Swimming

[Tufty]

How many of you would go swimming in the sea off Pattaya or Jomtian ?

I have just spent a few days on Koh Samet and went swimming everyday the water is very clean and I had no problem seeing what was in the water underneath me.

I have never swam in the sea off Pattaya beach as it always looks very murky and I have always had access to a pool but I do see a lot of Thais in the sea and quite a few Farang

I really enjoyed my holiday on Samet and quite fancy the idea of swimming in the sea off Koh Larn but is the water quality any better than Pattaya

Edited April 9, 2005 by Tufty

[Hobgoblin]

True, the beaches off the mainland look very murky. It's in part because of the heavy speedboat traffic, but the color of the sand also makes a difference. The sand off Jomthien and Pattaya beaches is brown and gritty, so the sun's reflections don't bounce back to the surface as well as it does with grey sands.

The best place for ocean swimming nearby is Ko Lan, where the sand is lighter. I've always preferred Hat Ta Waen at the north end of the island -- the sand is very fine and white, and the ocean water is a beautiful translucent sea green. Ta Waen is also not very crowded this time of year, so you can really have a peaceful day at the beach over there.

Just take the ฿20 ferry from the Pattaya dock/harbor south of walking street. Ferries take 45 minutes and leave at 10:00 and 12:00 (and other times too, that I'm not really sure of).

It takes a bit of time to get there, but the beaches there are much nicer than the mainland beaches.

[COBBER]

It was reported in the local rag a few months back that the local authorities were pumping raw sewar into the sea at Jomtien due to problems with the treatment plant and the situation would not be rectified for at least another year. I would not reccomend swimming at either Jomtien or Pattaya beaches.

[monsieurhappy]

We hadn't been to Koh Larn in 6 years, until last Friday. I was a bit reluctant because the beach we went to 6 yrs ago was dirty, rocky and lacked amenities. Anyway, we caught the ferry on Friday, 45 mins we were on Koh Larn and got a baht bus to Samae beach. 4 adults & 2 kids - 120 bt. Beautiful. Clean sand and sea. The kids were OK as the sea only slopes gently and no-one was using the jet-skis. The beach wasn't crowded and there were plenty of sunbeds and umbrellas. Toilets and showers on beach. Food & drink, but only Heineken or Singha. A good day, we will be going again soon.

[bmanly]

I do not recommend anybody to swim in beaches of Pattaya or Jomtien. I hired a motorcycle last year and pull up on Jomtien beach way up the other end further than the Blind Beggars Bar turn off where I saw raw sewerage going into the bay. It stank to hi heaven, anybody willing to risk swimming in that is crazy. I agree Koh Larn is very clean, went there 4 times last year and is where I do my swimming and beach activities whilst in Pattaya.

[Neeranam]

I have never swam in the sea off Pattaya beach as it always looks very murky and I have always had access to a pool but I do see a lot of Thais in the sea and quite a few Farang

So you don't go to Pattaya for the beach?

[ProfessorFart]

I often wonder how many people get lured to Pattaya by the brochure BS about it being a tropical paradise only to find that the beach is a real state.

[lovethailandlongtime]

I often wonder how many people get lured to Pattaya by the brochure BS about it being a tropical paradise only to find that the beach is a real state.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

think its the b1tch they come for and not the beach

[devildog683]

i've swam at the beaches in jomtien, still alive and well

[HarryHacker]

Mike's Department store had a great 'Chemical Free' pool on its roof, really was a great place for a safe swim. Mind you I have not bothered to go up there for the last 2 years, anyone know its condition now?

[Tufty]

I have never swam in the sea off Pattaya beach as it always looks very murky and I have always had access to a pool but I do see a lot of Thais in the sea and quite a few Farang

So you don't go to Pattaya for the beach?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I first came to Thailand on my own for a cheap holiday after an illness prompted me to get out and see more of the world, I started off in Bkk but after seeing all the sites with a tour guide and not knowing much about Thailand I asked her where I could go for a cheap beach holiday and it was her who suggested a few places, one of them being Pattaya.

Once I arrived I fell in love with the place and the people, having all the Farang around me made me feel safe in a country I knew very little about.

The fact a lot of the girls could speak English made it easier to understand Thai culture and of course the attention I received was overwhelming, yes I met a very nice b/g and spent the rest of my holiday with her doing all the regular tourist stuff, yes I fell for the girl and wanted to see her again so ended coming back another 5 times in that year and she took me to a different part of the country each time.

I spent the next 2 years coming back to see her (and her alone) as often as I could. I bought her a bar so she could support herself thinking that would stop her going with other men (how naive could I be) but she wrote and told me that she had met another guy and was going to Germany with him, quite devastated I didn't return for another 18 months

Coming from a small town in the UK I really liked the idea of a city by the sea and really missed Thailand, so I came back and within hours met another nice girl, I spent all my holiday again with her (and her alone) became very attached asked her to stop working on bars and I would happily support her and eventually bought her a small shop, 2 years after meeting her I was able to leave the UK and come to stay here with her (and her alone)

After only a few weeks it became obvious she had been seeing a Thai guy whilst I was away, so we split up

I spent quite a while living on my own (yes on my own) until I found a girl who I thought was trustworthy enough to start another relationship with, and have been with her (and her alone) for the past 18 months and we are very happy together and when I say together I mean together (she won't let me out of sight for very long)

So to answer your question, YES INITIALLY I DID COME DID COME HERE FOR THE BEACH but soon became distracted by the wily charms of Thai girls

I don't like your insinuation that I came here to take advantage of anyone and sh*g anything that takes my fancy (unlike a lot of tourists and THAI men alike) if anything I feel I am the one who has been taken advantage of but still love the place and the people,

I take an interest in all things about Pattaya and Thailand in but general living here I am concerned about the water quality and the infrastructure of Pattaya, which if the city continues to expand at the rate it is doing will surely collapse

I asked a legitimate question and expected a constructive response (as other members have given)

I applaud city halls attempts to get the beach cleaned prior to songkran and hope their efforts to improve the city will contiue

DON'T AUTOMATICALLY ASSUME AND IMPLY ALL FARANG THAT STAY IN PATTAYA ARE SEX TOURISTS WE AREN'T

[dvk1951]

Have heard many of the 'stories' over the years about the water quality of Pattaya beach but has anyone heard of or seen an actual water test report to substantiate any claims of its purity or impurity. Most governments in most countries will monitor water quality at a public beach as a matter of course but TIT. Would be curious of the same regarding the Jomtien beach water quality as well.

[Joey Boy]

I have never swam in the sea off Pattaya beach as it always looks very murky and I have always had access to a pool but I do see a lot of Thais in the sea and quite a few Farang

So you don't go to Pattaya for the beach?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I first came to Thailand on my own for a cheap holiday after an illness prompted me to get out and see more of the world, I started off in Bkk but after seeing all the sites with a tour guide and not knowing much about Thailand I asked her where I could go for a cheap beach holiday and it was her who suggested a few places, one of them being Pattaya.

Once I arrived I fell in love with the place and the people, having all the Farang around me made me feel safe in a country I knew very little about.

The fact a lot of the girls could speak English made it easier to understand Thai culture and of course the attention I received was overwhelming, yes I met a very nice b/g and spent the rest of my holiday with her doing all the regular tourist stuff, yes I fell for the girl and wanted to see her again so ended coming back another 5 times in that year and she took me to a different part of the country each time.

I spent the next 2 years coming back to see her (and her alone) as often as I could. I bought her a bar so she could support herself thinking that would stop her going with other men (how naive could I be) but she wrote and told me that she had met another guy and was going to Germany with him, quite devastated I didn't return for another 18 months

Coming from a small town in the UK I really liked the idea of a city by the sea and really missed Thailand, so I came back and within hours met another nice girl, I spent all my holiday again with her (and her alone) became very attached asked her to stop working on bars and I would happily support her and eventually bought her a small shop, 2 years after meeting her I was able to leave the UK and come to stay here with her (and her alone)

After only a few weeks it became obvious she had been seeing a Thai guy whilst I was away, so we split up

I spent quite a while living on my own (yes on my own) until I found a girl who I thought was trustworthy enough to start another relationship with, and have been with her (and her alone) for the past 18 months and we are very happy together and when I say together I mean together (she won't let me out of sight for very long)

So to answer your question, YES INITIALLY I DID COME DID COME HERE FOR THE BEACH but soon became distracted by the wily charms of Thai girls

I don't like your insinuation that I came here to take advantage of anyone and sh*g anything that takes my fancy (unlike a lot of tourists and THAI men alike) if anything I feel I am the one who has been taken advantage of but still love the place and the people,

I take an interest in all things about Pattaya and Thailand in but general living here I am concerned about the water quality and the infrastructure of Pattaya, which if the city continues to expand at the rate it is doing will surely collapse

I asked a legitimate question and expected a constructive response (as other members have given)

I applaud city halls attempts to get the beach cleaned prior to songkran and hope their efforts to improve the city will contiue

DON'T AUTOMATICALLY ASSUME AND IMPLY ALL FARANG THAT STAY IN PATTAYA ARE SEX TOURISTS WE AREN'T

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The sea @ pattaya is like a toilet imo (yes like a toilet)

[Jack Jones]

I couldn't believe how bad the beach was in Pattaya when I first came. Everybody told me how bad it was but you have to see it to believe it. I can't believe anybody comes to Pattaya for the beach. It's narrow, dirty and full of boats. Best off in Koh Chang of Samet if your heading down that way.

[ProfessorFart]

Its getting better though. My first time in 1992 it was like a brown soup. Now is seems a lot clearer. You can see the sea bed from the jetty which you never used to be able to do. I still wouldn't venture in though!

[SEAtramp]

If you want to see what your swimming in, go to the south end of pattaya beach when the tide is out. Its thick black sludge.

[britmaveric]

Pattaya beaches are awful. Take a speed boat to a Coral Island - cheap and no worries.

[sriracha john]

I often wonder how many people get lured to Pattaya by the brochure BS about it being a tropical paradise only to find that the beach is a real state.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Exactly... one of my points in the other "The Guardian" thread. Pattya has raw sewage (crap, &lt;deleted&gt;, manure, whatever you want to call it) getting dumped into the bay with untold microbes present, including E. Coli

yep... a real tropical paradise...

happy swimming to anyone brave enough to go in.