One British and five Spanish dive instructors have been arrested on the popular diving island of Koh Tao for allegedly working as diving instructors without work permits. It follows a crack down on illegal workers after an operation by Surat Thani Immigration and Koh Tao Police.
The authorities said that those arrested were using Destination Thailand Visas intended for remote work but had been teaching diving at businesses on the island without authorisation.
Officials also took action against directors of the dive shops which employed the instructors.
Koh Tao has some of the best diving in the Gulf of Thailand and there are over 40 dive operators on the island. However, the dive sites are often very crowded – especially the well known ones of Japanese Gardens, Twin Peaks, Sai Ree Beach, Aow Leuk and Hin Ngam.
