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Pattaya Thailand Wreck
Diving
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Pattaya
is Thailand's oldest commercial diving center. One
of the big plusses is the fact that it has a year
round season. Dive wrecks or meet citizens of the
sea.
Thailand
has long had the reputation as one of the best diving
destinations in Asia, if not the world. Divers
extol its temperate waters, rich variety of marine
life and coral, and its relative low costs, and accommodating
people.
Unfortunately,
the country's popularity as a tourist destination
has seen some of the waters become clouded with pollution,
and the coral wrecked by avaricious, and ignorant
divers.
The
result has been a continuing quest for new destinations:
some years ago the Similan off Phuket in the Andaman
Sea were the rage, now they have been supplanted by
the Burma Banks, further out in the wide blue sea.
It is appropriate, then, that the Banks should be
featured in any serious diver's itinerary, but it
is also appropriate that Pattaya, the aging princess,
should also be considered.
Pattaya as a resort is improving its image and its
reality on almost a daily basis. It offers a complete
range of family entertainment, top-class hotels, a
fist full of international-standard golf courses within
a short distance, and some good diving.
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Pattaya is the country ' s oldest commercial diving
centre and it boasts excellent services and facilities.
The resort also offers year-round diving with good
visibility, as opposed to its main rivals on the islands
of Phuket and Samui.
Divers in search of something a little different can
also explore two wrecks, both dating back from about
the time of World War II, and easily accessible from
Pattaya.
The
Bremen, a 300-foot boat, lies upright in 25 metres
of water off the Thai navy town of Sattahip. It was
at one stage used as a bombing target by the navy,
and is the less interesting of the two.
The freighter Hardeep, rests in 30 metres of water
in a channel between two islands off Samae San, not
far from Sattahip.
Strong
currents flow past the wreck, so divers are urged
to exercise care, and generally descend by means of
a diving rope from the support vessal.
Once on the lee of the boat, which is covered in heavy
growth, one has more time to explore the vessel, or
make the acquaintance of giant garoupa, sharks or
rays, sometimes peering through portholes.
Inside
the wreck, it is possible to swim along the passages,
into the engine room, or admire the toilets.
Operators will insist on a level of competence for
the wreck dives, especially if done at night, as they
pose special dangers. Sudden visibility loss through
sediment being stirred up, built up of pressure due
to trapped air bubbles, and an intricate web of fishing
nets all over the vessel.
The mean water tempature is 28 degrees, visibility
averages 40 to 50 feet, although it can vary depending
on local conditions. Costs average at about 1,500
Thai Baht ($60 US) per day, including transportation,
food and equipment.
The resort offers a wide choice of well-stocked and
safe PADI and NAUI operators, with competitive prices
and deals. Pick up one of the free quides to the resort
for a list of operators, or simply walk down Beach
Road on the waterfront in Pattaya, where most of them
have offices.
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