Pattaya, a charming city located on the eastern gulf coast of Thailand happens to be a popular tourist destination. Here, you will find lovely beaches, high-rise developments, resorts, shopping malls, bars, clubs and more. The waters bordering the city will also be a marvellous environment for scuba divers, with many undersea attractions waiting to be discovered. Provided below is some useful information regarding diving in Pattaya.
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Take note of the diving attractions
Pattaya happens to be particularly renowned for wreck diving, with many intriguing shipwrecks vying for the interest of divers. You will also find that many of these wrecks are situated not too far away from the shore making them easily accessible. Some of these wrecks have developed into flourishing reefs as well that are encrusted with an interesting combination of soft and hard corals.
As you explore the wrecks, you may have the opportunity to encounter creatures like blue-spotted rays, groupers, bamboo sharks, batfish, scorpionfish, hawksbill turtles, sweetlips and so on. However, you could also experience great diving away from these wrecks too; as you dive in the other dive locations of Pattaya, you could encounter many captivating sea denizens like turtles, batfish, trevallies, sharks, porcelain crabs, whip coral shrimps and more.
Decide when to dive
You will find that it will be quite possible to enjoy rewarding scuba diving in the environs of Pattaya throughout the year. The satisfaction that you would gain from a diving trip here, however, would depend on the weather and the ocean conditions. As visibility would be an important factor when engaging in wreck dives – so that you could fully experience the beauty of these wrecks – consider diving in the period extending from September to February.
During this time, you can expect flat calm water as well as excellent visibility. You will find that the weather would be pleasant and comfortable during this period. On the other hand, you could also dive when the hot season is in progress, from March through May; at this time, you will find that conditions would be variable, with varying waves and visibility. However, the weather would be nice and sunny.
Consider the scuba diving sites
You will encounter an array of fine diving sites in the vicinity of Pattaya. A great place to start would be the Pattaya Near Islands which offer some outstanding diving locations. These dive sites would be located at the picturesque islands of Koh Lan, Koh Krok and Koh Sak. A choice of accommodation to consider from which you could easily visit Koh Lan would be Avani Pattaya Resort which may be regarded as a pleasingly located Pattaya beach resort.
Meanwhile, the Pattaya Far Islands would also capture the imagination of diving enthusiasts as they will offer dive sites noted for featuring outstanding marine life such as corals, pufferfish, seahorses and sharks. Also, don’t forget the Samae San Islands where you will encounter several fine dive sites including Shark Fin Rock where you could spot stingrays, lionfish and eels.
Keep these tips in mind
If you have no prior experience in scuba diving, you should first undertake a foundation course in diving that would provide you with the necessary orientation. On the other hand, if you happen to be a certified diver, you could avail yourself of advanced training to take your skills to the next level. Naturally, you should take care to ascertain that your instructor and service provider are duly certified; it wouldn’t be advisable to take any risk regarding the quality of the equipment either.
During your training, try to listen to and follow the instructions given carefully. Even if at first you find it hard to breathe using the oxygen mask, you will learn it through practice. If you encounter any kind of problem during a diving session, notify your instructor immediately.
