It is a universal truth that different people have different tastes. The very same movie or food or person can get two polar opposite responses from two different people. Likewise, what one person thinks is amongst the best dive sites in Pattaya may be dismissed as uninteresting by other folks. Fortunately, Thailand's biggest tourist destination on the eastern seaboard has a good deal of choice available.
The first choice to make is to ask if you want coral dives or wreck dives. Coral reefs are amongst the densest concentrations of natural life on the planet, making even tropical jungles look like a barren desert by comparison. Given that the coral itself is a living creature and that their skeletal structures offer endless crevices for sea creatures of any size to hide inside, reefs always offer a great opportunity for those interested in marine life.
By comparison, wreck dives offer a journey into a neglected world of human endeavour. When a ship slips beneath the waves, it is written off by the insurance carrier, struck from the official registers and, effectively, ceases to be. In some ways, though, its life is just beginning. Several become quickly encrusted with corals and, like the reefs, their little crevices offer sanctuary to smaller fish plus a potential larder to bigger predators. The unusual juxtaposition between the man-made ship with the natural life which has engulfed it makes wreck diving popular, as do the often violent stories behind the wrecks, most of which act as the memorial to hundreds of forgotten souls.
Thankfully, there are plenty of excellent coral and wreck sites for those scuba diving around Pattaya. The seas around the city are filled with small islands and sunken vessels, both of which are now encrusted with corals.
Amongst the greatest of the coral sites is Koh Rin. Regardless of being one of the furthest of the Far Islands, this tiny, uninhabited isle is ringed with an extra-ordinary array of corals as well as wildlife, including turtles, sharks and a baffling array of tropical fish.
The Hardeep wreck is also quite a long way from Pattaya's Bali Hai Pier, but is the sole war shipwreck in Thailand's waters. A cargo vessel sunk by aerial bombing, the actual dive site is littered with unexploded weapons and the ship's hold is easily penetrated and explored. Being more than 60 years old now, the wreck has also picked up its fair share of corals and creatures, making it equally attractive to coral scuba divers.
The first choice to make is to ask if you want coral dives or wreck dives. Coral reefs are amongst the densest concentrations of natural life on the planet, making even tropical jungles look like a barren desert by comparison. Given that the coral itself is a living creature and that their skeletal structures offer endless crevices for sea creatures of any size to hide inside, reefs always offer a great opportunity for those interested in marine life.
By comparison, wreck dives offer a journey into a neglected world of human endeavour. When a ship slips beneath the waves, it is written off by the insurance carrier, struck from the official registers and, effectively, ceases to be. In some ways, though, its life is just beginning. Several become quickly encrusted with corals and, like the reefs, their little crevices offer sanctuary to smaller fish plus a potential larder to bigger predators. The unusual juxtaposition between the man-made ship with the natural life which has engulfed it makes wreck diving popular, as do the often violent stories behind the wrecks, most of which act as the memorial to hundreds of forgotten souls.
Thankfully, there are plenty of excellent coral and wreck sites for those scuba diving around Pattaya. The seas around the city are filled with small islands and sunken vessels, both of which are now encrusted with corals.
Amongst the greatest of the coral sites is Koh Rin. Regardless of being one of the furthest of the Far Islands, this tiny, uninhabited isle is ringed with an extra-ordinary array of corals as well as wildlife, including turtles, sharks and a baffling array of tropical fish.
The Hardeep wreck is also quite a long way from Pattaya's Bali Hai Pier, but is the sole war shipwreck in Thailand's waters. A cargo vessel sunk by aerial bombing, the actual dive site is littered with unexploded weapons and the ship's hold is easily penetrated and explored. Being more than 60 years old now, the wreck has also picked up its fair share of corals and creatures, making it equally attractive to coral scuba divers.
About the Author:
Come diving in Thailand and find some of the best dive sites in Pattaya, including amazing corals and great shipwrecks.
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