A Thai diver was stung by sea creatures during a dive in Chumphon but faced harsher criticism online over her choice of swimsuit. Fon Nongnaphat, a freediver, shared a video of her incident on Facebook on March 4, where she was injured by sea anemones and sea urchins after being swept into a coral reef by strong waves. In the post, Fon wrote, “Ended up in hospital,” and expressed her gratitude for her mother’s care, adding, “My mother takes the best care of me, hoping I will have a safe and comfortable life, but me.”
Photo by Farhan Sharief via Unsplash
The footage, which was shared by Thairath to highlight the risks of diving, shows Fon diving near the reef when she was pulled into the hazardous area. Fon explained that she was diving with her boyfriend and a diving instructor at three dive sites, and the accident occurred at the last one. She had asked her boyfriend to film her diving deeper for a video, where she came across a large rock covered in sea anemones and sea urchins and tried to avoid them.
Photo by Farhan Sharief via Unsplash
Despite her efforts, the strong wave dragged her into the dangerous area, causing injuries to her arm that she described as a burning pain. Fon was helped back onto the boat by her instructor, cleaned with vinegar, and later went to the hospital for treatment.
Photo by Farhan Sharief via Unsplash
Fon, a beginner at freediving, admitted the site was risky and advised other beginners to choose safer locations. “The site I visited was quite dangerous due to the sea anemones, which can harm divers. Beginners must always be supervised by instructors,” she cautioned.
However, instead of focusing on Fon’s safety message, many online critics fixated on her swimsuit, accusing her of dressing too revealingly. Some claimed that divers should wear more modest attire to avoid injuries, with one commenter even suggesting her swimsuit was more suited for a bed with her boyfriend than a diving trip.
Photo by Farhan Sharief via Unsplash
On the other hand, some defended Fon, clarifying that freedivers typically wear lighter swimsuits for comfort, unlike scuba divers who use full suits for protection.
