Most people heading to Thailand for their vacation are looking forward to sitting on white sandy beaches and soaking up the warm tropical sunshine.  But when the rain showers comes in, the sunburn starts to hurt, or you just looking to do something different with your day, their is plenty of great trips to do some sightseeing around Pattaya.

One good trip, especially on rainy days as it is indoors, is the Pattaya Aquarium.  Underwater World Pattaya is the only one of it’s kind in the local area.  It is a short drive from the city center and can be booked through most tour agents or the hotel tour desk.  If you prefer, you can get there on your own by hiring a Baht Bus to take you there and pick you up.

The sign out front says it’s an edutainment experience, I’m not quite sure what that means as there really isn’t much in the way of education at this aquarium.  And to be honest, if you have been to a major western aquarium you will be under whelmed with the exhibits they have on offer.  However it is still a nice exhibit and a fun way to while a way a few hours during the day.

The theme of the aquarium is kind of cool.  You are essentially walking your way down to the bottom of the ocean viewing the different exhibits on your way.  You start at the sandy beaches looking at stingrays, then meander along a winding path as the fish and tanks get bigger and bigger.  The end of the tour is a walk through a 100 meter tunnel made of clear glass with the fish swimming all around and above you.  You do feel like you are right there in their environment.

All in All it is a fun way to spend the day, and well worth the 400 Baht that it will cost you to enter the park.