The Gulf of Siam Dive Sites Overview

The Ang Thong Marine National Park is a beautiful archipelago of over 40 islets and operators have trips to this area from December until March. While the visibility here is often poor, the snorkeling and shallow diving-as well as the striking topside scenery- make for an enjoyable outing. Ko Wao and Hin Yipoon (meaning Japanese Rock: Rumor has it that several Japanese tourists were eaten by sharks here. Sure.) are the most popular areas for scuba diving and are noted for shallow caves and colorful soft corals.

One of the best things about diving around these two small islands is the fact that the dive sites, unlike Phuket's and Samui's, are only minutes away. Including Ko Nang Yuan, which is only a short hop from Ko Tao, there are over 15 dives sites charted in the area. Sites range from deep water pinnacles, to shallow coral gardens, to rocky points complete with swim-throughs such as we find in the Similan Islands. Although water clarity can sometimes be limited, frequently the water becomes as transparent as the Andaman Sea with visibility over 30 meters. Again, this may not be typical, but when the water gets like this, watch out: The diving gets truly exciting.

Visitors to the area will be happy to discover that some of the best wreck diving in Thailand is found here. Although there are several wrecks scattered around, the two best sites in the area are the Bremen and the Hardeep. As with the island of Ko Samui to the South, Pattaya is probably not the place for a dedicated diving holiday. But for those divers looking for an active sporting life-or a busy night-life–as well as diving–Pattaya might well be the answer. 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 happy.