Pattaya City, is a mere 2hrs from bangkok and easy and fast to access for anyone travelling to Thailand. If you are a diver or snorkeller in search of clear waters, Pattaya might not be top on your list as the water visibility in the gulf can be a little unpredictable during the monsoon weather. Coral dives around Pattaya are surprisingly good though and there are shipwrecks unlike anywhere else in Thailand. The somewhat limited visibility that you experience at times, is more than compensated for by the huge variety of marine life to be found.
Pattaya’s beach is quite nice, but as it is a beach on the edge of a city, there is bound to be some pollution’s making its way to the water. From a would-be divers’ perspective, these aren’t the best conditions but from an experienced divers point of view, there is a whole ocean out there waiting to be explored. The beachfront is a mirage compared to looking into the distance where there are clear waters and plenty of sea life to be admired going about its daily routine around the Pattaya Islands.
The most important aspect of diving is visibility. The clearer the waters the further you can see and the more sea life you are going to experience and see. This is especially important if you want to take pictures underwater.
We have dive trips and snorkel excursions daily so you can snorkel or dive Pattaya’s islands and get out to be covered by deep blue skies and some really nice water.
Pattaya Islands – Koh Sac
This island is said to have some of the best visibility in Pattaya at certain times of the year. It is another island protected from the weather and has become probably the most popular dive spot in Pattaya. Visibility can reach up to 15 meters here hence the popularity. The depth you can expect to dive is around 9 meters. The eastern and western areas offer shallow reef areas with high visibility giving divers picturesque scenery and the perfect camera opportunities, not to mention there is two resident sea turtle that lives on the reef here which you are almost certain to pass on a scuba dive with the right knowledgeable guide.
Pattaya Islands – Koh Krok
Visibility here can go from 5 meters to 15 meters and a boat trip will take you a short 9km off the coast of Pattaya to the east. One of the most exciting aspects of a visit here is when the winds are strong and you can drift dive with the current. This kind of dive is not for the inexperienced or faint-hearted though, most would prefer to visit on a nice clear calm day where you can explorer this sloping reef at your leisure and again, this reef is host to many Hawksbill sea turtles so have your cameras ready or ask about a photographer guide when you dive Koh Krok. This is also not one of the most frequented sites, so the corals here haven’t suffered from anchor damage leaving the environment spectacularly untouched.
Pattaya Islands – Koh Larn
For clear waters Koh Larn is another option. It is around 12km to the west side of Pattaya Beach. The spot is popular due to the island’s cover. Winds and currents are blocked for part of the year and so the water is calm and clear in this area. Open water divers can go as deep as 15 meters on the reefs and up to 22m on the HTMS Mattphon wreck if you have an Advanced Diver license. Visibility on a good day can be over 15 meters but is an average of about 6-10m
Visibility can be affected in all these locations when there is a storm, so keep your eye on the weather and try to book your trip when forecasts show a period of calm weather. Some islands are better on a stormy day than others, so be flexible and willing to change the location you originally planned to dive on the day to get the best experience. Your dive center will know the areas to dive in Pattaya in order to give you your money’s worth, so relying on their judgment should ensure you get the best dive experience on any given day.
Check Out Snorkelling and Pattaya Dive Trips or Learning to Dive to experience it all!
