PATTAYA, Thailand (25 July 2008) — All 19 tourists and crew were safely rescued yesterday after a dive boat caught fire and sank in Pattaya Bay. At about 1pm, Pattaya Sea Rescue responded to a call for help from Captain Aphisak Tienthong, 49, who told authorities the J. C. Hunter dive boat was on fire and in danger of sinking. Rescuers rushed to the scene of the accident about 17 nautical miles from shore and found 19 terrified people including the boat crew and tourists from America, France and Russia. Officials told CDNN the dive boat was moored at a popular scuba diving and snorkeling site off Koh Lan Island Beach when the fire started in the engine room. Despite attempts to put on the fire with chemical fire extinguishers and water, it spread from the engine room to other parts of the vessel forcing the crew and passengers to abandon ship. Rescuers took the 19 survivors to Bali Hai pier. Authorities said the J. C. Hunter dive boat may be salvaged. According to unconfirmed reports, the vessel was insured for about USD$175,000. | 
