Pattaya’s new sea walking permits will begin in October, setting fresh rules for operators while protecting marine areas and improving visitor safety.
Pattaya’s sea walking permits are set to make the marine attraction more regulated from October, with city authorities saying the change is designed to protect the sea and raise safety standards for visitors.
What sea walking involves
Sea walking lets participants wear special air-supplied helmets and descend to a depth of 7–10 metres. The walk lasts 15–20 minutes, and people can breathe normally while viewing the underwater world without scuba-diving experience. The attraction currently costs about 1,600 THB per person.
How the permit system will work
Pattaya is becoming the first city in Thailand to introduce a permit system for this activity. The new rules will start in October, after officials met 10 local operators at Pattaya City Hall on 9 September and presented a draft containing 19 requirements.
- Only Thai citizens with a registered business and a valid tourism licence may apply for a permit.
- Sea walking zones must be approved by the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR).
- Boats must meet maritime safety standards set by the Marine Department.
- Life-saving and diving equipment must be certified and in working order.
- Operators must complete special training.
Why the city is changing the layout
Officials have moved the activity areas away from coral reef zones to open water at a depth of 5–7 metres. The aim is to give tourists access to marine life while allowing reefs time to recover. A monitoring committee is also planned to check service quality, equipment condition and compliance with environmental rules.
For visitors, the change signals a more professional version of one of Pattaya’s better-known marine activities. For the city, the hope is that sea walking permits will support tourism growth without putting extra pressure on the marine environment.
