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The Phuket Marine Biology Center goes NAUI

By Frederick Claro CD # 18819

     We are glad to report that the Phuket Marine Biology Center in Phuket, Thailand went one more time with NAUI.
     The PMBC’s staff were already NAUI trained decades ago when Arthur “Dusty” Rhodes (NAUI 176L) and father of NAUI and recreational diving training in Thailand and South East Asia, introduced them to safe diving practices for their underwater researches for the Ministry of Fishery. The PMBC is also today involved in all mooring system development in southern Thailand, including the surrounding islands of Phuket: Koh Pu, Koh Racha Yai, Koh Phiphi, the marine sanctuary of Shark Point and of course the Similan Islands National Park, some 80 nautical miles north west of Phuket.
     With the new millennium, the PMBC launched the governmental project: “Reef Check Thailand”, which is designed to collect data and study the evolution of coral reef across the Kingdom and specifically in the Andaman Sea. The program gathers marine biologists and volunteers from governmental associations as well as volunteers from local dive centers, diving community and ecological associations, and train them to survey small or bigger portions of coral reefs and collect data on marine life and substrate.
     As part of the marine biology studies from now on at the PMBC, students will be trained as NAUI scuba divers, advanced divers and the “Reef Check Thailand” surveys will reward participants with a NAUI Underwater Environment Specialty certification card.
     On that extend, the government contacted Ms. Pachara “Pat” Koentana, a well know and experienced NAUI Course Director in Phuket to conduct the training of 2 staff and associate head teachers of the PMBC. The program started with the divemaster training of Mr. Sakanan (PhD. in Reef Ecology from the famous University of Chulalongkorn in Bangkok), Mr. Thanonsak (Master in Reef Ecology), both respected professors in Marine Biology in Thailand, Mr. Phitoon and Mr. Udomsak, both staff and key elements of reef surveys and “Reef Check Thailand” program at the PMBC. The Divemaster training was conducted along the year 2001. The training culminated with the NAUI ITC run for the first time ever at the PMBC in November with five candidates: Mr. Narong from the Thai Army joining the four previously mentioned candidates.
     The training went well, and four candidates graduated as new NAUI instructors, one candidate being placed on incomplete status due to some duties interfering with the IQP. Training and certification procedure will resume soon.
     We are glad to welcome these five new NAUI Instructors in Thailand and proud that the “Reef Check Thailand” program will introduce NAUI training for Marine Biology students and program’s volunteers, reinforcing safety and credibility in reef surveys across the Kingdom.

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