Thailand is best known as a holiday destination for the hustle and bustle of Bangkok with its crowded streets and twenty four hour party atmosphere. If you want to escape the noise of the city and immerse yourself in the ocean, you need only travel around seventy kilometers to the coast. There you find sandy beaches and the chance to go scuba diving in Pattaya where there are many diving centers offering daily dives and packages.
While you do not need to be an Olympic athlete to take up this sport, you do need to be medically sound. The center will ask you to complete a questionnaire as heart or breathing or ear problems will stop you participating. Pregnant women are also advised not to dive as it may harm the fetus.
The majority of people have no problem passing the medical and can go with an instructor for a "try dive" or "intro". You should choose a center with a good reputation which has professional instructors. There is very little danger associated with diving as long as safety standards set down by professional bodies are adhered to.
In Pattaya you will find most centers are affiliated with PADI, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors. PADI certificates are recognized around the world and if you choose to take a course during your stay you can become a qualified Open Water Diver. This is the next step after a DSD or introductory dive. The OW course lasts for around four days so you need to make sure you have allocated enough vacation time for this.
Part of the course will be visiting the coral reefs and other pretty dive sites nearby. The "Far Islands" and the Samaesan Corals are accessible via a short boat journey and are very popular with guests. Under the water you should be able to see between five to fifteen meters around you depending on the conditions. Strong currents effect some areas so pay attention to your guide and be sure to follow any instructions to the letter.
As well as coral reefs there are 3 shipwrecks which are worth a visit. The HTMS Khram has a lot of flora and fauna even though it sunk quite recently. The wreck of the freighter Petchburi Bremen and the Hardeep, which was a cargo ship, are also very popular. The Hardeep can by dived internally from stem to stern as it sank intact.
Along with the pretty corals it is likely that you will spot barracuda and a host of other brightly colored fish. Divers who have previously dived in the Red Sea might find some of the sites disappointing and the visibility considerably less than in Sharm El Sheikh or Hurghada, but for first time divers the experience will be quite stunning.
Scuba diving in Pattaya is a super way to relax and unwind from the bustle of Bangkok. The peaceful world under the waves is really soothing to the soul. There is much to look at and you are sure to have many tales for your friends at home.
While you do not need to be an Olympic athlete to take up this sport, you do need to be medically sound. The center will ask you to complete a questionnaire as heart or breathing or ear problems will stop you participating. Pregnant women are also advised not to dive as it may harm the fetus.
The majority of people have no problem passing the medical and can go with an instructor for a "try dive" or "intro". You should choose a center with a good reputation which has professional instructors. There is very little danger associated with diving as long as safety standards set down by professional bodies are adhered to.
In Pattaya you will find most centers are affiliated with PADI, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors. PADI certificates are recognized around the world and if you choose to take a course during your stay you can become a qualified Open Water Diver. This is the next step after a DSD or introductory dive. The OW course lasts for around four days so you need to make sure you have allocated enough vacation time for this.
Part of the course will be visiting the coral reefs and other pretty dive sites nearby. The "Far Islands" and the Samaesan Corals are accessible via a short boat journey and are very popular with guests. Under the water you should be able to see between five to fifteen meters around you depending on the conditions. Strong currents effect some areas so pay attention to your guide and be sure to follow any instructions to the letter.
As well as coral reefs there are 3 shipwrecks which are worth a visit. The HTMS Khram has a lot of flora and fauna even though it sunk quite recently. The wreck of the freighter Petchburi Bremen and the Hardeep, which was a cargo ship, are also very popular. The Hardeep can by dived internally from stem to stern as it sank intact.
Along with the pretty corals it is likely that you will spot barracuda and a host of other brightly colored fish. Divers who have previously dived in the Red Sea might find some of the sites disappointing and the visibility considerably less than in Sharm El Sheikh or Hurghada, but for first time divers the experience will be quite stunning.
Scuba diving in Pattaya is a super way to relax and unwind from the bustle of Bangkok. The peaceful world under the waves is really soothing to the soul. There is much to look at and you are sure to have many tales for your friends at home.
About the Author:
If you would like to find out more about scuba diving in Pattaya, click www.dive-sea.com. For details on PADI certification, come to Dive S. E. A at http://www.dive-sea.com today.
EmoticonEmoticon