Thailand Violence Affects Lembeh

With political demonstrations and violence in Bangkok, travelers are being warned to avoid Thailand. The U.S. State Department recommends on its website (http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_4888.html), “U.S. citizens should defer all travel to Bangkok and defer all non-essential travel to the rest of Thailand.”

Jenny Collister, owner of the dive travel agency Reef and Rainforest, says she’s encouraging divers who have plans to visit Thailand to fly to Phuket via Singapore or Hong Kong. “All the liveabpards are based in Phuket, where it’s business as usual.” However, the violence is having repercussions on dive destinations outside Thailand. No one is currently able to make reservations at Kasawari Lembeh Resort in Indonesia’s North Sulawesi region - - its booking office is in Bangkok and it’s not open.