Police drop charges against dive instructor

CHALONG: Police today dropped charges against a foreign dive instructor who was arrested at the end of February for working without a tour-guide license. The charge was dropped on the grounds that a diver working in Thailand does not require such a license, contrary to assertions made earlier by the Phuket Tourist Police. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), which is in charge of issuing guide licenses, has publicly stated that professional divers need have only work permits in order to work in Thailand. Even though they may be working with tourists, they do not require a guide license. The dive instructor, who works for Calypso Divers, was arrested by the Tourist Police at Chalong Pier on February 29.