MoonDoggie
New
However, if you are a rampant sex tourist then sure Pattaya is probably the best place for you to do your IDC.
What a stupid comment!
Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
However, if you are a rampant sex tourist then sure Pattaya is probably the best place for you to do your IDC.
JDF and Surin, you're both missing the OPs point. He's not planning on being here on holiday, he's coming to do a long-term, professional training internship. And, for this, Pattaya is an excellent choice, specifically for the reasons that make Pattaya less than desireable for many vacation/holiday divers.
Yes, Pattaya often has challenging currents, poor visibility and lots of others sharing the water. If you're here for a fun dive, that may turn you off. If you're trying to challenge and test yourself with an eye towrd becoming a professional instructor or divemaster, then those are pluses.
Think about rescue scenarios. The majority of rescues do not occur in flat waters with 100m visibility. They occur where the victim is stressed, whether it be through ripping currents, low viz or (inapplicable to Thailand) low temperatures. If you've trained as an instructor in only ideal conditions, what happens the first time you're out in the real world and have to face a real rescue in poor conditions. I certainly wouldn't want my instructor to be just as freaked out as me if I were a new diver in that situation.
With due respect to the other centers and CDs in southern Thailand, I think its fair to say that Pattaya consistently, 11 times a year, produces some of the highest quality instructors that pass the IE in Thailand and Southeast Asia. While they, of course, can never go on the record and say so in a forum such as this, PADI examiners, at each and every IE, tell the assembled candidates that they love coming to Pattaya because of the standard and level of preparedness of the students.
Note that Aquanauts has not had anyone fail an IE since June 2007 and has certified more than 70 instructors in that time.
As for the comment that only "rampant sex tourists" would enjoy Pattaya, you're simply being petty (and ignorant) Surinboy. Yes, if that's what you're into, then there's lots on offer, but Pattaya gets more total visitors (Thais and foreigners) than any other beach resort, nearly 5 million last year. There are more than a dozen tourist attractions, including a terrific aqarium, tropical gardens, zoos, museums and cultural sites. Families and young children are common sights and the city is host to FIVE 5-star resorts.
If it were what you claim, none of that would be true.
The red light scene is easily ignored and, for someone staying in one location for 6 months or longer, then remote locations like Khao Lak, while lovely, are impractical and even boring. If you're going to stay long-term, you want modern conveniences like shopping, theaters, bowling, gyms and a wide vareity of restaurant cuisines. The area is host to two recompression chambers, two world-class hospitals and offers all the enjoyment of tropical beach living and the comforts of an urban beach resort.
Is Pattay for everyone? No. But is it as bad as many on this forum from the southern regions like to claim? Certainly not.
or are a rampant sex tourist then sure Pattaya is probably the best place for you to do your IDC.
Fair enough Aquanauts....if he contacted you then you know more about his requirements than I do.
As for the other stuff...Wow! I really learnt something. Fxxk the Whale Sharks and Mantas over the Andaman side. I need to get my self over to Pattaya and hang out with some vets.
Enjoy your diving