Investigators target illegal and dangerous dive operators in Sanya
- Source: Global Times
- [04:28 February 08 2010]
- Comments
By Xu Shenglan
At least 50 percent of the dive operators in Sanya in Hainan Province are operating illegally and often fail to provide proper safety measures in the ocean, China News Service reported Sunday.
The Sanya Marine Fishery Agency said it is investigating and plans to rein in the disorderly and competitive water tourism business.
Officials said they received tips last week that hundreds of tourists are taken out by illegal diving teams for underwater tours at Baifu Bay near Yalong Bay area everyday. Some investigators failed to find them during a recent attempt.
Insiders said that the illegal operators pay informants to warn them in advance about police raids.
Most of those believed to be running illegal businesses used to work in legal diving companies but have started their own companies.
"They compete with us by offering lower prices but don't offer any safeguard measures for tourists like first aid and lifesaving services," a dive manager told the Global Times Sunday, "They don't offer any insurance either."
Only 13 diving companies joined the Chinese Underwater Association last July. Illegal ones take tourists to dive without oceanic authorities nearby, according to the manager.
"The hotel waiter arranged a diving coach for me," a tourist told the newspaper. "It costs 260 yuan ($38) per person and include diving, touching corals and a seaside BBQ."
The illegal diving sites scattered throughout Yalong Bay, Boar Island, Baifu Bay, Sun Bay and other undeveloped areas often allow tourists to damage underwater corals, the report said.
Authorities said corals grow slowly and it's not appropriate to remove them although some tourists pick them up as souvenirs.
According to an agency, a quarter of the tourists to Sanya go diving, and there were 1.5 million tourist divers in 2008.
It was reported that about 50 fishing vessels and more than 200 local fishermen are involved with illegal diving at Yalong Bay.
"We've been living in the sea area for generations by fishing, but now the government established tourists spots, hotels and shopping malls in our homeland and our source of income is gone," said one fisherman. "The government should give us an explanation if they ban private diving teams."
Local oceanic authorities are reportedly investigating ways to compensate local fishermen.
