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Early Diving

    It may seem strange, in view of the fine setting, that serious diving has only begun in Thailand in the past few years. As the exploits of the few pioneers who made their way into the Gulf or the Indian Ocean in the early years after World War II have unfortunately lost to record, we most date the beginning of organized exploration from the formation of a small group of spearfishing sportsmen, a Thai, a Chinese and an Englishman.

    Vichien Javewong, director of Barbo's Water Sports, was one of Thailand's keenest sportsman, a hunter and water skier who early saw the potential of the nearby ocean. Joined by C.T. Lee, a longtime Bangkok resident, merchant and tireless organizer, he began to venture by speedboat into the Gulf in search of game. The arrival of Tony Buxton proved a powerful asset to the group. With a lifetime of diving, spearing and collecting fish in the oceans of the world behind him, Buxton quickly initiated the fledgling divers in the most advanced techniques of the sport. These three formed the nucleus of an informal association whose devotees plied the island waters almost every weekend hunting for game and adventure. At first the hunt was easy, but the fish soon learned the wary arts of survival. Soon it was a rare and simple-minded grouper indeed who would await with childlike curiosity the spearman's approach. But as the hunter's skill increased, they still managed to bring back to shore a fine set of trophies for the communal pot.

    Most accessible of the Gulf's island clusters, and venue of the heaviest diving activity to this day, is the archipelago off Pattaya. Barely two hours' drive south of Bangkok, Pattaya enjoys growing popularity as a weekend beach resort, featuring water skiing facilities and an active sailing club. Lying far enough from the mouth of the Chao Phrya River to be free of its muddy outflow, the nearest islands can be reaching from Pattaya in half an hour by speedboat or somewhat longer in the semi-Diesel powered Noah's arks of the local fishermen. The island waters, warm enough for unsuited diving the year around, afford good visibility unless marred by a summer storm, an influx of plankton, or the far-fetched swells of the ocean.