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Diving and Snorkeling at Koh Sak Island
Out of all the dive sites in Pattaya, the small crescent-shaped island of Koh Sak is a good choice for beginner scuba divers and for first-time snorkelers.
Most often, the currents are not too strong, you can swim in shallow water, and the colourful coral gardens provide safe habitats for the local marine life.
Learning to Scuba Dive at Koh Sak Pattaya
Koh Sak is a small island shaped like a horseshoe and it's become one of the popular diving destinations for learning how to scuba.
It's a preferred location for absolute beginners and an ideal spot where non-swimmers can do snorkeling as well.
The island is approximately ten (10) kilometres west of Pattaya Marina, so you'll need to join one of the organised boat excursions.
It should take no more than forty (40) minutes to reach the four main dive sites at Koh Sak.
There are several curved sandy bays and the one situated at the north of the island gets a lot of shelter from strong winds and choppy seas. This is where most of the local dive schools conduct beginner scuba programs and Pattaya snorkeling trips.
Pro Tip: Despite having easy access to the beach, there are local restrictions to be aware of if you want to walk along the sand. Plus, despite being a great place for scuba training, the area is often troubled by speed boats and jet-skis.
The bay has two chief dive sites which have distinctly different underwater topography. The east side is extremely shallow and is ideal for first time scuba divers, whereas the west side has less sandy areas and more hard coral and rock formations.
Tips for First-time Divers at Koh Sak
Submerged Concrete Cubes
Many years ago they scattered some large concrete cubes to try and stimulate coral growth. Although it has not been over successful it has encouraged sea turtles, stingrays, and giant puffers into the area.
Koh Sak dive sites are also used on a regular basis for scuba diving at night, because they get a lot of shelter from strong currents.
It's also a good place to see some of the common nocturnal marine species, especially:
The deepest diving depths typically bottom out around 12 metres (40 feet). Even so, the fringing coral formations are often obscured and mantled by drifting blooms of plankton.
Surface Marker Buoy
Commonly known as a "safety sausage", the large bright orange inflatable tube should be considered a mandatory diving accessory. It's used to warn any boat traffic in the area that there are scuba divers closeby underwater.
WARNING: A local law states that scuba divers should use a visible signaling device before surfacing at any of the dive sites in Pattaya.
Sea Urchins
One of the main marine hazards in the water around Pattaya is the sea urchin (also called sea hedgehogs). They do not chase you or try to bite you, but if you accidentally put a hand or foot on a sea urchin they can puncture the skin.
They are not poisonous, in fact the spines are made of calcium, and so the black needle-like spike should simply decompose and disappear after a few days. Even so, they can occasionally become infected and you should seek medical attention if you are in doubt.
Koh Sak Dive Sites List
Koh Sak East
Koh Sak West
Koh Sak Deep Reef
Koh Sak Submarine Reef
Related Information and Help Guides
Pro Tip: They may not be the most exciting scuba diving sites in Thailand. Nonetheless, when the weather is unsettled or the sea currents are too strong, Koh Sak bay is a welcome haven to get wet and enjoy one of Pattaya's near island dive sites.