postponed sinking of the Artificial Reef Squadron in Phuket
The Nagris cyclone which hit Burma also resulted in very big monsoon waves of 3-4 metres high off Bang Tao bay in Phuket where the 10 decommissioned planes under the nick-name 'Artificial Reef Squadron' were to be sunk, forcing the authorities to delay the sinking operation. The plan drew vast attention from Thai and foreign journalists who came to the site to join the operation; like this South African journalist & historian Louis Vosloo, who knew about the planes' backgrounds:
After a final decision, the Choeng Thale local government issued a letter informing others and press members, while a press conference was also held. Paitoon Panchaipoom, Director of Marine and Coastal Resources Conservation Centre admitted that he had never experienced such weather before, while Suwalai Pinpradap the director of TAT's local office saw the delay in a positive way, saying that sinking the planes in November will have more tourists witnessing the ceremony as it would be in the high season and a good way to publicize the artificial reef in the future. The plane wrecks will now be kept at Phuket Deep Sea Port until November.
Andaman News NBT (VHF dial) at 8.30am & local Cable TV channel 1 + maybe FM90.5 Radio Thailand 6pm, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, & possibly FM108 Mazz Radio 7.30pm in Phuket, Tuesday 6 May 2008 &