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Pattaya, Rayong and Koh Chang

 Coral diving near Koh Rin
Further off-shore, the island Koh Rin probably offers Pattaya's best coral diving. The underwater profile is more interesting here compared with other places and water clarity can be excellent, sometimes exceeding 25 meters.

Rocky canyons form swim-throughs which are not only wonderful for divers but cause currents to wash around the rocks causing great environmental conditions for the marine life living there. Although the day can be long due to the distances involved in getting to the different sites in this area, those looking for clearer water will find the longer traveling times worthwhile.

Koh Chang
Koh Chang lies to the east of Pattaya near the Cambodian border. Over the past three years, several shops have sprung up on the island, and several centers from Pattaya are running either land-based or onboard trips to the area. The area itself is rich in history and culture as it is located almost right on the border with Cambodia. The hilly, jungle-covered islands are striking in their beauty and many of the beaches rival those of Thialand's southern islands.

What most excites divers about the diving around the area
are the underwater pinnacles that are located offshore of
Koh Chang and Koh Raet. The best diving spots in both the Andman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand are on pinnacles because of conditions which create healthy environments for marine life. Not only will the big animals such as sharks and rays be more common, but the corals and fish-life on these pinnacles are far more abundant. Visibility at some of these offshore dive sites can exceed 30 meters, and whale sharks seem to be more widespread than in previous years.

For those divers looking for an active sporting-life-or a busy night-life as well as diving, Pattaya is extremely convenient and not expensive. In general, diving has a much better appearance in Pattaya than it used to. For the student of scuba, Pattaya offers many opportunities as well. For a week or a weekend. Pattaya has the potential to keep even the most active diver contented.

How to get there: Buses and taxis can take you from Bangkok to Pattaya in a few hours. Flights are available to the town to U-taphao, which is close to Pattaya. This can save some transfer time. For transportation to Koh Chang, buses and ferries can be arranged through your local dive shop or travel agency.  

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