A High Life on the High Seas; Asians embrace marina culture, from yachts to scuba diving.(a host of new marinas are popping up throughout the region, including China)(Cover story)

Byline: Sonia Kolesnikov-Jessop

Some subset of the elite population has always taken to the water, living part or full time on their yachts and traveling among glitzy ports in the Caribbean or Mediterranean. But increasingly they are venturing all the way to Asia; in the past year, the number of superyachts--measuring 30 meters or more--dropping anchor at the Yacht Haven Marina on the northern tip of Phuket has more than doubled. Indeed, Thailand's Andaman Sea is becoming an alternative playground among those willing to sacrifice luxury boutiques and fine dining--still lacking on the Asian coastlines--for rich diving grounds, secluded coves and less-crowded waters.

To cater to this trend--and nurture a rising interest among Asia's wealthy for the maritime lifestyle--a host of new marinas are popping up throughout the region, including China. "The Chinese nouveau riche are looking for new luxury hobbies. Golf is no longer exclusive, so they're taking up yachting," says Asia-Pacific Boating publisher Olivier Burlot, who three years ago started the separate China Boating, which is now distributed to a niche market of 30,000. Still, Asians--wary of tanning and more inclined to consider fishing a menial job than a hobby--only account for a paltry 1 percent of the worldwide leisure-boat market.

That may soon change. Yachts are fast becoming the ...