Pattaya is one of the most visited and interesting resorts in Thailand. It is famous for its beaches, unusual sights and, of course, the oceanarium. All tourists vacationing in this country need to visit it. After all, the Pattaya Aquarium is not the largest, but it is very interesting there. This place is included in the obligatory tourist program, and people often come here on their own to have fun.
Why visit Pattaya
Thailand is one of the favorite vacation spots for tourists from all over the world. And the most popular resort city is Pattaya. It is considered a city of entertainment, because, in addition to swimming in the sea, there are many things to see:
- Mini Siam Park, which contains miniature copies of many architectural monuments in Asia;
- many will be interested in visiting the unique floating market;
- tourists visiting Thailand are recommended to visit the Big Buddha Hill;
- the well-known Temple of Truth is also interesting;
- for art lovers there is a gallery "Satin Fine Art";
- many will enjoy the amazing reserve "Elephant Village";
- The famous Kao Keo Zoo, or Tiger Zoo, are also popular.
And the oceanarium is becoming a must-see for many in Pattaya. This amazing place will be interesting not only for children but also for adults. Despite the fact that there is a larger aquarium in Bangkok , Pattaya offers visitors not only to see the diverse underwater world, but also to touch it, and even participate in its life.
general characteristics
The Pattaya Aquarium, whose address is known in every travel agency (Pattaya, Bang Lamung District, Chon Buri, 22/22 Moo 11, Sukhumvit Rd), opened in 2003. It is not the largest in the country, but it is one of those places that you must visit when you come to Thailand. Oceanarium in Pattaya allows you to get acquainted with the underwater world of the South China Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. About 200 species of marine life are represented here. In total, more than 4000 animals and fish live in the aquarium. And many of them can not only be seen, but also touched and even fed.
It is called the underwater aquarium - Underwater World Pattaya, or "The Underwater World of Pattaya." It works daily from 9-00 to 18-00, but the ticket office closes an hour before the end of work. It is best to come here on weekdays, as there are a lot of people on weekends. Most tourists coming to Thailand must visit the Pattaya Aquarium. The ticket price is low - only 500 butts for an adult and 300 for a child. And for kids, admission is free. But you can save money and visit the aquarium with a guided tour, since it costs the same, but this amount also includes travel.
Pattaya Oceanarium: how to get there
It’s easy to get to this place on your own, especially since you won’t pass by, as a billboard with a shark is visible from afar. The Aquarium is located in the southern part of the city on Sukhumvit Street. Nearby are the large supermarkets Tesco Lotus and Marco, so the place is famous.
How to get to the Pattaya Aquarium - everyone who wants to visit it on their own needs to know. There are many options, for example, renting a car, it is not very expensive, and there are no problems with parking near the aquarium. But you can also reach by public transport. Mototaxi will be one of the cheapest, it will have to pay only 30 butts, but it can take only one person. Therefore, it is best to take a taxi called tuk-tuk. It costs 100 butts. Small open pickups with a canopy and benches also ply the city center. This is a songteo, the trip on which costs only 10 butts. You can also order a taxi, which will cost from 150 baht depending on the distance.
What to see
The Pattaya Oceanarium is smaller than many others, but there are many interesting things. The whole territory is conditionally divided into several parts, which are separate corners of the underwater world:
- Small outdoor pools called the “Touch of the Sea” allow not only to admire the marine inhabitants, but also touch them. In addition to a variety of fish, sea turtles, stingrays and even small sharks live there. And in the same pool with a waterfall live red carps, which you can feed from a bottle.
- You can get acquainted with the underwater world of tropical seas by visiting an aquarium with coral reefs. A variety of fish, mollusks and even predators live here.
- The tunnel passing through the tank with sharks and slopes will allow you to feel yourself at the bottom of the sea.
What kind of animals can be seen
Pattaya Oceanarium offers to get acquainted with the underwater world of the Gulf of Thailand and the South China Sea. In addition, many marine inhabitants of other tropical seas are represented here - some of them were imported from South America. In total, more than 200 species of various animals live in the aquarium. There are even very rare ones, for example, Aral shovelnose, angel fish, guban-cleaner, catfish-albino, giant Siamese carp and others.
There are many sharks, stingrays, sea turtles in the aquarium. There are such unusual underwater inhabitants as sea cucumber, starfish, napoleon fish, swordfish, clown fish, seahorses, moray eels. In one pool there is a large number of red carps, which are very sociable and love to eat on hand. There is also an aviary in the oceanarium with sea otters. These animals are trained, they appear in front of visitors. Among the aquariums there are also several terrariums with lizards and toads.
Communication with the inhabitants of the aquarium
What is unusual about this oceanarium is that you can get to know the marine life quite closely. Near the entrance there is a shallow pool in which safe sea animals live: turtles, blue rays, many small fish and even cat sharks. You can touch them all, only you can’t get anyone out of the pool. Nearby is another tank where red carps live. It attracts visitors not only the waterfall, but also the opportunity to chat with them. These fish are very sociable, they are happy to eat from their hands. To feed them, you need to pay 20 butts and take a special bottle with a pacifier.
Then you can go into the tunnel, where there is also the opportunity to chat with fish. First of all, it is a special aquarium in which there are specially designed openings. Water from them does not pour out, but each visitor can put his hand in there and touch the marine inhabitants. In addition, for a fee - 3,500 butts - you can swim next to sharks. The visitor is given equipment and is accompanied by an instructor.
Feeding animals and fish
One of the most interesting entertainments for children and adults is feeding animals. There is a schedule, they are fed at different times, so you can fully enjoy this process. In addition to being offered to feed hand-held orange carps on their own, it is interesting to see how oceanarium personnel feed sharks, stingrays, turtles and otters. Moreover, regular feeding often turns into a show. The staff is always happy to chat with visitors, entertain children.
Entertainment for visitors
If you come to the aquarium with a guided tour, then the visit time will be limited. Therefore, some get to the aquarium on their own and spend almost the whole day here. After all, there is something to see in this place. In addition to pools and aquariums with outlandish fish, the Pattaya Aquarium offers plenty of fun. Therefore, you won’t be bored.
In addition to self-sightseeing and communication with marine life near the entrance, you can watch shows with sea otters or feeding sharks. This happens several times a day, and the schedule can be found at the box office. Especially many people like the extreme attraction - swimming with sharks. It costs quite a lot - 3,500 butts, but it delivers a lot of thrills. In addition, educational programs and lectures on marine life are often held for children. At local schools, a visit to the aquarium is even part of the program.
You can relax in one of the several cozy cafes where you can enjoy goodies and cold drinks. And in order to leave a memory of visiting this place for a long time, you can order a photo or video. In the aquarium there is also a souvenir shop where you can buy any marine life or its photo.
Aquarium Tunnel
This is the most interesting place in the aquarium. The 100-meter-long tunnel curiously bends, passing under a huge aquarium with different fish. Acrylic glass is thick - 6.5 cm, this ensures the safety of visitors, but allows them to see the underwater world from the inside out to the smallest detail. This aquarium is conditionally divided into several zones:
- the most popular area, which is inhabited by huge sharks and stingrays;
- the second section with fancy coral reefs allows you to get acquainted with exotic fish, such as butterfly fish;
- the next zone is the underwater world of the Amazon River;
- and another area that children especially like is the stylization of a shipwreck with a model of a ship that actually sank in the South China Sea.
Pattaya Oceanarium: reviews
Those who come to Thailand, especially with children, are sure to seek to visit the oceanarium. This tour leaves a lot of amazing sensations and a memory for a lifetime. Many people like the opportunity to chat with animals, because it is a source of positive emotions, while others are delighted with the opportunity to swim with sharks and feed them. And children like everything here. Therefore, the Pattaya Aquarium is so popular. The ticket price is low, and there are a lot of impressions.