Water sports in Pattaya
In short
Water sports in Pattaya mean jet skis, parasailing and flyboarding, best done from your own boat.
- The big three
- Jet skis, parasailing and flyboarding, off the beaches and around Koh Larn
- Under the water
- Snorkelling and scuba diving round the islands, with PADI 5 Star centres in town
- On a lake
- Cable wakeboarding at Thai Wake Park, near Mabprachan Reservoir
- Jet ski rule
- Rental jet skis need a Marine Department licence for rental use
- Our boat
- From ฿49,000 for 8 hours, up to 16 guests, with the DJ and the bar on top
A day of water sports in Pattaya
The best water day in Pattaya is your own boat, the group, and the sea to yourselves: swim off the back, ride between swims, lunch on board and back for sunset. Jet skis, parasailing and flyboarding all run off Pattaya's beaches and around Koh Larn, where Tawaen Beach is the busy one for water sports. On your own day, Tanner books the rides around the boat, with licensed operators only.
Jet skis in Pattaya
A rental jet ski needs its own Marine Department licence for rental use, under a 2016 ministerial regulation, and the licence lasts no more than 12 months, the [Marine Department](https://laws.md.go.th/laws-domestic/home/detail/401/?sID=401) says. In Pattaya, the Marine Department and the Tourist Police inspect operators and test drivers for alcohol and drugs. We arrange licensed jet skis as part of the boat day, never a beach rental, with a safety briefing first. For the private island tour, see [jet ski in Pattaya](/jet-ski-pattaya).
Parasailing in Pattaya
Parasailing in Pattaya is the view: you rise on a parachute behind a boat and see the whole bay, Koh Larn on one side and the city on the other. Tanner books it with the same licensed operators as the jet skis, and the operator briefs you before you go up. Insider tip: do the rides before lunch, so the drinks come after.
Flyboarding
Flyboarding is the one the group films: a water jet lifts you above the sea, and the first try is always the funniest. It's the pick for the friend who wants something nobody back home has done.
Snorkelling and scuba diving
Scuba diving in Pattaya is round the islands off the coast, and the coral there is protected: every hard coral is protected wildlife under Thailand's Wildlife Preservation Act, so look, don't touch, and never stand on it. For a proper dive, go with a licensed centre: PADI lists Pattaya Dive Centre and Seafari as PADI 5 Star centres, and PADI's listing calls Seafari the first PADI 5 Star dive centre in Thailand. Snorkellers go from the boat, between the beach stops. The islands are on our [islands near Pattaya](/islands-near-pattaya) page.
Wakeboarding
Wakeboarding near Pattaya is on a lake, not the sea: Thai Wake Park is a cable wakeboard park near Mabprachan Reservoir, about 20 minutes' drive from Central Pattaya. It's the cable park for a group that wants to ride without a boat. Tanner checks the session times for your date and sends the car.
Kitesurfing
Kitesurfing is for the riders who already know what they're doing, or want a proper lesson. Tanner finds a school for your level and your dates.
Your own boat for the water day
Water sports in Pattaya are better from your own boat: one pickup from Ocean Marina in Na Jomtien, the beach you choose, and rides booked around the swim and the lunch. Our boat day is from ฿49,000 for 8 hours for up to 16 guests, with the DJ and the bar on top. Every other boat's price depends on the boat, and Tanner quotes to your plan. Under the Navigation in Thai Waters Act, a boat carrying more than 12 passengers is a passenger vessel and may not carry more than its licence states, so bigger groups take a second boat. Add a [private chef](/private-chef) for lunch on board and a DJ at ฿8,000 a day. Tanner's pick for a group of 12: the boat day, jet skis around Koh Larn, and the chef on board. See [yachts in Pattaya](/yachts).
The best water sport for your group
The best water sport in Pattaya depends on what the group wants: for speed, the jet ski; for the view, parasailing; for the video, flyboarding; and for the coral, a dive. For a full day that has them all, take your own boat with the rides booked around it. For the go-karts and the water in one run, see the [adrenaline day](/adrenaline-day). Back on land, the night is at the [Pattaya nightclubs](/nightclubs). Ask Tanner what the group wants to ride. [Plan it with Tanner](/plan).
Water sports in Pattaya: the short version
- Jet skis: licensed, as part of the boat day. - Parasailing and flyboarding: booked with licensed operators. - Diving: PADI 5 Star centres; hard coral is protected. - Wakeboarding: Thai Wake Park, near Mabprachan Reservoir. - Our boat: from ฿49,000 for 8 hours, up to 16, with the DJ and the bar on top. Checked November 2026
Questions
FAQ
What water sports can you do in Pattaya?
Jet skis, parasailing and flyboarding off the beaches and around Koh Larn, plus snorkelling, scuba diving, kitesurfing and cable wakeboarding. On your own boat, Tanner books the rides around the swim and the lunch.
Is it safe to rent a jet ski in Pattaya?
Use a licensed operator. A rental jet ski needs a Marine Department licence, and in Pattaya the Marine Department and the Tourist Police inspect operators. We arrange licensed jet skis as part of the boat day.
Is there parasailing in Pattaya?
Yes, off the beaches around the bay, with the whole of Pattaya Bay below you. Tanner books licensed operators only, and fits it in before lunch and the drinks.
Where can you go scuba diving in Pattaya?
Round the islands off the coast, with a licensed centre. PADI lists Pattaya Dive Centre and Seafari as PADI 5 Star centres. All hard coral is protected wildlife in Thailand, so look and don't touch.
Is there wakeboarding in Pattaya?
Yes, on a lake: Thai Wake Park is a cable wakeboard park near Mabprachan Reservoir, about 20 minutes' drive from Central Pattaya. Tanner checks the session times for your date and sends the car.
What are the water sports on Coral Island?
Coral Island, or Koh Larn, has its water sports off Tawaen Beach, the island's busiest beach. On your own boat, you anchor off a quieter beach and ride from there.
What's the best way to do water sports in Pattaya with a group?
Your own boat: our boat day is from ฿49,000 for 8 hours for up to 16 guests, with the DJ and the bar on top. Tanner books the jet skis and rides around it.
Can you drink before jet skiing in Pattaya?
Don't. In Pattaya, the Marine Department and the Tourist Police test operators' drivers for alcohol and drugs, and the same sense applies to you. Ride first, and the drinks come after.
Plan it
Plan it with Tanner
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