Every time I wander out in Pattaya there seems to be something new that I haven’t seen before. Walking round to buy a few bits and pieces there were new stalls, shops and even whole roads that I hadn’t come across before. And now is the time for bartering, a somewhat strange concept to a Westerner like me. But I had a go and it was good although no matter how much I haggled the price down I always came away feeling I’d lost the duel. Save for the last encounter where the price was written on the back of the label, around half the initial asking price. Had a good deal there I think.

So shopping done for now it’s time for another couple of days under the waves. The first day was ok, met some really nice folks on the boat and got to dive with the boss but again the visibility wasn’t too good. For the second day we went out to the Hardeep wreck of the Koh Samaesan. Apparently it is an Indonesian steamship requisitioned by the Japanese during World War II and sunk by Allied bombing in 1942.

We drifted out to the marker buoy, descended the barnacle covered chain to the sea bed and followed a line to the ship. It was pretty good, fairly good visibility and plenty to see. The ascent was more interesting with the current throwing you round a fair bit. After the 3 minute safety stop at 6 metres, and now with almost no visibility due to the current, my instructor motioned to release the line. We just floated gently in the current and when we hit the surface there was the boat. It was amazing to just drift with no visual reference at all.

The second dive of the day was coral just around the corner of the islands head and it was quite spectacular. The corals were good and the fish varied from shoaling yellowtails and angry little pink Anemonefish to some large butterfly fish and a very curious remora at the safety stop. A very good dive to end on and I think I’ve learnt as much diving here in Thailand as I did doing my courses out on the Great Barrier Reef.

To finish of the day we had a couple of beers at a Swiss bar just down the road before heading to an Italian restaurant on Beach Road that brew their own beer, and very nice it was too. Then it was back to the Boxing Roo, stopping off briefly at a club on the way back.

A very good few days.

Saturday started with an early rise and breakfast at a French restaurant in Jomtien before heading to the dive shop for a couple more excursions under the waves. Phil was also diving along with a couple of his work colleagues.

These two dives were old US war ships given to the Thai navy and sunk to for artificial reefs. This would be my first wreck dive and I’m not quite sure how it will compare to coral dives.

After the dive brief we kitted up and began the line decent to around 26 metres. With visibility limited to 6 metres there were no reference points on the way down but once we got to the bottom the ship came slowly into view. There was little current so it was easy to move around and look at things. And there was quite a lot to see if you could find it. Due to the low visibility we had to stay close to the instructor, John, but after looking at some colourful Nudibranches I looked up to see John and Phil swimming off. So I caught up with them just as they descended into a square hatch. Now I had a quandary. As I am not trained for penetrative wreck diving i knew i shouldn’t go in but John and Phil had gone in. I was just about to follow when I felt a sharp tug on my fin. It was John. I was following the wrong group!

The second wreck dive was different as the visibility dropped to 2 metres max and the current was a rising 50 for the ascent. As we waited a the 3 metre safety stop I could feel my mask being lifted and had to angle my head to prevent it being ripped off. It also made the exit from the water interesting! Two other divers attempted a drift around the bow of the wreck to the bottom of the line. They missed it and we’re swept away. The boat spotted their marker about 500 metres from the boat and they were safely picked up.

Both dives were good and I would like to do some more wreck diving but with better visibility and less divers. Overcrowding does not make for good diving.

In the evening we took a motorbike taxi up to Jomtein to eat Italian but unfortunately it was closed. Mexican was a good second choice. We then headed for a stroll down Pattiya’s infamous Walking Street, so called as it is closed to traffic in the evening. It was busy even through the evening was young, most of the bars and restaurants stay open until at least 4am. With so many bars and clubs it must be time for a beer or two after such a busy day.