Matthew Young and Cameron James Avenell, who were convicted of theft of Palau’s underwater artifacts, were sentenced to a jail term of three months and six months, respectively.

Chief Justice Arthiur Ngiraklsong also ordered Young to pay a US$5,000 fine and Avenell US$12,000.

Young was found guilty of violating the Lagoon Monument Act, grand larceny, malicious mischief and conversion of public property.

He was sentenced six months for each violation.

CDNN :: Palau Scuba Looters Go To Jail

DIVERS in the US now have easier access to the Cayman Islands’ dive sector, thanks to a collaborative effort by the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Scuba Diving Magazine.

Both organisations joined forces recently in an innovative and exciting programme to bring industry news and information to divers across North America.

Cayman Net News: DOT team up with Scuba Diving Magazine

Recently, Scuba Schools International teamed up with the Local 80 Divers Association to create a system that will help production companies hire underwater technicians for filming movies. (Local 80 is an organization that promotes safe diving within the film industry. Over the years, they’ve worked on numerous productions, including Titanic, Into the Blue, and Surface.)

SSI’s New Motion Picture Diver Certification

In a news release dated April 26, 2006, Divers Alert Network (DAN America) and clinic members of the SSS Network of Recompression Chambers (SSS) announce that they have reached a settlement in the recent legal action over billing practices.

Examples of this are everywhere. I’ve noticed this especially in Cozumel. You know when the cruise ships are in even if you didn’t see them. Cruise ship tourists are typically of the hit and run mentality. They have a very fixed and often very short stop and they try to pack as much of whatever it is they came to do as possible. Some shop and the stores suddenly are overwhelmed with tourists. Dive sites are suddenly overrun with divers. Bars and restaurants are overflowing.

And then suddenly . . . they all disappear.

Belize is starting to get a taste of the cruise ship tourist and people are having mixed feelings.

Photo borrowed from Flickr user So Cal Metro

PHUKET: Following a February 23 meeting to discuss problems in Phuket’s recreational dive industry, a new committee will be formed to ensure that all dive operators are accurately reporting their income – and paying taxes on it.

Phuket’s Chief Administrative Officer (Palad), Nivit Aroonrat, who chaired the meeting, said that the Phuket dive industry currently comprises 106 operators, of which about 70% are owned by foreigners.

“Many people have [complained] about the large number of foreigners coming here to open dive shops that give little back to our country.

“Although most are registered in the name of a Thai, these are just proxies. The companies are actually administrated by foreigners, which makes it difficult for us to know their real numbers of customers, staff and boats, and their income,” he said.

“It isn’t fair that these companies take in 50,000 to 100,000 baht from each customer for dive trips and then give nothing back to Phuket in taxes … There are many dive companies in Phuket that are evading taxes.

“This is why we will form a special committee to oversee the industry and check on these dive outfits to see how much income they actually make and how many people they really employ,” he said.

Despite the fact that officials from the government agencies involved in environmental protection told the meeting that they had received no reports of environmental damage caused by dive operators, the committee will also establish zones in provincial waters where dive tours may be conducted; other areas would be declared conservation zones and will be off-limits.

K. Nivit added that he believed there was no reason to have so many foreign dive masters and instructors when Thais were capable of doing these jobs.

“Thais can teach diving, but the foreigners don’t give us the chance,” he said.

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The Phuket Gazette
18:32 local time (GMT +7)