How to be an Ecotourist, Pattaya-style

Thinking about diving off the Koh Sak and Koh Lan reefs while in Pattaya? Well, why not think "green" and try something a bit less impactful instead. There are now two ways to see the same thing as you would on a dive into these reefs, but in addition, you can also help rebuild the environment and help save the area for generations to come.

And that would be by putting away those flippers and taking a submarine instead. Much like at home, where you would take a bus to work instead of driving your gas-guzzling SUV, these subs and semi-subs will allow you to see the entire natural wonders at 1/20th the environmental impact.

But before diving into the specifics of the ecotourism offered in Pattaya, let's first delve into what it means to be a true ecotourist. The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) - established in 1990 - defines and monitors ecotourism around the world, and has defined ecotourism using the following seven criteria:

1) The tour facilitates environmental awareness.
2) The tour minimizes any impact on the environment.
3) The tour gives direct financial benefits for conservation and preservation.
4) The tour respects the culture of the local environment.
5) The tour involves travel to a natural destination.
6) The tour provides financial benefits for the local community.
7) The tour supports democratic movements and human rights.

That's a tall order for any tour company to fill, and as history shows, greed and malfeasance leads to false advertising, so as a consumer you have to be careful and be aware of charlatans in this ecogame.

Fortunately, in the case of Pattaya Pakarang Semi-Submarine and Pirom Submarine tours of Pattaya, the market has borne out the truth, and these operators are in compliance with at least 1-6 of the above TIES criteria. There is no real way of really confirming the first part of #7, in light of Thailand's crazy political fluctuations.

Both these tours take passengers to Koh Sak and Koh Lan, which are the "Near" islands to Pattaya, lying just about 8km offshore. Passengers embark by ferry from Laem Bali Hai Pier and land at their respective diving platforms, where either the sub or semi-sub is parked.

A semi-sub is a vehicle that does not go far below the water, but instead has a glass-bottomed viewing port and glides just below the water line. The submarine tour uses a true submersible that can dive to about 30 meters, giving passengers a closer inspection of the corral and other wildlife. The latter is usually a bit more expensive, and caters to those who feel comfortable dozens of meters deep.

Both tours will give you an up-close and personal look at some of Thailand's best coral reef, which luckily is still in excellent condition. These reefs are home to over 4,000 species of fish, 800 species of coral, and thousands of other plants and animals. The reefs protect nearby shorelines against storm erosion and wave damage, so it's important to keep these reefs safe from harm.

That's where the eco part of these two tours comes into play. Since clumsy divers have been responsible for banging into coral formations and causing irreparable damage to this fragile ecosystem in the past, and with fisherman dropping anchor onto the coral repeatedly over the decades, the ecosystem off the coast of Pattaya is at great risk – so the idea of "bussing" guests into the formations via submarine has been one great coral saver!


This article's author lives and works in Phuket, Thailand's most popular tourist destination. CarHirePhuket.com provides car hire at locations across Phuket and Thailand, including Pattaya car rental and Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport car rentals. CarHirePhuket.com allows users to find low cost deals from local and international hire car providers operating in Thailand.