Aquanauts Helps Welcome the U.S. Navy Back to Thailand

After suspending official port calls for 19 months, the U.S. Navy returned to Thailand this month and Aquanauts Dive Centre in Pattaya, the official U.S. Navy League of Thailand-affiliated scuba diving center, was there to help welcome the troops back.

While the first official port calls came last week in Phuket, the official ceremony to mark the restoration of full U.S. military support to Thailand was held outside Pattaya in the port of Laem Chabang on May 1 with Thai and American dignitaries, along with the Navy League, attending a grand reception and ceremony about the USS Blue Ridge, the command ship of the U.S. Seventh Fleet.

Kingdom of Thailand Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej welcomed the Seventh Fleet back to Thailand, flanked by the commander in chief of the Thai Armed Forces, as well as the heads of both the Thai Royal Navy and Army. The U.S. was represented by Ambassador to Thailand Ralph Boyce, Commander U.S. Seventh Fleet Vice Adm. Douglas Crowder, Seventh Fleet Chief of Staff Capt. Frederick Pfirrmann and Capt. David Lausman, commanding officer of the Blue Ridge.

Aquanauts was among the guests invited to the gala reception and got a chance to meet many of the crew of the ship who would be spending two days liberty in Pattaya. A small group of sailors joined Aquanauts for diving and snorkeling over the weekend..

The festivitites continued the next night when Lausman, Pfirrmann and about 30 other Blue Ridge personnel attended a Navy League-sponosred reception in South Pattaya. Free food and soft drinks were provided in a casual atmosphere in which even the Blue Ridge’s captain showed up in shorts.

The Blue Ridge pulled out Sunday night and Monday morning its berth was filled by the USS Germantown, a Whidley Island-class dock landing ship. Aquanauts again met up with the crew May 6 at another Navy League reception, where Aquanauts Diving Instructor Training Co. Managing Director Bob James got a chance to meet up with Germantown commanding officer Cmdr. Keith Moore and Lt. Cmdr. Homer Denius, the ship’s executive officer.

The Germantown will be in Pattaya until May 8 with some crew getting three days liberty. Many of the crew who attended Tuesday’s reception were headed off to Bangkok for a tour tomorrow while others plan to join Aquanauts for diving and snorkeling over the coming days.

At least a half-dozen other ships are scheduled to arrive in Pattaya in coming weeks, many for the multinational Cobra Gold 2008 exercise. The Seventh Fleet has dicatated that none of the crew of ships involved in this year’s exercise will be allowed to scuba dive, but Aquanauts expects to see a good number of snorkelers and sailors just looking to unwind on Aquanauts’ plush dive boat. Aquanauts has taken booking for courses after the exercise, however.

For active Navy and Marines personnel, Aquanauts offers 20% discounts on all courses and day trips, as well as 10% discounts on books and equipment. The company is tailoring its daily schedule to meet the timetable of the Navy, leaving later in the mornings to allow sailors to get from Laem Chabang in time for the boat.

Many saiolors we spoke to this month are keen to get certified, but wonder if they can do so with their limited liberty time. The answer is YES. In two days, the PADI Scuba Diver course can be completed, offering lifetime certification to dive to 12 meters. If one completes the PADI eLearing Open Water Diver lessons, a full Open Water certification can be had in the remaining two days. Of course, non-certification, Discover Scuba Diver experiences are offered daily.

If you’re in the Navy and are coming to Pattaya, contact us today at info@aquanautsdive.com and we’ll let you know more how Aquanauts can help you make the most of your liberty.