reef damage

[aussie dollar]

TODAYS BKK POST
THOUGHT DIVERS MAY BE INTERESTED

Four coral reefs hit by big waves

Scientists differ on the extent of damage

RANJANA WANGVIPULA

At least four coral reef areas off Phi Phi and Surin were ravaged by tsunamis, which crashed into the exotic marine structures and flooded them with sand and garbage, marine experts said.

Even though top environmental officials said the impact counted for little in the overall assessment, a shocking scene near Surin archipelago and damage in areas near Phi Phi island raised a voice of concern.

``It disappeared,'' said Kasetsart University's marine scientist Thon Thamrongnawasawat as he described what he saw in Aow Chong Khad, a small gulf in Surin archipelago, during his two-day inspection on coral reef areas in the Andaman sea, west of Thailand.

A range of coral reefs at Chong Khad cape, a popular spot for diving close to a beach, had gone when Mr Thon and his team inspected the area this week.

Lumps of coral reef as large as cars were just tossed to one side by the waves, Mr Thon said. ``Around half a square kilometre of coral reef was affected,'' Mr Thon said, in a total area of eight square kilometres of coral reef in Surin archipelago, the largest coral reef area in the Andaman sea. His concern came in a contrast with comments by the Tourism Authority of Thailand after its team of divers came back from the South with a videotape of coral reef conditions.

Its governor Juthamas Siriwan said on Tuesday that only small parts of the coral reef in the Similan islands were damaged.

Department of Marine and Coastal Resources chief Maitree Duangsawasdi said after meeting marine experts from eight universities yesterday that coral reefs in some areas were damaged, but on the whole the impacts on coral reef were small.

The department asked marine scientists from eight universities, including Mr Thon's team, to assess the coral damage.

``To estimate the damage, it should be only a quarter or one fifth of coral reef in Phi Phi Islands that were badly hit,'' said Niphon Phongsuwan of Phuket Marine Biological Centre.

He was asked to inspect coral reef near Patong beach in Phuket and Phi Phi islands in Krabi.

Aow Lo La Na, Koh Phai, and a part of Koh Phi Phi Lay were another three areas, where coral reef was severely damaged by the waves, Mr Niphon said.

The coral reef, if not broken or thrown away by the wave force, was gradually killed by garbage and sand coverage.

``We could not remove thick layers of sand out of the reef and have to wait for a moonsoon to take them out by tidal waves,'' Mr Niphon said.

``The coral reef will die as a result, but when the sand goes, young new coral species will cling to the reef remains and grow up again.''

[LivinLOS]

Who would you believe ?? An independant scientist with no agenda or axe to grind or the Tiourism Authority of Thailand tasked with presenting how wonderful Thailands reefs are ??

I know the diving industry has really been hit hard (probably more than any other sector of the tourist industry) as nearly no one is going out on tours currently.. 2 Divemasters / instructors i know have both had to leave and I have not yet gained real 1st hand reports of what the damage is like cause dives have not been done by people I can tak to directly..

[aussie dollar]

yep true reports for me would be some people who haved dived since the wave !
it is so sad people are leaving but -no customers -no choice -hope it gets better for phuket soon with tourists coming again.

[Sunrise]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Who would you believe ?? An independant scientist with no agenda or axe to grind or the Tiourism Authority of Thailand tasked with presenting how wonderful Thailands reefs are ??

I know the diving industry has really been hit hard (probably more than any other sector of the tourist industry) as nearly no one is going out on tours currently.. 2 Divemasters / instructors i know have both had to leave and I have not yet gained real 1st hand reports of what the damage is like cause dives have not been done by people I can tak to directly..

OK, so here's the real news. The dive industry in Phuket has not been hit so hard as mainstream tourism. Hotels are empty but we still have customers. The dive centers in Khao Lak and Phi Phi are hit very hard. Overall Reef damage is minimal. Most dive trips are going out as scheduled, and some liveaboard boats did not even miss a trip. There are many cancellations in January, but so far, all people I have booked from Feb onwards are confirmed. We have had reports back from many boats now and the dive sites look good. Some damage to some sites, but generally as good as ever and much less boats, and less fishing boats.

[LivinLOS]

Good news on the reefs..

Surprising news on the dive centers being less effected.. My diving buddies reported the opposite and 2 in the small number I know are out of work.. One of those operated from Dive Asia (who had relocated many staff to Khao Lak so perhaps thats an explanation) but the other was based here on Phuket. He has returned home.

I would even say there would be questionable safety issues about any close to shore diving currently ?? I have not ventured into the sea for this reason so far.

Did the reefs suffer most damage from silt pollution or physical damage from the power of the currents and waves ??

[teerakinlos]

http://www.divenewswire.com/dive/ lots of info about diving and other info