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Diving in
February
Thailand is now enjoying it's cool season and the flooding
that hit many parts of the country is becoming a bad memory.
Pattaya, escaped with only slight flooding in the usual low
spots, although many businesses in the town centre prepared
for the worst by stacking sandbags.
The normally blue skies have been replaced with periods of
clouds which is very unusual at this time of the year.
But the good news is that when it rains here it seldom lasts
for long. Just a quick downpour - a bit like April showers
on steroids. Then we all steam dry. But who cares ?
We're going diving and that means we are going to get wet
anyway.
We get very little run off from the island dives sites we visit so
the visibilty should continue at around 8-15metres
This time of year Pattaya can offer some of the best diving
in Thailand. This is partly due to the fact that we can
reach the best offshore dive sites without the risk of one
of the sudden monsoons that affect the more southern
locations.
Pattaya's newest wreck
The Royal Thai Navy honoured
their promise to sink a second ship as an artificial reef and
tourist attraction in September 2008 The new wreck, HMTS Luang
Khud ,is a sister ship of HTMS Khram, Thailand's first-ever artificial
reef, which has already been taken over and redecorated by marine life.
The Luang Khud was formerly the
US Exno and saw action in the Korean war. Later she joined the Thai
Navy fleet, but after 51 year's service was decommissioned and
sunk off Koh Sak, one of Pattaya's near islands.
Her "sister" ship, the Khram was sunk near
Koh Phai, about 20kms off Pattaya, in January 2002. Both ships
are sitting in the sailing position at 27m. Wreck
purists will be delighted to learn that neither wreck has been over "sanitised." Apart from the engine
being removed the ships are virtually in their original condition.
We dive both wrecks
regularly and rate them as suitable for newly certified
Advanced Open Water divers (under supervision) and qualified
divers.
The topside of the wreck is in easy reach of less experienced divers, while
those capable of penetration can find some nice dark bits inside
to test their skills.
Dive Sites in
Pattaya
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