Scuba Diving in Pattaya

Thailand ..... "The Land of Smiles"
Diving holidays in Thailand usually begin at Bangkok Airport. From here, the diver will probably choose between Phuket, Samui and Pattaya for his onward journey. We have some free information below for divers' travelling in Thailand, whether you're looking for great diving, lively entertainment, or Scuba Diving jobs in Thailand, simply click on the link and explore !

• Diving destinations
• Adventures and Activities
• Thai culture
• Useful information
• Visa's
• Working in Thailand
• For Men Only
• Thai Police

If you don't find what you're looking for, please send your request using our Contact Form.

Diving Destinations:
Diving Holidays in Thailand offer first class Scuba Diving and a huge variety of dive sites to accommodate all Divers.

Pattaya - enjoys year round diving, with its shelter from the south west monsoons. The dive sites tend to be quite shallow, with hard and soft coral formations found around the islands close to Pattaya. The big attraction here for divers, is the ship wrecks that have been intentionally sunk, (well ... most of them) by the Thai Navy for the benefit of scuba divers on their dive vacation in Thailand.

Phuket - at its best for diving from November to April, Phuket has its share of world class dive sites. From the famous Phi Phi islands, to the 'infamous' King Cruiser wreck, diving in Phuket offers beach diving, shallow dives, deep dives, night dives, PADI scuba courses and snorkeling tours for family adventures.

Samui - with its tourist season being almost the opposite to Phuket, Koh Samui is becoming a 'young' traveller's favourite. The diving around the islands is similar to Phuket, with abundant coral reefs and vibrant fish life.

Similan - for the scuba diving addicts, in the Andaman Sea just to the north of Phuket, the Similan and Surin islands provide the best diving in the area. From December until March, these islands offer up to 35 meters of visibility, water temperatures averaging 31 degrees, Manta Rays, Whale Sharks, Dolphins, and endless days of 'hot' sunshine ...... need I say more ?

Adventures and Activities:
Thailand has far too many outdoor adventures for us to list them all, however here is a small sample of the facilities that are available for you during your dive vacation in Thailand.
Outdoor Pursuits - We're very 'happy to help' you with your reservations
Golfing in Thailand is amongst the best in South East Asia, with numerous 18 hole championship golf courses in Phuket, Pattaya and Chiang Mai.
Go-karting is a growing sport in the major tourist destinations such as Pattaya, Phuket and Koh Samui.
Elephant Rides and jungle treks are popular tourist attractions in Thailand.
Sunset Cruise with a relaxing boat tour and buffet dinner in the fading Sunset. Very popular in Phuket and now available in Pattaya.
Thai boxing or 'Muay Thai' is a close-up, hand to hand combat sport that is a passion for most Thai's. Boxing stadiums in every province offer regular tournaments for the locals and tourists to witness, and maybe take part ?
Deep Sea Fishing around the islands of Phuket, Samui and in the Gulf of Thailand is available to novice and experienced fishermen. Boats can be chartered for your own group, or you can join an organised tour for a fun day out fishing.

Thai culture:
Strongly influenced by Buddhism, the culture of Thailand is also influenced by Hinduism, and neighbouring Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, and repeated influxes of Chinese immigrants.

Religlion - Thailand is almost 95% Theravada Buddhist and is strongly influenced by traditional beliefs regarding ancestral and natural spirits. Most Thai people own 'spirit houses', miniature wooden houses in which they believe household spirits live, where they present offerings of food and drink to these spirits to keep them happy.

Climate - Depending on which area of Thailand you are visiting, the climate can be very different. The popular tourist areas such as Pattaya and Phuket have three main seasons. November to February when it's hot, March to May when it's hot and humid, and June to October when it's hot and wet.

Food - Thai cuisine is famous for blending four fundamental tastes.

• Sweet - made with sugars, fruits and sweet peppers
• Spicy Hot - using hot chillies
• Sour - made with vinegar, lime juice and tamarind
• Salty - using soy sauce and fish sauce

Language - The Thai language is comprised of 44 consonants, 32 vowels and five tones, along with a script that has Indian origins. The Thai language, belonging to the Tai family, is the main language in Thailand although there are several regional dialects as well. Other languages spoken in Thailand are Chinese, Lao, Malay and Mon-Khmer, while English use is becoming more prevalent in government and commerce.

If you would like to learn more about Thailand's Language and Culture please use our contact page for a personal reply.

Useful information:
Here's a few general Do's and Don't's, but please send us an e-mail if you would more information about Thai holidays and scuba diving in Thailand.

Health - It's adviseable "Not" to drink the tap water. Always use bottled water, which is readily available and inexpensive. The Sun is very strong in Thailand, even during the rainy season, so it makes sense to use a good sunscreen and limit your exposure time. Malaria isn't a serious problem in the major tourist areas, but mosquito bites can be a nuisance.

Accommodation - Depending on your budget, accommodation in Thailand ranges from superb five star Hotels, to cheap one room studio's. Typically, a room in a luxurious Hotel could cost around 3000 baht per night, and most backpackers can find a decent resting place for 400 baht per night.

Transport - Thailand has many inexpensive modes of transport. Internal flights to popular destinations are plentiful and generally, very efficient. There is also a low priced national railway network, although the emphasis wouldn't be on 'efficiency'. Buses cover all of the country, including overnight trips with fully reclining seats for sleeping. Taxi's are available in the major cities, and famous 'Tuk Tuk' covers the less populated areas.

Entertainment - It's been said that Thailand is a 'playground for adults'.
Well, there certainly is no shortage of Bars, Clubs, Restaurants, Nightclubs, Cabaret Shows, Discos, Shopping Centers, Go Go Bars, Sex Shows, ..... the list goes on .....

Property Ownership - Thai law states that foreigners are prohibited from owning land in Thailand. However, there are a few exceptions that would be too complex to explain in this section. Condominiums, subject to certain conditions, allow foreign nationals to own individual condo units in Thailand with outright ownership.
Please contact us if you would like more information about owning property in Thailand.

Visa's:
Most tourists enter the Kingdom of Thailand on an 'Airport issued' tourist visa. However, such visas are not available to citizens of every country. If in doubt, individuals should check prior to the journey with the appropriate department. As with any Thai visa, it should be noted that overstay of your visa is a serious offence and could lead to imprisonment. Only those with a valid work permit may work in the Kingdom of Thailand. Always carry your passport as the immigration service can fine you for not having your passport with you at all times, although a good quality photocopy may be acceptable if it includes the title page, visa page, last entry stamp and the immigration departure card.
More information is available from thaivisa.com or you can contact 'Scuba Steve' for free advice.

Working in Thailand:
If you plan to work in Thailand, it is illegal to do so without a valid work permit. We have local knowledge and advice to offer you, and assistance to help you obtain the necessary documentation. Please Contact Us for more information.

Dive jobs in Thailand - If your dream job is working as a PADI Instructor or Divemaster, teaching scuba diving in Thailand, then we can help with support and advice.
PADI professionals fill diving vacancies in all of the major dive destinations of Thailand, working in Phuket, Pattaya and Koh Samui. There are numerous jobs for Divemasters and Instructors during the high season for scuba diving.
If you would like more advice and information from a PADI Master Instructor, please see our main menu or send your enquiry using our contact form for a personal and confidential reply.

Teaching jobs in Thailand - There is a genuine shortage of qualified TEFL English teachers in Thailand.
Most TEFL training schools offer a visa and job placement assistance as standard. The course normally takes four to six weeks (120 hours) and results in a teaching certification that is recognised Worldwide.
If you would like more advice and information from a qualified TEFL teacher, please send your enquiry using our contact form for a personal and confidential reply.

For Men Only:  (Just for Fun ......)

There are five golden rules for men coming to Thailand with the intention of finding true happiness.
1) It's important to have a Thai woman who helps at home, who can cook, clean and has a job.
2) It's important to have a Thai woman who makes you laugh.
3) It's important to have a Thai woman who you can trust and doesn't lie to you.
4) It's important to have a Thai woman who is good in bed and who likes to be with you.
5) It's very, very, very important that these four Thai women do not know each other.

Thailand is commonly referred to as "The Land of Smiles" not least because the majority of the Thai population seem to have a permanent smile on their face whether they are happy, angry or sad. A recent survey concluded that humans need a minimum of twelve laughs a day to stay healthy.
So, if the happy ladies on our dive boat made you smile, you only need eleven more before midnight right ?
(but wait ...... are they really ladies?)

Thai Police:
There are two kinds of police available to foreign tourists (farangs):
* Tourist Police telephone 1155
* regular police emergency number 191

The Thai police are usually quite trustworthy and reasonable, and often have adequate to good English skills, especially in Bangkok. However, there are some guidelines you should follow as regards the police:
If a conflict erupts, keep your composure. In Thai society, keeping your cool is very important. This includes with the police. Hotheads are considered dangerous to other people in addition to a danger to themself, and are dealt with by a decisive and swift display of force. Cool heads are dealt with reasonably and without force. Conflicts are dealt with as amicably and reasonably as possible, and to minimize loss of face of either party of a conflict.

This page was intended to be a guide for travellers coming to Thailand for a scuba diving vacation.
We hope that it was helpful, but if you would like more information about diving Holidays in Thailand, please do not hesitate to send us your enquiry for a prompt and personal reply.

"You haven't done Thailand until you've tried ......."
Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Golf Courses, Thai cooking lessons, Elephant Trekking, speak Thai Language, a 'traditional' Thai massage, Thai Temples, The bridge over the river Kwai, James Bond island etc .....