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Costa Rica: Rich Biodiversity in Guanacaste & the Osa Peninsula

With coastlines on both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, Costa Rica is a country of beautiful beaches, lagoons, rainforests and nature reserves, home to a rich diversity of species on land and underwater. Scott Bennett tells of his adventure there.

Words:
Scott Bennett
Images:
Scott Bennett
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Travel & Trips

As ecotourism destinations go, Costa Rica needs no introduction. Translated as “Rich Coast”, this small Central American nation packs a serious ecological punch, boasting a diversity of species and ecosystems surpassing countries many times its size. The Ticos, as Costa Ricans call themselves, take conservation very seriously, protecting approximately 28 percent of the country in national parks, reserves and wildlife refuges.

'Thirteen lessons that saved thirteen lives' published today!

At the latter end of June and early July 2018, I along with the world, were glued to our television as we watched the extraordinary rescue of 12 boys and their coach, from a flooded cave system in Thailand.

John Volanthen, Rick Stanton, Thirteen Lessons That Saved Thirteen Lives, Thai Cave Rescue, Tham Luang Cave, Rosemary E Lunn, Roz Lunn, XRay Mag, XRay Magazines, cave rescue, scuba diving news, cave diving book
Dive Industry News and Matters

The 'Wild Boars' football team and their coach had become stranded after sudden, torrential monsoon rain poured into Tham Luang cave. Within days two British cave divers - John Volanthen and Rick Stanton - along with British caver Rob Harper were dispatched to Thailand to assist an army of rescue personnel.

‘Thirteen Lives' is a case study in courage. Ron Howard, Oscar-winning director of Apollo

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Ming Pottery Wreck: Exploratory Expedition in the Gulf of Thailand

There are many benefits to living in Asia. One advantage is that the waters around Asia still have countless numbers of unexplored shipwrecks. As a certified technical diver and an explorer at heart, the Gulf of Thailand has been my playground.

Words:
Bruce Konefe
Images:
Bruce Konefe, Sira Ploymukda
and Siwat Worachananant
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Wrecks & Archaeology

During my stay in Thailand, I have had the opportunity to meet and dive with some of the nicest people. I have fond memories working with members of the Thailand Underwater Archaeology Division, also known as the UAD. The UAD office and museum are located in a small town called Chanthaburi, which is located about a 251km, three-hour drive from Bangkok. At the museum, you can see displays of ancient pottery, which have been surveyed and excavated from some of these wrecks.

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Getting the Boys Out: Tham Luang Cave Rescue

On Saturday, 23 June 2018, a football team of boys in Thailand, aged 11 to 16, finished practice under the watchful eye of their 25-year-old coach, Ekkapol Chantawong. The group then cycled to and entered a popular tourist attraction, Tham Luang Cave. Some of the boys had never visited it before and were curious to know what it looked like. They explored the cave for about an hour before turning around and retraced their steps. They could not get out. At around 9:00 p.m., Sungwut Kummongkol, leader of the Mae Sai Rescue Unit Team, received a call that some of the children had disappeared. It prompted a search to begin.

Words:
Rosemary E. Lunn
Images:
Download the full article as pdf ⬇︎
Tech and Training

At 10:00 p.m., Kummongkol led the first responders into the cave. The team of 14 local rescue workers set up a light and found the boys’ bicycles and sports equipment, which had been left near the entrance to the cave.

British caver Rob Harper is thanked and honoured by Thailand

On Tuesday 26 June 2018 the British Cave Rescue Council received a request from Thai authorities asking for specialist help. Less than 12 hours later Rob Harper flew out of London Heathrow with fellow cavers Rick Stanton and John Volanthen bound for Thailand.

Rob Harper, Rick Stanton, John Volanthen, Thailand, Thai Cave Rescue, British Caver, cave diving rescue, XRay Mag, X-Ra
Dive Industry News and Matters

It has now been confirmed that Rob Harper has returned to the UK for a medical appointment.

When Harper arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport to fly back to the UK, he received a VIP welcome and escort. He was warmly greeted by several Thai officials including the Minister for Tourism and Sports, Weerasak Kowsurat.

The Minister presented a Certification of Appreciation to Rob Harper on behalf of the Kingdom of Thailand.

Kind heart. Fierce mind. Brave spirit.

Thailand Cave Rescue: Brit cave divers report "gnarly diving"

On Saturday 23 June 2018 the 'Wild Boars' football team finished football practice under the watchful eye of their 25-year-old coach, Ekkapol Chantawong. The group then cycled to and entered a popular tourist attraction, Tham Luang Cave. Some of the boys (aged 11 to 16) had never visited it before and were curious to know what it looked like. They explored the cave for about an hour before turning around and retraced their steps. They couldn’t get out.

Tech and Training

The Cave

This cave system runs for many miles underground and is explorable from November to June. It is prone to seasonal flooding during the monsoon months: June to October. Apparently there are warning signs discouraging visits during the rainy season.

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The moment the group are found

This is the transcript of the conversation between Rick Stanton, John Volanthen and the trapped children.

John: How many of you [are there]?

Children: Thirteen

John: Thirteen? Brilliant!

John: There's two of us.... we had to dive.

John: We're coming, it's ok. Many people are coming. We are the first.

Children ask what day it is

John: Monday. One week and Monday. You have been here 10 days. You are very strong, very strong.

Thailand to close Koh Tachai Island

Authorities assert tourism negatively impacting environment

Travel & Trips

Situated in the Andaman Sea just north of Phuket, Koh Tachai island is part of the Similan National Park and popular with tourists and divers. While the majority of Thai marine national parks close from mid-May to mid-October during the monsoon season, KohTachai will not reopen.

Thailand closes popular islands to tourists

Officials have banned holidaymakers from visiting parts of the three popular islands off Phuket’s east coast and some in Andaman Sea as they review the impact tourism is having on the local ecology.

Travel & Trips

Thailand's Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation is closing the beaches, the reef and a tourist area on the islands “to solve the environmental and natural resources impact which is caused by tourism,” according to an announcement on the department’s website. The order was issued on May 10.

Tourists Reporting Harassment Surge by Thai Police

Low-paid street cops theorized to be seeking additional income by targeting tourists

Travel & Trips

Since the 2014 coup that ousted the democratically elected government and implemented martial law, many tourists and expatriates in Bangkok have fallen prey to a criminal practice. The victims have little recourse when reporting incidents to police, as the perpetrators are the police.

The Twitter feed of former Lonely Planet author Joe Cummings, is riddled with stories detailing police harassment and extortion. “Random police searches of foreigners in BKK is getting bad,” reads a typical entry dated Dec. 6. “Many reports of innocent tourists forced to pay bribes.”

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Khao Lak

My dive buddy, Kate, is trying to get a shot of a purple sea fan but she’s having trouble with her strobes and my ADD is kicking in. This happens occasionally. I try to be a good buddy, I really do, but there’s just so damn much to see underwater and I get antsy if we stop too long for a photograph.

Words:
Kelly LaClaire
Images:
Kate Clark
Khao Lak, Thailand. Photo by Kate Clark
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Travel & Trips

This is the conversation I’m having with myself when I feel something tickle the back of my neck. It’s not physical—it’s more like a soft breath against my brain, a whispering ghost of premonition. I look up and my eyes widen as my heart begins to pound involuntarily. My mind goes quiet and time seems to slow down.

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