Holidays in Thailand

Diving in Thailand: An Underwater Adventure in a Tropical Paradise

2025-02-04 11:53
  • Diving in the Pattaya area, especially around the islands of Lan, Sak, Krok, Kram, Ped, and Lin, attracts both beginners and experienced divers due to its convenient location, diverse underwater landscapes, and rich marine life. It is one of the most accessible diving spots in Thailand, offering comfortable conditions and developed infrastructure.
  1. Accessibility and Convenience

Convenient Location

  • Proximity to Bangkok – Pattaya is just 1.5–2 hours away from Thailand’s capital, where most international flights arrive.
  • Easy transfer – accessible by taxi, bus, or minivan.
  • Quick access to dive sites – boats reach the islands in 30–60 minutes, making diving possible even on day trips.

Comfortable Diving Conditions

  • Warm water year-round – average temperature 27–30°C, allowing diving in a light wetsuit or without one.
  • Good visibility – depending on the season and dive site, water clarity ranges from 5–20 meters.
  • No strong currents – ensures safe diving even for beginners.
  • Ideal for training – many dive sites have shallow depths (5–20 meters).
  • Instructors speak multiple languages, including English and Russian.
Additional Amenities

  • Relax on sandy beaches between dives.
  • Snacks, drinks, and toilets are available on boats, with larger dive boats offering comfortable rest areas.
  • Opportunity to combine diving with other activities – boat tours, snorkeling, fishing, and island excursions.
  1. Variety of Dive Sites and Marine Life

Each island offers unique diving conditions:

Ko Lan – Coral reefs, sandy shallows, ideal for beginners.

Ko Sak – Underwater caves and rocky formations.

Ko Krok – Small but picturesque coral reefs with rich marine life.

Ko Khram – Protected area with beautiful reefs and abundant marine flora/fauna.

Ko Ped & Ko Lin – Great for wreck diving and coral gardens.

Wreck Diving

Pattaya has several popular wreck diving sites – the sunken ships HTMS Khram, HTMS Kut, and HTMS Mataphon. Sunk by the Thai Navy to create artificial reefs, they now teem with marine life.

1. HTMS Khram

  • Type: US Navy landing ship (ex-USS LSM-469).
  • Sunk: 2003.
  • Depth: 15–30 m.
  • Highlights: Well-preserved hull, explorable holds/engine room. Home to barracuda, moray eels, rays, and turtles.

2. HTMS Kut

  • Type: Thai Navy minelayer.
  • Sunk: 2006.
  • Depth: 25–30 m.
  • Highlights: Compact ship with good visibility. Frequent sightings of schooling fish, lionfish, and morays.

3. HTMS Mataphon

  • Type: Landing ship.
  • Sunk: 2012.
  • Depth: 15–25 m.
  • Highlights: Small but intriguing wreck, accessible to Open Water divers. Covered in corals and marine life.

All three wrecks are excellent for underwater photography and macro shots due to their vibrant ecosystems.
Marine Biodiversity

Common sightings include:

  • Hard and soft corals.
  • Barracuda, clownfish, angelfish, seahorses.
  • Occasional turtles, reef sharks, and rays.
Diving in the Pattaya area is an accessible, comfortable, and interesting option for those who want to explore the underwater world without traveling to remote corners of Thailand. Warm water, mild currents, excellent learning conditions, and developed infrastructure make this region a great choice for divers of all levels.