The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources or DMCR, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment issued the Notification of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on the Protection of Coral Reef Resources from Diving Tourism Activities B.E. 2568 (“Notification”) on 22nd April 2025 with immediate effect and will become effective for five years. This marks a significant step in elevating marine conservation efforts and protecting the fragile marine ecosystem from the impacts of unregulated tourism activities.
According to the Notification, the dive supervisor and the assistant dive supervisor has the duty to inform the relevant laws and regulations. The scuba diving, snorkeling and freediving are subjected to the ratio instructed by the Notification as set forth below:
- For Scuba Diving, one dive supervisor per maximum of four tourists; and
- For Snorkeling or Freediving, one dive supervisor per maximum of twenty tourists.
One of the key points in the Notification is the prohibition of the underwater photography during the scuba diving unless the diver meets the same advanced certification or experience requirements.
In addition, the Notification prohibits the following activities in Coral Reef Areas:
- Moving or collecting marine life;
- Touching or disturbing marine life;
- Actions causing sediment disturbance;
- Feeding marine animals;
- Littering; and
- Sea walking or similar activities.