Bangkok Travel Forum

Hi, I'm in a rush and have to decide today whether to go to Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur for short holiday. I really want to go diving and know you can easily do so from KL. But is that possible from Bangkok? How far does one have to travel to get to the nearest dive site?

Thanks!
Laurina

The dive launch point closest to Bangkok is Pattaya, which is very close indeed. Pattaya is something of a resort-and-hooker ridden hole, but if you are diving all day you can easily avoid all that.

Go to KL.

It's rainy season in Bangkok / SE Seaboard area and the viz in Pattaya will be awful; even when it is okay there is less to see compared to the dive sites you can reach quickly from KL.

It depends on how many days you have for "short" holiday. Basically, KL doesn't have any diving site within 400km radius. The best in West Malaysia will be its easy coast, Terengganu (7-8 hours by road), followed by Langkawi in Penang (4 hours by road, then 1 hour by sea). Personally, I think Terengganu is better where you can go to Perhentian Island (cheaper) or Redang island. There is a flight from KL to Kuala Terengganu from Airasia (www.airasia.com). The best is you have a 3D2N in Redang and you can do some sightseeing in Kuala Terengganu.

For Bangkok, I've never been to Pattaya but it is definetely the journey is closer to Bangkok (2 hours)

Let me know if you need more detail on Kuala Terengganu one. I've just been there last month, my 5th trip. :)

Hi everyone, thanks for responding! That's right I totally forgot about the rainy season... Currently in Maldives where despite the rain the visibility is ok (not the best compared to other times of the year...but...) Anyhow, I'll be going to Bangkok in the end but probably will have to leave the diving for another trip...thanks again!
Cheers
Laurina