This means stripping the wood and replacing it and repainting and packing the outside.
We have also stripped the engine and replaced many parts and re plumbed the water systems to ensure she runs smoothly.
All the frame work and sliding battery cases have been custom fabricated and will help our engineers have easy access to all of the engine.
The great thing about building this ourselves is that we can add all of the features we require to make life easier in the future.
The boat has also had a complete refurbishment of the seating areas and we have installed a full entertainments system, flat screens, sound system etc through out the boat.
An ROV ?
Yes thats right Dive Tribe have acquired a full research ROV and will begin training those interested in marine research how to launch and pilot this system around the Gulf of Thailand.
Along with the ROV comes other goodies, our mooring buoy drilling system will be on board, this includes compressor, lines, drill head and all the other equipment we use to insure reefs against anchor damage and a new place has been located to begin to our conservation work.
Also on board will be a small lab including microscopes, magnifiers, refrigeration storage, hand held drilling equipment, host of large air bags and other tech equipment which will help our team and others that dive with us to work on their specialised projects.
We will be keeping the numbers limited on the boat which will avoid the often seen overcrowding on a lot of the boats we see. A full medical cabinet and oxygen is onboard along with intercom system and a recall system for divers has been installed for our divers safety. We are currently looking into prop guards as another safety precaution.
We have never intimated that we are such and through out our social media and websites there is no suggestion we have made these claims.
Dive Tribe is a business ! We are in the business of marine conservation and research first and foremost and as we need funds to pump into this venture we therefore also train individuals or groups from PADI Open Water all the way to TDi wreck and technical diving including having our own rebreathers and rebreather instructor on board.
We took a business approach to marine conservation in Thailand for the simple reason that setting up a not for profit organisation was costly and timely and as an organisation we believed transactions are much more transparent using the simple business route.
Indeed with out having used a business model we would not have been able to install moorings, begin shark tagging and also data collection of our reefs as the support from surrounding dive centres has been lack lustre. It is those that have dived and trained with us and supported us that have made marine conservation and research possible in Pattaya and for that we thank you !
If you would like to support our work and our boat we would welcome any kind donation at our link here.
Below is a gallery of pictures of the hard work myself and my team have put in to make this dream a reality and we look forward to welcoming you all on board very soon !!