Wake up in Bangkok and know that anything is possible. My perfect day would begin with a walk down the busy streets to select the best egg noodle soup with wontons and red pork, a delicious, ubiquitous dish and an excellent hangover cure. A trip down the river is next on the cards, a wonderful breezy way to see the city and its monuments without choking to death.

Our trip to Thailand had been long awaited, originally planned for the winter of 94/95. The balloon was ready at Thunder and Colt with a heavy duty basket tailor made for hard use overseas. And then they went bust. The delay meant that we missed the relatively short window available for flying in Thailand. So it was rainy old England for most of the winter and a rethink of the plan for us.

So after a fantastic summer passenger flying in England, it was off on a Quantas Jumbo from a snowy December Heathrow. We caught a connecting flight from Bangkok to Chaing Mai, a city in the North which was hosting the South East Asia Games, ( SEA games ) our first port of call. Jon, returning from SAGA, was there for three days to ease us into things.

Our hosts had managed to find sponsor’s a cell phone company and we had a busy schedule ahead. The city was humming with activity related to the games and it was great fun to be there. We generally flew across the city in the mornings and over the main stadium in the evenings.

The stadium itself was about 10km from the centre of the city and lay under an east facing slope which of course moved into shade in the evening allowing us to fly over the stadium and away into open countryside, the mornings had the ability to take us up the slope and away to the west which was not a good idea as there was about 50km of forest and national park before the next road.

It was always fairly calm and finding places to land was not a problem. We were not alone in the air a Carlsburg balloon had been shipped in from Europe and a Cameron Gas airship from America. Strangely neither thought to visit or call the international airport 8km south of the stadium. This caused some amount of trouble as Thai’s love complicated permissions to fly and neither had any. As we did have permission we were contactable and received some amount of flack from their CAA. We smoothed the path quite well for them, prison was mentioned on more than one occasion!

The airship did a fantastic job seemingly never out of the air and carrying a TV camera beaming live pictures from the stadium. During the evening we tethered next to the stadium and the airship still plodded around dropping leaflets.

Thai’s are football fanatics and the Asian cup was also held during the games in the evening. Our tethers coincided with all the home team games. As Thailand progressed through the ranks tickets sold out and it started to get ugly at the gates. For the semi final the fans burnt down the ticket tents in protest and several thousand extra tried to get in causing an outbreak of police brutality.

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Towards the northeast of Thailand lies the small but lively island of Koh Samui. With a population of less than 50,000 you would be forgiven for thinking it was a place where nothing really happened. This however is not true, and upon arrival you will instantly realise you have arrived in a special place.

Tourism has boomed recently as the word has spread on how impressive this small island really is. With beautiful white beaches, luscious lagoons, wonderful waterfalls and clear waters available to all tourists.

Holidaymakers choosing holidays on Koh Samui come to experience a different type of holiday. Koh Samui is not like your typical holiday destination; many come and visit the Choeng Mon Beach where they can relax and enjoy the surroundings. There is also a selection of restaurants for you to enjoy some of the islands cuisine.

Some tourist attractions include the Marine Park where you can take a walk through the tropical rainforest, secluded beaches and see some amazing wildlife. The aquarium and the Tiger Zoo in Koh Samui are also great places to visit; the aquarium is home to tropical fish and many types of aquatic animals. The Tiger Zoo is interesting to visit as you can have your picture taken with the tigers and leopards, if you dare!

If you are looking for some adventure then you can go scuba diving and snorkelling in the clear waters of Koh Samui. Alternatively, kayaking is available and well as sailing and cruising on the Catamaran Kia Ora. There are also forests in the surrounding areas which make the perfect place to go trekking. Along Chaweng lake there is also the chance to go bungy jumping.

There are a number of shops to find the perfect souvenir to take home. With a variety of sports shops, boutiques and fashion shops available you are sure to find something you like.

After a busy day experiencing all there is on offer you will want to kick back and relax. Koh Samui is famous for its beer bars that can be found all over the island and are definitely worth a visit. There are also many restaurants around the island offering typical Thai cuisine.

holidays in Koh Samui are becoming more popular as the island grows in reputation. Choose between package holidays and all inclusive deals and shop online for the best deals on holidays around.

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In the event that you are organizing your gap year, you are most likely searching the most well-liked gap year locations to head out to. It will come as no surprise that a Thailand gap year is at the number one spot for most popular gap year places.

So why is this you may be thinking? This writer thinks it may be a blend of reasons that high light Thailand gap years as a big attraction, and that it is not simply just a Thailand gap year that is on the agenda for travellers heading out on their gap year. Thailand gap year activities are often merged with a gap year in south east asia

Perhaps people consider a Thailand gap year as the main focus for their gap year travels, because of the logistics of flying to Asia. Bangkok airport terminal is surely one of the main Asian air hubs, with countless numbers of connecting flights and basically just about every key carrier flying in to Sukhamvit.

This has one major substantial effect: the prices of flights are incredibly competitive making a Thailand gap year significantly more affordable. At some times in the year you hear deals like 150 quid from London to Bangkok. That is cheaper than a low cost flight to a European destination in most cases.

You can also add the factor of round the world tickets to this too… After all round the world tickets are a extremely popular option with gap year travellers. Bangkok is probably the most well-liked initial stop over, and widely used on RTW tariffs.

Now before you say it, I know that the ease of travel does not play the only role in making a gap year destination popular, and even before Sukhamvit airport was build scores of people were taking a Thailand gap year. The reason is simple, Thailand is a fantastic destination to visit,

Probably the popularity of the Thailand gap year lies in the fact that Thailand really can offer it all. Great cultural experiences, beautiful landscapes, whether that be on the beach or in the tropical jungles, exciting cities and low travelling costs. Thailand really delivers.

Thailand really steps up to the plate with gap year sports, not traditions “games” tyre sports but the more adventurous and adrenaline pumping activities like learning to dive (being one of the best value places to learn in the world) and then there is also learning Muay Thai, a gap year programme available through Xtreme Gap year. Thailand really lives up to expectations with providing really energetic and sports related gap years, things like learning to dive, a very popular gap year activity, and learning Martial arts like mixed martial arts and Muay Thai – available through Xtreme Gap Year.

Which ever you plan on accomplishing on your gap year call Xtreme Gap for advice and inspiration regarding your travels.

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Thailand is located in the heart of Southeast Asia and is a beautiful country full of friendly people who enjoy visiting and sharing their lovely country with visitors when they arrive. The country has a beautiful tropical climate but it is important when planning your vacation to drink a lot of water during excursions to keep from becoming dehydrated.

Most people deciding on Thailand vacation packages choose Bangkok as their destination, however there is much more to this beautiful country and it is important that when you decide on your vacation package that you include excursions throughout the country.

In general a Thailand vacation package will include a seven to nine day stay and the guided vacation package are a little more expensive than the general vacation package. Most of the vacation packages include visits to one or all of the three major cities, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket as well as an excursion to Japan. All three of these destinations offer accommodations by major hotel chains that are well known throughout the world and the service received is impeccable.

Phuket is also a popular destination for Thailand vacation packages because it is located near the ocean with the natural forest lining it’s beautiful beachfronts. This popular beach resort area is very reminiscent of vacationing in Mexico with its sandy beaches and waterfront hotels. Many of the Thailand vacation packages offer a few days at the resort in Phuket to relax and unwind before moving onto the next busy city.

Chiang Mai is another popular tourist destination and a train makes the thirteen hour trip from Bangkok to Chiang Mai for most people who purchase Thailand vacation packages. Offers a bustling city and active nightlife that provide a visitor with a unique look and feel of Thailand. There are many restaurants serving traditional Thai food which blends the flavors of Asian cuisine in a unique and flavorful way.

When selecting a Thailand vacation package it is important to have one that provides guided tours of the country if you wish to see and learn as much about the country and culture as you can. It can become very difficult finding locations throughout Thailand if you are not with someone who is knowledgeable of the country and the specific towns that you are in.

Bangkok offers a most interesting experience as one of the oldest cities in Thailand. There are numerous temples that provide an exquisite sense of the history of the country as well as being the location of the Grand Palace of the King of Thailand and the Emerald Buddha. In addition Bangkok offers a very active nightlife and arts center which allows a visitor to experience theatre performed in the traditional Thai methods.

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Interpreting for the Kingdom of Siam

It took a good full week for me to complete my interpreting job in Patong, Phuket, Thailand. Everything was laid on for me, hotel accommodation, food; precisely everything I needed. I was actually on a clandestine mission with a Thai/American magazine to inspect some of the hotels in the resort areas of Patong and Phuket. My job-to gain invaluable information from farang (western foreign) tourists and farang workers at these establishments to help make up hotel inspection reports for magazine publishing. Easy? You might say? Not at all. Tourist life in Patong, Phuket was simple enough but actually pretending to be tourists with nine other male Thai inspectors of various ages was proving to be not only difficult but downright comical. The staff of everywhere we visited viewed us with some form of humorous curiosity. The thing is, we were all so different people and since it was impossible to discuss business while on the job, it became a tedious task to pretend that we were on a package tour together. The original suggestion was that we go as businessmen, but that was rejected since it would invite too much attention to ourselves from local businesses and may even attract a criminal element. So unlikely tourists we remained, awkward silence for most of the time except for the occasional reference to the Patong weather, the staff and the food, but nothing in detail. We based ourselves at the Horizon Patong Beach Resort Spa and hotel which as a matter of fact needed no real assessment because this was one place we could truly rely on. First class service with wonderful food and luxury hotel rooms and accommodation. No, our job was to reveal the truth about some of the shadier practices in the area.

Patong Beach – Those Squeaky Sands!

So there we were one night dining at one of the other hotels to test for service, speed, food and my job-to get chatting to a few foreigners to find out their experiences and opinions. The meal in that particular hotel was good, the location was good too; nearby the Patong Beach quiet and not pretentious. The speed and service was excellent and friendly too. I decided I would surreptitiously move into the bar attached to the restaurant and start talking to some of the tourists to get there matter of fact views and opinions of the hotel, restaurants and bars. I made my way over to one family who were having an aperitif before dinner and made my polite references about the hotel. The husband and wife complained about just about everything from the noisy seas to the squeaky sands of Patong beach! The next couple I spoke to were also forthcoming in their opinions about the hotel, but I swear I’ll remember this one for as long as I live. They said “we think the food is great, the hotel is wonderful and we’d definitely come back to Patong but..” they said pointing at my party “..we didn’t realize they allowed homosexual groups in the hotel”!

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Sattahip travel
If you wish to abstain awash bank areas like Pattaya, but do not wish to devious too far from Bangkok, Sattahip is the abode for you. Amid alone bisected an hour from Pattaya, this baby boondocks is a anchorage amidst the anarchy to the north. Sattahip, while getting a baby town, is aswell home to the Royal Thai Argosy Base, which keeps the beaches aboriginal and quiet.

Location

Sattahip is a baby Amphoe amid eighty-five kilometers from Chonburi. Home to the better argosy abject in Thailand, this boondocks still retains its attraction as a baby fishing village.

Highlights

Bang Sa Le: Bang Sa Le is a bizarre littoral fishing town, alms bounded blush as able-bodied as absorbing restaurants. The fishing actuality is outstanding and bounded companies accept boats which can be accountant at a basal cost.

The Sattahip Argosy Base: Despite the actuality that the government owns and manages the majority of the acreage in the area, civilians are still acceptable to appointment the beaches and characterless sections of the base.

The Chakkri Naruebet Aircraft Carrier: This is the aboriginal and alone aircraft carrier in Thailand. Tourists are accustomed to appointment the ship, and see the apparatus of this jewel of the Thai Navy. It is amid one kilometer from the berth at Had Nang Ram, area the baptize is apple-pie and the aliment is sumptuous.

Samaesan Village: This asleep little bank boondocks is amid at the end of Amphoe Sattahip. In the water, you can see the abounding fishing boats that accomplish the majority of the assets for the locals. This is a admirable abode to see the lifestyles of these harder alive people. Inside the apple is Wat Luang Pho Dam, which stands as a cairn to their acceptance in the aristocrat Buddha. From the beach, you will discount bright clear baptize and several of the islands off the coast.

How to Get There

From the boondocks of Chonburi, yield Highway 3 accomplished Amphoe Bang Lamung and Pattaya to Amphoe Sattahip. The absolute ambit is eighty-five kilometers. Before extensive Amphoe Sattahip, about-face at the Chuk Samet Berth to see the Aircraft Carrier and the Samaesan Village.

Accommodation at www.??????108.com

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charming beaches, clear waters, a pleasant climate, verdant green surroundings, a affluent culture and history and an abundance of entertainment and things to do! Malaysia offers you all this and more! Malaysia’s one of the top holiday destinations in South East Asia because of its position, topography, amiable people and its warmth. Let’s see what makes Malaysia such a fun place to visit – – Location Malaysia’s in the center of South East Asia, bordered by Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Philippines and Indonesia. This location makes it easy to reach Malaysia from any of these five countries. Apart from this, Malaysia’s connected by air to all other parts of the world. The national carrier Malaysian Airlines and the low cost carrier Air Asia have their base in Malaysia. So the capital city Kuala Lumpur is connected to a vast network of cities in all countries. Get great deals on Kuala Lumpur flights from London, Australia and all countries in Asia on the low cost carrier Air Asia. Travel to Malaysia on board the friendly Malaysian Airlines from USA, London, Europe, Africa, Australia, New Zealand or any country in Asia. – Accommodation Accommodation in Malaysia is very inexpensive when compared to other similar countries. You can book a good five star accommodation at less than $60 per night. And if you are a budget traveler, there are lots of decent low frills hotels available at very cheap rates. Most of the hotels offer free breakfast. The staffs are friendly and service is invariably good wherever you go in Malaysia. – Travel A holiday to Malaysia would be absolute if you visit all the important destinations – Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, Penang, Johor, Malacca, Sabah and Terengganu. Your holiday to Malaysia should ideally start from the capital city Kuala Lumpur. To travel to other destinations in Malaysia from Kuala Lumpur, it’s ideal to use the public transport system which is very reliable. Take a ferry or flight to go to Langkawi. Taxis are very reliable in Malaysia. So it’s better to take a taxi to travel to your destination than driving on your own which can be tedious. – Places to see 4. Kuala Lumpur –The capital city of Malaysia has a lot of attractions to offer. Take a day trip and see the city sights –stroll through Chinatown, see the Petronas tower, visit National Museum, take the life to the top of the KL city tower for a superb view of the city and visit Batu caves. Spend a full day in Genting Highlands; get to experience the world’s fastest cable car and enjoy the theme parks in the “city of entertainmentâ€?. 5. Langkawi This is a charming archipelago of islands that can be reached by ferry or flight from the mainland. Make sure to book a resort for your accommodation here and have fun in the sun and the beach. 6. Penang Penang is a dream destination for a holiday with lush green mountains and lovely beaches. There are lots of things to do in Penang for the adventure minded like snorkeling, surfing, hiking, sailing and cycling. Visit Georgetown, Penang National Park, botanical gardens ad Penang Beach. Penang’s a great place for cheap shopping. apart from this, visit Terengganu for its marvelous beaches, the Royal Abu Bakar Museum in Johor, Mount Kinabalu, Kota Kinabalu bird sanctuary in Sabah and ort Margherita and Sarawak Museum in Sarawak. Malaysia travel agents can get you a cheap holiday package that covers accommodation, travel and sightseeing. So, if you want a cheap tour to Malaysia, contact a travel agent and get holiday package details from him. Malaysian Airlines also sometimes offers some tour packages that offer a three night accommodation package for travelers to Malaysia. Make use of such offers for a great holiday at low cost . The internet is also a good source to obtain superb Malaysia holiday deals. You can get details of Malaysian travel agents on the net whom you can contact for the best travel deals. These agents should be able to provide with details of reliable Malaysian travel guides to direct you around all places of interest. So have a wonderful time in Malaysia, Truly Asia!

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Really cool Thailand Gap years.

Thailand gap year programmes are all the rage at the moment. Here are soe great ideas for you if you are Thinking about taking a thailand gap year. There are many different activities you can do Perhaps you just want to be a beach bum, perhaps you have more upbeat things in mind. It doesn’t matter what you are planning on doing on your Thailand gap year there are lots of different things you can get involved in

Most individuals Thailand gap year by backpacking around the country, which is a brilliantmethod to check outall the main events and attractions in thailand. is great, but it does have its limitations. The best, most rewarding way to spend your thailand gap year is to spend time in one location, allowing you to really get involved in a project or activity. This is perfect if your want to experience Thailand and intergrate with the local population getting to know the country.

Personally i like sports, Not being one for volunteering projects, i like soe action, so I have compiled my list of top programmesto get involved with on a Thailand Gap year.

Become an expert in Muay Thai.

loads of people go to thailand to learn Muay thai. Muay Thai is perfect for fitness and is the national sport. it’s also a very powerful fighting system. The best thing is that you get really fit and learn about thai Culture. Depending on where you learn you could have lots of experiences.

Learn Sub Aqua

Diving in Thailand is smashing. There is lots to experience doing it. Learning to dive whilst on your thailand Gap Year is the perfect way to spend lots of time there.

Learning to dive is really easy. There are standard programmes that you can learn allowing you to train to different levels. The most popular option, if you want to spend loads of time there is to do your Dive master. The Koh Tao divemaster course gives you unlimited diving every day and enjoy your time as a diver on a tropical island.

Practice soe yoga.
Yoga is good for relaxation and fitness. One place on Koh Tao in Thailand available through Xtreme Gap year. The yoga sala is situated on the beach under lush coconut palms. Lovely.

Learn how to Freedive.
Here is a different one. Freediving is being able to dive using your breath underwater down down to 30 metres or more. Meaning that you will be able to spend lots of time underwater with out any limits.
There is a real gap in between the abilities of a freediver and scuba diver.
A really amazing course that improves your fitness.

Try out with soe serious fitness training!

The first thing that comes to mind with Thailand is not lots of exercise. You will be amazed how effective it can bewith a fitness boot camp and centre for MMA training you can get really fit there.

All these Thailand gap year programmes are on display at Xtreme gap year. Xtreme Gap are a thailand gap year company that do adrenaline travel gap year and career break programmes

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Scuba Diving in Thailand has many rewards for Recreational Scuba Divers, and world class dive sites in Phuket and the Similan/Surin islands are recognised for their vibrant marine life, nutrient-rich coral reefs and clear blue, warm water. Adventurous tourists flocked to Thailand in search of palm fringed golden sand beaches, luxurious beachside accommodation, endless watersports and countless family activities, value for money that few tourists to Asia could resist. Late December 2004 saw an event that would scar the lives of so many people and my account of this tragedy is based on what happened on the Andaman Coast of Thailand, though I fully appreciate that other countries and continents were also affected.

In Thailand, more than 8,000 people were killed in the disaster, or have never been reunited with their families. This also included over 2,000 foreign tourists, most of which were taking holidays in and around Phuket. This southern province contributed approximately 40 percent of Thailand’s annual tourism income. The Indian Ocean tsunami was triggered by an undersea earthquake off the Indonesian island of Sumatra, and as the huge waves of tumbling water struck the Andaman shores, Phuket and its surrounding regions suffered raw nature at its worst. Phuket Scuba Divers who were actually under water at the time, recall a surge of water that pushed and pulled with all its might. Dive Boats were smashed, snorkelers were dragged along the beaches, and sunbathers were completely overwhelmed by a wall of water crashing overhead.

As you may expect, tourism in this region suffered tremendously, and has not yet fully recovered. Scuba Divers in Thailand are trying other diving destinations and during the last five years,  Scuba Diving in Pattaya  has seen a positive increase in the number of divers making a trip to dive in the Gulf of Thailand. The Pattaya Scuba Diving community are united in their efforts to attract more tourists and also to satisfy its expanding number of residing expats. The islands near to Pattaya offer divers and snorkelers a mixture of shallow calm bays sheltered from the strong currents, to deep dives around World War II US Landing Crafts that have been intentionally sunk by the Thai Navy, creating artificial reefs. Most of the Pattaya Dive Sites can be reached by a dive boat withing two hours and there are many PADI Dive Centers that offer daily Scuba Courses for beginners, Fun Diving Daytrips for certified divers and Snorkeling Tours for a relaxing day out to the Pattaya Islands.

Information, tips and advice for Scuba Diving in Pattaya

Most of the Pattaya dive sites have year-round diving and a good variety of diverse dive sites. From shallow coral dives to wreck diving, deep diving and drift diving, there are numerous scuba activities that can entertain beginners and even the most experienced scuba divers. The Pattaya Near Islands include Koh Sak, Koh Larn and Koh Khrok. Koh Larn means “Coral Island” in Thai, and the Thai’s feel that Koh Sak and Koh Khrok resemble a mortar and pestle, so they named them after the kitchen tools that they use to crush peppers. The Pattaya Far Islands include Koh Rin, Koh Man Wichai and Koh Phai. Because these island dive sites are around 15 km from Pattaya, they tend to be less crowded by dive boats and water sport activities. The boat trip takes about 90 minutes to get there, but the clearer visibility and the vibrant marine life makes these Pattaya dive sites worth the trip.

Pattaya ‘near’ islands;
Koh Sak – A sheltered, shallow bay, which makes this dive site ideal for beginners, novice divers, and snorkeling in Pattaya. The maximium depth is around 11 meters, with lots of hard coral formations providing a home to Rabbitfish, Butterflyfish, Octopus, Morays, Stingrays, Wrasse, Angelfish and Damselfish.
Koh Larn – The Golden Bay on the western side of Koh Larn provides a variety of dive sites for divers of all levels. With hard and soft corals extending to 20 meters, this dive site is best known for spotting Tawny Nurse Sharks and blue spotted Rays.
Koh Khrok – A finger shaped island that is suitable for drift diving. Maximum depth reaches around 12 meters, with an abundance of sea anemones, clown fish, nudibranchs, and turtles.

Pattaya ‘far’ islands;
Koh Rin – Koh Rin has many diving areas, including two small satelite islands called North Rock and South Rock. With an abundance of hard and soft corals, coral whips and feather stars, divers will not be disappointed with the aquatic creatures on view around these dive sites. The dive needn’t be deep here to see nudibranchs, sharks, razorfish, pipefish and morays.
Koh Man Wichai – Dives around this dive site in Pattaya can stretch down to 25 meters. There are two main dive sites, one being the ‘Wall Dive’ and the other being the ‘Fingers’. Both areas provide a variety of corals including staghorn coral table corals, and here’s where you’re most likely to see larger fish such as Baraccuda, while you’re in Pattaya diving.
Koh Phai – The beaches of this island are restricted because it is controlled by the Royal Thai Navy. The south of the island provides the best diving, with the small sheltered bay offering ideal conditions for beginner divers and those refreshing their dive skills. Close to Koh Phai is the wreck of the HTMS Khram, a WW II landing craft that was sunk in 2003 to create an artificial reef and a dive site for wreck diving.

Information about Wreck Diving in Pattaya

HTMS Khram Wreck – Early in 2003, the Thai Navy sank a decommissioned U.S. Warship between Koh Phai and Koh Larn island approx 15 km from Pattaya. The ship lies in 30 meters of water in the Gulf of Thailand, and was intentionally sunk to provide a breeding ground for fish, and a wreck dive for scuba divers. The Thai Navy prepared the ship as a dive site, and it is free from arms, oil and most of the other hazards to divers. The large holes that were made in many areas allow penetration dives through the ships passages whilst remaining in natural daylight. The wreck dive is a scuba diving gift for fish lovers’, with Baraccuda, Trevallys, Jacks, Fuseliers, Batfish, Turtles, Stonefish, Porcupinefish, Unicorn fish and Sharks to name just a few.
HTMS Kood Wreck – Thailand dive sites are diving gifts for all divers, but wreck diving in Pattaya is ‘nautical’ miles ahead ! In September 2006, the Royal Thai Navy sunk the HTMS Kood a short 45 minute boat trip from Pattaya Beach. The Kood World War II US landing craft, became the nearest wreck to Pattaya, available for recreational divers with a diving certification above entry level. A sister ship of the HTMS Khram, the Kood is another fine example of a thriving artificial reef offering another great dive site in Pattaya. Just to the northeast of Koh Sak, the bottom of the wreck lies at 30 meters and the top of the tower at 12m.
Hardeep Wreck – Originally an Indonesian-registered freighter, the Hardeep sank in 1943. More than sixty years of growth has seen the soft coral formations and tube sponge gardens firmly establish themselves, and the wreck provides a safe home for older and larger fish families. The fish life on the Hardeep Wreck includes Baraccuda, Angelfish, Jacks, Trevellys, Batfish and Butterflyfish. Laying on its starboard side in 27 meters of depth, the wreck is only 42 meters in length and contains some very large openings to allow divers a view of the engine room and crankshaft.
Bremen Wreck – The Bremen is an 88 metre long Thai cargo ship that sank in the 1930’s following an engine room explosion. The wreck now lies on the sandy bottom in 22 meters between Sattahip and Koh Khram. Though the wreck is badly broken, the bow and stern sections are still relatively intact, but the center part is mostly mangled steel. Wreck Penetration is generally not recommended on this dive. Though the currents can be strong here, if you plan your dive appropriately, the highlight of wreck diving the Bremen, is trying to spot the large Eagle Rays that thrive in these waters. The Bremen Wreck is situated in open water and experiences strong currents for much of the year. The optimum time to dive the Bremen is from December to March.

Pattaya, as a diving destination, cannot realistically compete with the natural underwater beauty of the pristine coral reefs of Phuket, but its aim for the near future is to attract scuba divers by hosting a special wreck diving region, having up to 5 new wrecks in the Pattaya diving area and helping to conserve and improve its marine environment. These artificial reefs provide a home for new coral formations and aquatic life, with the added bonus of being ‘off limits’ to the local fishermen which encourages larger fish to inhabit the wrecks. As Thailand continues to recover from the tragedy five years on, there’s little physical evidence of one of history’s worst natural disasters, other than an occasional Tsunami ‘Hazard Zone’ sign. Phuket remains one of Asia’s premier holiday resort islands, and although tourism is down, few people blame the tsunami.

Tourism is down ….. but is it because of the global economy ?