Dramatic video of the dive boat Aladdin that sank yesterday in the Similan islands

The dive boat Aladdin sank yesterday in the Similan islands, there were thirteen onboard. The vessel that was not registered and operating illegally was between Bon Island and Tachi Island, fortunately all thirteen passengers were rescued by Phuket Based boat Pete Pan.

Among those on board the rescue boat were some Scandinavians, one of whom, Mr. Karlsson told Sweden’s Affonbladet newspaper “it was just coincidence that our bad was there and could come to the rescue, it was really serious”

As the Aladdin sank the passengers scrambled to get off he said “people threw themselves headlong in to the water, some disappeared under the surface. It was a very close thing for some of them and people were very grateful that the Peter Pan was there”.

It is understood that the Aladdin was on a four day live-aboard trip and is based in Ranong on the Burmese border.

In Phuket the British Embassy are working with authorities to improve marine safety standards, this incident is likely to trigger a close investigation of illegal boats. The director of the Sun Island National Park, Kongkiert Temtamnan confirmed today that the sinking occurred in an area that was not actually part of the national park.

A dramatic video of the sinking can be seen here

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