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About 147 km southeast of Bangkok, it is a city known by the name of Pattaya, which is one of the topmost tourist destinations in Asia. This city is well known for its dazzling nightlife and attractive beaches, but that’s not the only thing that makes it famous. Snorkelling in Pattaya is a very popular activity. Its white-sand beaches and the warm and calm sea water make Pattaya the perfect place for snorkelling. It is well-suited for couples, friends, and family. Let’s explore Snorkelling in Pattaya in more detail.
Factors That Affect Snorkelling In Pattaya
Photo: John Brooks / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
- The visibility underwater
- The weather conditions while snorkelling
- The type of underwater terrain being explored
- Water current
- The time of the day for snorkelling
- Temperature of the water
- The kind of equipment (fins, snorkel, wetsuit, lifejacket and diving goggles) that are used
- The swimming experience of the individual
Suggested Read: Scuba Diving In Pattaya
Levels Of Snorkelling In Pattaya
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Beginner: Snorkelling is a beginner-level underwater activity that is focused on ensuring the safety of the individual. For non-swimmers who are enthusiastic about the world under the water, there are a few additional facilities like a guide continuously monitoring their safety and a net raft strapped onto them apart from the life jacket that keeps them afloat. All they need to do is to hold on to the rope and roam about in water by rowing the net raft.
Time Duration: 3.5 – 4 hours. However, you can opt out early if you are uncomfortable with it.
Expert: Those who already know swimming can choose to go without the net raft as this will allow them to manoeuvre better while snorkelling. Children older than eight can participate in this activity but must be monitored by an adult.
Time Duration: 4 hours or more
Popular snorkelling destinations In Pattaya
With crystal clear waters, beautiful coral reefs and diverse aquatic life forms, Pattaya offers some of the best snorkelling opportunities in the world. Here are the best five sites for snorkelling in Pattaya:
1. Koh Larn
Photo: Jerome Bon / Wikimedia Commons
The name Koh Larn loosely translates to “Coral Island.” True to its name, it is home to some of the most breathtaking coral reefs, windy beaches, and clear blue waters in the world. Located about 7 Km from the Pattaya coast, reaching here will take you about 45 minutes on a boat. Snorkelling in Koh Larn will introduce you to coral species like Sponges, Sea whips, Barrel sponges, Table corals, Sea fans, Sea anemones, and various other rare exotic lifeforms.
Minimum Depth Level: 3 metres below sea surface
Maximum Depth Level: 25 metres below sea surface
Suggested Read: Gorgeous Islands In Pattaya For Your Next Vacation
2. Koh Sak
Photo: Pescov / Wikimedia Commons
This U-shaped island is about 10 kilometres away from Pattaya beach and is the northernmost of the three Pattaya near islands. To reach this sheltered inlet, you need to take a speed boat from Bali Hai Pier, and it should take you around 25 to 30 minutes to get to the spot. Located within 600 metres of the Koh Larn, this place offers you jaw-dropping underwater terrain to explore and is truly one of the best places for snorkelling in Pattaya. Aquatic lifeforms you can expect here are Saddleback clownfish, Hawksbill Turtles, Blue Spotted Stingrays, soft corals and more.
Minimum Depth Level: 3 metres below sea surface
Maximum Depth Level: 18 metres below sea surface
Visibility range: 5 – 15 metres
3. Koh Kroh
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Located just 8 Km away from Pattaya beach, the Koh Kroh is a serene place away from the crowd. The place has clear blue water with good visibility, making it an ideal place for snorkelling in Pattaya. The western part of the island is particularly renowned for snorkelling because of its low depth and extensive coral reefs and sea anemones. The natural underwater formations’ unique beauty makes this destination an ideal pick for below-surface photography. You can find corals, turtles, angelfish, clownfish, parrotfish, and pufferfish while snorkelling.
Minimum Depth Level: 3 metres below sea surface
Maximum Depth Level: 11 metres below sea surface
Suggested Read: Top Beaches In Pattaya
4. Koh Phai
Photo: Visions of Domino / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
About 21 Km off the coast of Pattaya lies an uninhabited archipelago, Koh Phai, that is well known for its uncanny beauty and sandy beaches. Here are some of the most famous snorkelling sites in the world. The crystal clear waters away from the human settlements are a peaceful retreat for some of the shiest of all the aquatic life forms. Also known as the Bamboo Island, it is at the northern edge of Koh Phi Phi Don and starting from here, it will take around 45 minutes to 1 hour to reach the spot.
Minimum Depth Level: 3 metres below sea surface
Maximum Depth Level: 18 metres below sea surface
5. Koh Rin
Photo: Fabio Achilli / Wikimedia Commons
In the Gulf of Siam, about 20 Km from the Pattaya coast, lies another coral island of immense beauty. This is the island of Koh Rin, and it will take you about 3 hours to reach by boat. The real fun of the area lies in its north and south boundaries called the North Rock and the South Rock respectively. Here, tourists can explore some exotic coral reefs while snorkelling. Barracudas, trevally, jacks, harlequin sweetlips, snappers, squirrel fish, and lionfish are some of the marine species you can expect here.
Minimum Depth Level: 5 metres below sea surface
Maximum Depth Level: 18 metres below sea surface
Suggested Read: Top Things To Do In Pattaya For A Mesmerising Thailand Trip
Best Time For Snorkelling In Pattaya
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Snorkelling is an adventure sport that is largely dependent on the climatic conditions of the sea. As a rule of thumb, the time between October and February is ideal for snorkelling as the waters are clear, offering better visibility underwater. The time between January to April has calmer seas. Based on this, the ideal time to go snorkelling would be in January and February.
Price Of Snorkelling In Pattaya
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The cost of snorkelling will vary from place to place in and around Pattaya. Moreover, different agencies offer the same package at slightly different prices. However, on average, it will cost you around ₹2050 per person.
Suggested Read: Amazing Places To Visit In Pattaya On Your Next Trip
There are multiple places to go snorkelling in Pattaya. It is a fun and safe way to explore the wonders hidden underwater. If you are planning a trip to Pattaya, you can rely on TripXl to take care of everything, from where to stay to what to do once you reach Pattaya. So, the next time you go on an adventure like this, consider TripXL for the best experience.
Cover Photo: Tobias Spitaler / Wikimedia Commons
