Scuba Diving in Pattaya

Pattaya nestles along a picturesque bay on the Eastern Coast of the Gulf of Thailand, and is approximately 170 kilometers southeast of Bangkok. Originally a fishing village in the 1960’s, Pattaya has emerged as one of the most popular Southeast Asian vacation regions. It's a fascinating escape where tourists and holiday makers can unwind during their exotic beach holiday.

Pattaya is a paradise for everyone, having a variety of attractions suitable for all types of visitors. This is the place where you can fill your day with endless activities from dusk til dawn, or you may choose to do nothing at all and simply relax.

Pattaya Travel Guide
Thailand’s original tourist resort is a mix of naughty nightlife, great restaurants, sunny beaches, curious attractions, family-friendly leisure parks and good value shopping. Just one hour from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, this lively town is a multi-cultural destination and a popular fun weekend from Bangkok.

Activities in Pattaya
Pattaya activities on include para-sailing, jetskiing, bungee-jumping, elephant back riding, deep-sea, shore and freshwater fishing, scuba diving, sailing, swimming in the pool or the sea, golf, motor racing, polo, gyms and fitness training, shopping, cycling, bowling, running, tennis, snooker, shooting, archery, cooking courses, yoga, kick boxing, tai chi, meditation, beauty and relaxation spas, tropical gardens and just walking by the sea.
Being a tourist resort by the sea, Pattaya offers an exciting selection of unique and fun watersport activities including Jet skis, Para-sailing and Banana Rides. Pattaya is also one of the oldest scuba diving centres in this part of Asia. It has a year-round diving season with good visibility, and a sea temperature of around 28C which means that there is a rich variety of marine life and coral.
Away from the sea there are other exciting opportunities on offer such as the Bira International Racing Circuit, which hosts international motor and motorcycle races, the Pattaya Kart Speedway in Jomtien and a 50-metre bungy-jump with international jump-masters and a bar for recovering from the rush afterwards.

Daytrips in Pattaya
There are a large number of possibilities open to you if you wish to have a morning, afternoon or whole day out of Pattaya. For golfers and divers this is easy. The proliferation of golf courses and diving sites in the area ensure that you can literally just walk out of your hotel, be picked up and taken to whichever course or site you have booked, and be returned at the end of the day.
By contrast you could go to see tigers, crocodiles, elephants, orchids or handicrafts, visit one of the larger Wats (Buddhist temples) in the countryside or take a ferry or speedboat to Koh Larn, the large island off Pattaya. Various attractions near the city can also make a good day out. Bangkok is only two and a half hours away by bus (from the Northern bus station) or taxi and many visitors who are staying a week or two on package-type holidays go there for the day or overnight.
Sri Racha Tiger zoo is about half an hour outside Pattaya and, in addition to tigers and a tiger show, has many other animals. Nong Nooch Gardens is a spectacular display of tropical plants and flowers covering a vast area. With an artificial waterfall and canoeing lake, Thai traditional dance shows and elephant rides, this attraction is a favourite day out for many people.

Entertainment in Pattaya
Pattaya is full of bars, clubs, cabaret shoes and go go bars and it’s one of the main reasons many visitors come to the city. Unlike most of Thailand, the sex industry thrives in Pattaya as long as everyone sticks to the rules. Prostitution is actually illegal in Thailand but it’s tolerated in certain areas. There are plenty of bars in Pattaya, most of the largest being situated around Walking Street and in Pattayaland, nearby. There are more on the lanes leading off Beach Road, as well as a few in Jomtien and North Pattaya.
The atmosphere in the bars of Pattaya is very relaxed and the girls are fun, friendly and willing to go home with you for a reasonable fee. If you are new to Pattaya you needn’t feel embarrassed, and can pop into a bar and quietly sit watching sport on the TV or the girls dancing, over a beer. Go Go bars in Pattaya are entered through a curtain or door, with plenty of touts outside, mainly pretty ladies to guide you in and most don’t charge for entry.

"Private Scuba tries to offer genuine information though we do not condone or encourage sex tourism. The judgement is yours entirely, but prostitution remains illegal in Thailand and we urge you to treat the activity with caution and respect for those involved."

Shopping in Pattaya
Pattaya has a fabulous range of shops and markets catering for all tastes. From the very expensive to the incredibly cheap (particularly by Western standards), you can find it all here. While the quality of some of the goods can vary greatly from stall to stall and shop to shop, even those who usually hate shopping will find a bargain here. It’s pretty difficult to leave Pattaya without some extra luggage, whether you’re looking for local handicrafts, precious gems or just a fake Rolex to show off at home. Remember, however, that you get what you pay for and the quality of goods here is far lower than you would expect at home. Money-back guarantee is a vague concept, so check the goods thoroughly first and avoid buying the cheapest models. Running the entire block between Beach Road and Second Road are Mikes Shopping Mall and Royal Garden Plaza which both have free toilets and air-conditioning. Here you’ll find a mixture of traditional craftwear, fashionable labels, clothes shops, an English bookshop, internet café, camera stores, endless mobile phone vendors, and even a Boots pharmacy. Regardless of what you are shopping for, Thailand is very cheap, and this includes clothing, electronic goods and general household items, which is why the shopping malls are tourist attractions themselves. Big C is a large mall opposite Soi 3 on Second Road and consists of four air-conditioned floors with a Multiscreen cinema, large supermarket downstairs and a large retail area with everything from the latest TV's to some very reasonably priced designer clothing. The rest of the complex is full of small and large shops and stalls full of clothes, cameras, mobile phones, handicrafts of all types, printers, pictures, good restaurants and pretty much everything ‘buyable’.
If you thought of overhauling your business wardrobe, then Thailand is your answer, and you can get a tailor-made suit made up in less than 24 hours for knock-down prices. While the quality does vary, some of the best (and more expensive) tailors can be found in Walking Street, and there are also some very good tailors on Beach Road and Second Road, South Pattaya. They can make almost any style and offer a wide range of fabrics to choose from. Tailors here usually promote a set which includes three suits, and a couple of tailored silk shirts, plus ties thrown in for as little as $250. Thai silk is not only good quality but comparatively cheap. Thais are superb craftsmen, and this applies to clothes just as much as the more traditional skills.

Sightseeing in Pattaya
Pattaya’s sights are mainly modern, much reflecting the town itself. Sights often double-up as activities but there’s still an array of interesting things to see, especially if you’re willing to travel a little. The beaches, several impressive temples and entertainment venues all combine to make Pattaya sight seeing a worthy activity.
Pattaya has many contemporary attractions to keep travellers amused. Some popular outings would include Underwater World, the Museum of Bottle Art showing miniature art such as Dutch windmills and Thai temples, all inside the confines of glass bottles and the entertaining Ripley’s Believe it or Not museum which is home to exhibits from the traditional to the bizarre. For more traditional cultural sightseeing in Pattaya, travel to Nong Nooch Village where you’ll be met by traditional dancers, pleasant natural scenery and playful elephants who’ll be willing to let you enjoy the thrill of a ride. The orchid garden here is reputed to be the world’s largest, so if you like flowers, it may be worth the trip for this alone.

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