Thailand closes 18 dive sites to save coral reefs

Eighteen popular diving sites will be closed in Thailand for up to 14 months to allow coral damaged by bleaching to recover.

Over 80% of the coral at each diving site had been damaged, National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department chief Sunan Arunnoparat said yesterday.

Bleaching, or a whitening of coral as it loses its natural pigment, is caused by a rise in sea temperatures which has been linked to global warming. The dive sites which have been closed are in seven marine national parks.

They are the Hat Chao Mai National Park in Trang, Mu Koh Petra and Tarutao national parks in Satun, Mu Koh Chumphon National Park in Chumphon, Hat Nopparat Thara-Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park in Krabi, and Mu Koh Surin and Mu Koh Similan national parks in Phangnga.

The coral bleaching, which has been growing more serious since April, is said to be the worst in 20 years.

Read more: Bangkok Post