Every year the number of dive boats that ply the Andaman Sea almost seems to increase exponentially. Just 15 short years ago, there were only one or two boats on a regular schedule to the Similan Islands, and no boats were going to Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock, or Burma. Now, who would like to estimate how many boats are diving in these areas? Thirty? Forty? Seventy? Your guess is probably better than mine, but one thing's for sure, there are a lot, and from the word on the streets, more and more are to come.

People are asking themselves how this influx of vessels is going to affect the quality of diving. I get the impression from speaking with divers that most believe that the environment will suffer because of the increased number of divers. I can understand their concern. After diving at Richelieu Rock for the past few years and seeing one, maybe two boats at the site, then suddenly being confronted with eight or more dive boats at this tiny site is shocking. More boats must mean increased environmental degradation, mustn't it? It doesn't have to be that way as long as the operators are careful and use common sense.

First, what I've seen over the past few years is an improvement in the quality of the diving here despite the increased numbers. At Richelieu Rock and Chumphon Pinnacle in the Gulf, which have probably showed the biggest increase in numbers, the fish have lost their fear of divers. Some days, you almost have to push your way past the snappers and jacks swimming around. There's more coral, fewer nets, more fish, and everything's just a bit friendlier than it used to be.
Second, having more dive shops and boats means that the diving industry begins to become an important economic force that is difficult to ignore. This has led to more protected sites. Richelieu Rock, Koh Tachai, and Koh Bon have finally become a patrolled part of the national park system. With so many boats using these areas the Government simply can't ignore these places and help to ensure their long-term protection.

In Burma, the Government is seriously considering expanding their national park program. The brand new tiger sanctuary in the north of the country, on the foothills of the Himalaya is a great example. Hopefully the islands in the Mergui Archipelago will be next. They've had another great year hosting Phuket's dive boats. They are beginning to see that there is more money to be made from renting national resources than by selling them to destructive fishermen.

Though our loyal return divers may not like having more of their kind at some of 'their' dive sites, and some dive shop owners may still be secretly hoping for some kind of monopoly on the diving here, an increase in the number of divers and boats is inevitable. Thus far, more divers has meant better services and better prices for the consumer and more investment money for the operators.

Until now, the diving quality has not suffered. On the contrary, the diving has improved. And with the national park fee which was imposed by the Thai Government in November, 2001, there is more money for protecting the areas within these zones. Whatever we're doing to make this happen, we should keep doing it. I'd like to be sitting here in 10 years--older, fatter, and balder--and still be able to write: 'Ten years ago, the diving was nice, but this year I couldn't believe my eyes when...'.