy to see officials are taking an interest in it. Like the reef walkers and snuba, it looks like a coral killer to me.
Posted by NomadJoe on August 16, 2014 17:12