Dozens of tourists were rescued from a diving boat that caught fire off the coast of Thailand.

The MV Diverace was carrying 27 people onboard, 18 of whom were holidaymakers plus nine crew members, when the blaze erupted in Phang Nga province on April 12.

Officials said the group left Thap Lamu Pier for the Boonsong Wreck diving site when the emergency services were called mid-way through the journey.

Footage shows MV Diverace burning in the ocean. The foreigners fled the ship on a lifeboat before being picked up by a passing boat.

The Maritime Interests Protection Centre assisted in transferring the holidaymakers to safety while a firefighting vessel helped douse MV Diverace.

A Maritime Interests Protection Center officer said: 'We were notified by the 1465 hotline that a diving tourist boat had caught fire at the diving spot.'

All of those onboard were safely taken back to shore. They were given health checks and were being interviewed to help find the cause of the fire.

Last month, British tourist Alexandra Clarke, 26, was among dozens of people on board a diving boat that caught fire and sank during a trip in Surat Thani province.

Divers searched the wreckage but could not find Alexandra, from Lambeth, south London, who was believed to have been in the toilet when the blaze started.

Naval Captain Natthapol Sinphulphon, Deputy Director of the Surat Thani Marine Police Division, said, a charred body has since been recovered, which officials believe was the tourist.