Mr Karmazin left Russia around 20 years ago and took German nationality. Before coming to Thailand the stocky, popular Russian was a professional sportsman in finswimming and underwater orienteering.
He was a world champion in 1980, 1987, and 1989 and European champion in 1988 and 1990. He was also honoured by the former USSR as a Master of Sports.
After his professional underwater sports career came to an end, he worked as a professional trainer. He coached the Bavarian State team and the German National Team, and was senior coach of the Thailand Finswimming Team.
The Thai finswimmers achieved great success in the 3rd Asian Indoor Games, and the 25th SEA Games, both in 2009, catching national attention when they returned home with bags loaded with medals.
In Phuket his Aqua Center offers PADI, CMAS and SSI dive training, and has its own 60-passenger dive boat, the East Star, on which it takes customers on dive trips, mostly around Phi Phi or Koh Racha.
Under Mr Karmazin’s leadership Aqua hosted, among many others, the Kazakhstan finswimming team and also Russian rock singer Grigory Leps.
He was also the official underwater sports trainer for the Phuket-based Thailand Diving Association.
A memorial service will be held today at 11am at Wat Tai on Chao Fah East Road in Chalong.