Coral Cay Conservation has become the leading marine research group in SE Asia, with a massive forthcoming review of island archipelagos stretching across the borders of three countries - Thailand, Malaysia and Burma.

Volunteers assess results during CCC’s first Surin Islands survey. Photo: Coral Cay Conservation

Following a post-tsunami survey of the Surin Islands for the Thai government, CCC is to carry out more detailed work in the islands, which the Thais want designated as a World Heritage Site. CCC will also work through the whole stretch of islands running from Thailand's border with Burma to that with Malaysia.

Meanwhile, CCC has been asked by the government of Burma to extend its work along the archipelago into Burmese waters. As CCC is already active in Malaysia, the result is effectively a tri-nation research project.

CCC says it has liaised with Britain's Foreign & Commonwealth Office throughout. The Thai requests were delivered via the FCO and, although political relations have been strained over the issue of human rights in Burma, the FCO has, says CCC, approved the plan to work in its waters.

"Exploring the Burmese islands should prove fascinating," CCC Director Peter Raines told Divernet. "Previously closed to visitors, there are about 80 of them - two alone are about the size of Singapore. Our work will include studies ashore, in largely unexplored territory where strong populations of elephants and tigers are known to exist."

The work in Thailand would, he added, benefit the long-term health of marine habitats and diving tourism alike. "One would imagine that, some years down the road, environments will be carefully managed with controlled visitor numbers," he said. "But those divers who do experience the Surins and other areas should have lots of wonderful things to see."

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