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Water
Sports :
 With
three coastlines stretching for hundreds of kilometers,
and some of the finest beaches to be found anywhere
in Southeast Asia, Thailand has become a major travel
destination for lovers of all kinds of water sports.
A number of excellent resorts offer a full range of
equipment at reasonable rates for anyone interested
in exploring the pleasures of deep-sea fishing, windsurfing,
water skiing, parasailing, scuba diving, or swimming
in crystal clear waters.
One of the first and still one of the most popular water
sport centers is Pattaya on the Gulf of Thailand, just
two hours drive from Bangkok. The main beach is located
on a scenic bay, but facilities are available along
the coast for several kilometers. There are also more
than 30 picturesque offshore islands with a wealth of
coral and many types of tropical fish.
The other major water sport center is the southern island
of Phuket in the Andaman Sea. Here on the west coast
there are more than 14 magnificent white sandy beaches,
all with warm, clear waters, as well as a large number
of nearby islands that boast diving conditions to rival
the best in the world.
Diving
:
Our long coastline offers some of the finest diving
opportunities not only  in
Asia but anywhere in the world. Phuket and Pattaya are
both major dive centres, and there are many training
facilities with internationally qualified instructors.
The majority of diving destinations close to Phuket
are located in nearby Phangnga , where hundreds of limestone
islands rise up from the blue waters. Also popular are
the largely uninhabited Similan Islands, recently listed
among the world's ten most beautiful spots for underwater
scenery and the spectacular Phi Phi Islands near Phuket.
On the other side of the peninsula in the Gulf of Thailand
is the Ang Thong Islands National Marine Park, a group
of more than 40 beautiful islands off the west of Surat
Thani province and near Ko Samui.
In Pattaya, scuba divers can organize daily trips from
the resort to the offshore islands of Ko Lan, Ko Sak,
and Ko Krok.
Fishing
:
The variety of magnificent scenery, coupled with year
round warm weather and an abundance of gamefish make
fishing in Thailand's seas a popular water sport.
The Gulf of Thailand, in contrast to the Andaman Sea,
is less saline, generally warmer and shallower. Sharks,
eagle rays, and barracuda are just a few of the species
to be seen here. During the cool season from November
to January, sailfish can be spotted in Pattaya and the
Bang Saray region, as well as in Chumphon and in the
waters around Ko Samui.
In the Gulf itself, Pattaya and Bang Saray are the major
centres for gamefishing, with plenty of charter boats
available.
Among the best fishing areas in the Andaman Sea are
Racha Yai Islands near Phuket and the Similan Islands,
northwest of Phuket. Sailfish season runs from mid-May
to November, while marlin and tuna bite during the months
of late November to May. The main gamefishing centre
is Chalong Beach, on the east coast of Phuket.
Canoeing
:
Increasingly popular among ecological-minded travelers
is the sport of sea canoeing, which offers adventure
while also conserving the environment. Sea Canoe Thailand
in Phuket and Sea Canoe Krabi both offer memorable trips
in nearby bays, through spectacular scenery that includes
huge caves only accessible by water.
Kayaking
:
Specially constructed inflatable kayaks are now widely
available in southern Thailand, especially in Phangnga
Bay, where they are used in expeditions to discover
the many extraordinary scenic features of the limestone
islands and mountains that characterize this region.
A number of tour companies offer a variety of expeditions,
some of which last several days with overnight accommodation
in tents on secluded beaches.
Golf
:
 We
have over two hundred golf courses, many of them championship
standard. So for golfers who not only appreciate a challenging
course, but an exotically different one too, Thailand
offers an unbelievable choice.
Some are just a short chip and putt from Bangkok, such
as the Navathanee Golf Course, which was created for
the 1975 World Cup and the Ekachai Golf Club, reckoned
to be one of the country's most testing courses. Outside
Bangkok, there are numerous courses offering high quality
facilities, including The Rose Garden in Nakhon Pathom,
the Siam Country Club in Pattaya, the Phuket Golf and
Country Club on the lush island of Phuket, and the Royal
Hua Hin Golf Course, probably the oldest in Thailand.
Mountain Biking
:
The north of Thailand is most suitable for this activity
because of its cooler temperatures, especially from
November to February. A number of companies offer well
organized biking tours, most include guides and, on
certain tours, back-up vehicles carrying food and overnight
equipment. Bikes are also widely available in major
tourists destinations, where they can be rented at extremely
reasonable rates on a daily basis.
Cliff Climbing
:
The most popular area for climbing is the southern province
of Phangnga, where towering limestone cliffs provide
the perfect challenge.
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