PHUKET, Thailand (7 June 2005) -- One scuba diver is dead and 18 other tourist divers had to be rescued after the Bubble Blue dive boat capsized and sank in heavy seas off Phuket in southern Thailand. Sukonthapan Weerawan, 36, went into a state of shock and died as she and other divers floated in extremely rough open seas some 20 nautical miles off the coast. A local fishing boat, The Pichai Thavorn 4, rescued the divers and made a distress call. A Royal Thai Navy helicopter rushed to the scene of the accident but it was too late to save Weerawan. The Bubble Blue 24-meter liveabord dive boat is owned and operated by a PADI dive center of the same name. The dive boat was on the way from Phuket to the Similan islands when it sank. Government officials have warned tourists and dive boat operators to suspend all scuba diving activities in the Andaman Sea until November after the monsoon season is over. | 
