Police are intensifying their search for a 23 year-old Russian woman who has been missing for two weeks. There are fears that she may have gotten into trouble whilst snorkeling.
Valentina Novozhenova, 23, disappeared from a Koh Tao hotel on February 16, the day she was supposed to check out after a week-long stay.
The initial investigation suggested no clues of an attack or murder.Her latest communications via social media indicated she wanted to free dive deeper than 22.3 metres without an assistant or equipment.
Police are seeking cooperation from diving groups in the area to help to search for her.
Valentina is 1.7 metres tall and a passionate swimmer who often brought a purple towel or coat with her while diving or snorkelling, police said.
In her room at the hotel, her belongings, including a passport, clothes, bags and cellphone, were found. That suggested she intended to return to the room, police said, adding that there was no evidence of a struggle having taken place in the room.
Her communications on VK, a social network platform popular among Russian users, showed that she left Moscow for Bangkok on February 7 and arrived the same day. She posted pictures of her touring the Thai capital a day later as well as pictures of a hotel and beach in Koh Tao on February 10.