Dear all,

We would like to thank all well wishers from the bottom of our hearts for your kind words of support and concern in the wake of this disaster. These are the times which demonstrate how small and close knit the dive community is. We know many of you are concerned to learn more about the current situation in Thailand and the following is all the information we have at hand.

Dive The World Guests and Personnel

Thankfully, all in the Dive The World family – customers, personnel and partners – are safe and sound with the exception of 4 guests in Khao Lak who are unaccounted for. Despite the extensive damage in Khao Lak, we still remain hopeful of getting positive news on them and hope to know more of their condition within the next few days. While Dive The World has generally been very fortunate, we remain saddened by the loss of other lives as a result of this disaster.

Dive The World Partners

We were greatly concerned about a number of our partners whose premises were located at the heart of the affected areas. It took some time for communications to get back on-line before we could ascertain how they had fared. On a positive note, most liveaboards suffered little and many are running as normal again. On the other hand, a number of our partners – hotels and diving operators – have suffered extensive damage and have been closed down. They will be undergoing extensive renovation works in the coming months. It will be difficult times for all of us here as we struggle to come to terms with the loss of lives and damage incurred. The following months will see all of us working together to get back on our feet.

What Is Being Done?

The disaster, which affected the 6 coastal provinces of Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga, Trang, Satun and Ranong in southern Thailand, has left a trail of devastation for the area to contend with. In Phuket, restoration works have already begun on Patong, Kamala and Kata-Karon Beaches. In Phang Nga, rescue works are still being conducted on Khao Lak Beach. The Phuket-Khao Lak Road is being repaired and will be open to traffic again soon. As a result of the extensive damage of Tab Lamu Pier at Khao Lak, arrangements are being made for all future cruises departing from there to do so from Patong or Ranong. Coral reefs have also not been spared by these giant waves and we are still awaiting news on the extent of reef damage.

The Thai Government is doing all it can to support those affected. Free flights have been provided from Phuket to Bangkok on a number of airlines. As well as that, all those affected are being provided free accommodation, food and medical care at public and private hospitals. Information centres have been set up at the Phuket, Krabi and Don Muang Airports to help victims get in contact with relatives and friends. All international visitors who lost their passports are being issued a temporary Certificate of Identification to facilitate their departure from Thailand. Additionally, representatives of embassies of 30 nations are in Phuket providing aid and identification papers for their citizens.

How can you help?

In trying times such as these, we need to rally together to offer as much support as we can to those affected by the disaster. If you would like to help, there are a number of ways you can do so.

In the short term, you can help by giving donations to aid organisations and charities helping out in relief work. A large number of organisations have established online tsunami relief donation funds and can be found using your preferred search engine. We do not wish to demonstrate a preference for any of these organisations. However, their numbers include the following:

• American Red Cross
• Australia Red Cross
• British Red Cross
• Direct Relief
• Child Family Health International
• World Vision

However, long term support is also needed, especially with regards to helping the 200,000-odd tourism employees affected get their lives and livelihoods back on course. Your continued support would be an invaluable show of solidarity. On behalf of all our partners, we hope you will continue to book holidays in Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga and help us get back on track.

Once again, thank you for your concern and support.

From all of us at Dive The World