Thailand closes popular scuba diving sites

Thailand has closed eighteen areas which feature popular scuba diving sites in order to restore the damage to the coral reefs caused by bleaching.

The Thai National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department ordered the scuba diving sites to be closed indefinitely until the marine life has begun to restore itself following a rise in sea temperatures which has led to coral bleaching.

Department Official, Songtham Suksawang, commented: "Diving in all the spots is to be halted indefinitely until the reef has fully recovered."

Image by: worldtraveller5, on Flickr

The ban to diving in Thailand has been applied to 18 areas across seven out of 26 marine parks which largely cover diving sites on the west coast in the Andaman Sea. Snorkellers and divers on scuba diving holidays will no longer be able to explore these areas until further notice and Thailand authorities are also limiting the number of divers and snorkelers visiting other reefs in the region.

The damage to coral reefs on the east and west coasts of Thailand is said to be caused by last year's unusually high sea temperatures caused by El Nino, excessive human activity near the reefs and water pollution, with sea temperatures approximately two degrees higher than normal in the affected areas.

Image by: worldtraveller5, on Flickr

A statement from The Thai National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department said that the ban has been implemented in areas which "have widespread bleaching of more than 80 percent to allow the coral reef to rehabilitate".

The bleaching occurs when stressed coral forces out the colourful algae which lives inside and nourishes the plant, causing it to lose its colour and becomes vulnerable to damage. If the coral is unable to regain its algae it will starve and die.

Thailand offers hundreds of diving sites and marine parks boasting colourful coral and an array of marine species spread across over 3,000 km of picturesque coastline. The sites which have banned visitors include the national parks of Chao Mai, Chumphon, Phetra, Tarutao, Similan and Phi Phi.

The Thai National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department has closed several of its most popular scuba diving sites indefinitely as widespread bleaching caused by warmer sea temperatures and water pollution has affected the coral reefs.