Yellow Submarine
By Dave Rudd
Journey down below in this yellow submarine
It has to be said that not many people come to Pattaya with ecotourism in mind, yet several companies have set up submarine tours of nearby islands and there are also some beautiful gardens around the region.
Visible from Pattaya Beach, Koh Larn is just a few nautical miles offshore and takes around 45 minutes to get to by ferry and just 15 minutes by speedboat. The beaches here are much nicer and less crowded than any of those in and around Pattaya, with the best of them on the west coast. Ferries depart from Laem Bali Hai Pier in Pattaya for Koh Larn in the morning, while speedboats can go any time.
Koh Sak island is just offshore from Koh Larn and is a much smaller island with a couple of nice beaches. The best of the coral reefs are at the south shore and there is also accommodation on the island.
There are also some other islands ecotourists could head for, including those of Koh Khrok and the Kho Phai group. Koh Khrok is just to the east of Koh Larn and is essentially a little rocky islet with a short beach. Kho Phai is best known as Bamboo Island and lies amid a larger group of small islands. They include Koh Klung Badan and Koh Rin, among others, and are most popular with scuba divers. More on diving.
A look at the various submarine trips
Tours to Koh Larn and Koh Sak islands can be had aboard submarines and semi-submarines and leave from various spots in Pattaya and the islands throughout the day. Koh Larn (Coral Island) is the main one that tourists tend to head to, either by ferry boat or in a submarine.
Vimantaitalay’s Pirom Submarine: this was Pattaya’s very first submarine and is its most impressive. Tours go from the floating station at Koh Sak, so you will first need to take a ferry to the island from Laem Bali Hai Pier in South Pattaya. There are four sailings per day with a trip time of around 40 minutes, and, although expensive, the submarine takes in Koh Sak’s coral reef down to depths of 30m or more.
The submarine goes by the name of Pirom and was built in Belgium and later acquired by a Thai company after a time in Israel. The sub can dive to a depth of 100m, has a 48 person capacity, and a maximum speed of seven knots. The full tour involves a 30-minute boat ride to Koh Sak from South Pattaya’s pier, followed by a transfer to a barge, and then the time in the submarine.
Finding nemo is great fun with the kids
Hi-tech Submarine: runs a twice daily dive between Koh Sak and Koh Larn, going down to a depth of around 15m. The trip takes in multicoloured soft corals and a huge range of fish, with sailings at 11:00 and 13:30. Speedboats run from Laem Bali Hai Pier in South Pattaya.
Pattaya Pakarang Semi-submarine: as the title suggests, this sub is half in, half out of the water and, therefore, does not dive like the others. You do get a decent view of the marine life, however, and trips go from a pier at the headquarters on Beach Road in North Pattaya. Lunch is included in with the deal.
Other Pattaya ecotourism options
Pattaya Elephant Village: apart from the stage shows, Pattaya Elephant Village also has hour-long elephant rides, along with bamboo rafting. If you would also like to see the show, it includes a demonstration of how the beasts work in the jungle and a war parade. The show lasts for an hour and takes place at 14:30 every day. The Pattaya Elephant Village is out of town on Phonpraphanimit Road.
Nong Nooch Tropical Garden: this stunning garden is about 15 minutes outside Central Pattaya along Sukhumvit Road and features manicured lawns and shrubs. There are waterfalls here, along with elephant shows and restaurants. It is a bit on the expensive side for foreigners but you could easily spend the day here.
Siriphon Orchid Farm: located on Noen Phlap Wan Road, not far from the beaches by car or bike, this orchid farm has a variety of orchid, including those of the Golden Shower, Vanda, Cattleya, and Pompadua species.
Saithip Butterfly Garden: Asia's supposed largest butterfly garden is a few kilometres out of town on Highway 36 and is lots of fun for those with kids. It is also of interest for those looking to escape the Pattaya norm. The garden covers a huge area and is home to an array of butterflies, while next door is an orchid farm and a bee museum.
Buddha Hill: just a few minutes away from the bustle by songthaew is one of the finest vantage points in the entire resort of Pattaya. A huge Buddha statue sits atop the highest point of the hill, while nearby is a quaint thinking area that is dedicated to Lao-zi and Confucius. Across the road from Buddha Hill is a fine view over Pattaya Bay.
More on Pattaya attractions.
Travel insurance: although diving around Pattaya is extremely safe, occasional mishaps do occur so it's vital to have to the best quality travel insurance arranged. We recommend the online travel insurance site Travel Insurance Discounts for UK visitors.
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