No Swimming!

[Get Thai'd]

I am considering being a long-term resident of Patts. I was asking on another board if it's hard to live a healthy life there. Surely there must be more excersize options that elbow-bending and pelvic thrusting. I said I thought that, living in a beach town,it would be great to swim in that beautiful ocean. Someone who lived there said you are risking your life if you do so. He wasn't clear, but apparently the water is so contaminated with microbes, etc that it could kill you. Is this the case, or is he exaggerating?

Edited June 1, 2011 by get_thaid

[praf974]

beautifull ocean? depending on the tide and weather it can look a bit offputting, when its very calm the water tends to have a brownish yellow hue to it and there is a fair bit of floating rubbish, surface scum and stagnant froth. you can find cleanish bits if you walk up and down the beach though, and it seems much better when theres a bit of wave action going on.

[Daveo]

I am considering being a long-term resident of Patts. I was asking on another board if it's hard to live a healthy life there. Surely there must be more excersize options that elbow-bending and pelvic thrusting. I said I thought that, living in a beach town,it would be great to swim in that beautiful ocean. Someone who lived there said you are risking your life if you do so. He wasn't clear, but apparently the water is so contaminated with microbes, etc that it could kill you. Is this the case, or is he exaggerating?

 

He like many other idiots are talking from their arse mate, I mean fish do shit in the sea so dont drink it but its ok to swim in.

[Sexyfarangman]

Best to stick to swimming pools and Gyms if you want to stay in shape.

[jojomecanic]

There was a great picture somewhere on this board, probably taken from Grand hotel, showing all the Pattaya shit spreading along the beach.

 

If you're not sure about what i say, just walk to BBgarden and look on your left...

Remember the smell as you get in WS ? It goes straight into the sea.

 

But I'm probably an other idiot...

 

anyway, many people swim in there, and no death reported yet. Up to you...

[GoldCoastJon]

Pattaya beach and even Jomtien beach aren't the cleanest, I certainly stick to swimming in either a hotel pool or Pattaya park. Last year i used Tony's gym a few times on 3rd road and they have a pool there you can swim laps if thats your thing.

 

Cheers

Jon

[McFly]

I don't think there's a law preventing places from running sewage into the ocean. Jomtien is cleaner than Pattaya, but for swimming it's not a bad idea to go to Koh Lahn.

[Robbiarti]

i agree the water isnt the cleanest but when im there i still go in for a dip most days, and im still very much alive. id say jump in, you'll be fine. i do try not to swallow any of it though

[Slacker]

Pattaya Beach is one of the more off-putting beaches I have ever visited - virtually nothing to it and the water is disgusting. No 'Blue Flags' here. As many have said, you probably won't die (unless hit by a motorboat or jetski), but infections are easy to pick up...eye, ear, etc. Beach showers would be a good idea for the hardy that do indulge.

[Harry Brown]

I would err on the side of caution with all the shit that flows into it.

 

Can someone difiinitivly tell me if Pattayas' sewerage is septic or does it go to a sewerage treatment plant or as I'm led to believe into the Ocean /

[gogo dog]

anyway, many people swim in there, and no death reported yet.

 

Several people have been killed by boats and jetskis.

[furryman]

I would not swim at pattaya beach the water there is nasty and yes there is a big STORM SEWER that runs into the water right by PBG/entrance to WS. It's a storm sewer but it still picks up a lot of nastiness from the streets.

 

Jomtien beach is nicer, and the beach is better, koh larn a step above that, but there is trash in the water at all 3. I have swam at Jomtien and Ko Larn and always felt like I had a nasty film all over me afterwards.

 

If I was going to be swimming every day for exercise I think I would go with the pool option.

[QuotaMan]

Even the Jomtien side has disgusting stuff in the water. Every morning people sweep the beach littered with trash, but it keeps coming. Bottles, underwear, etc. It is nasty.

 

The best exercise is to go for a walk or run along beach road early in the morning. That's all the cardio you need. For resistance you can do simple body exercises, pushups, situps, pullups, dips, etc. Your imagination is key. If your budget allows then maybe a gym membership. A lot of apartments/condos have some small gym facilities. Pretty easy to stay in shape there.

[honkytonkjim]

I never go in for a swim at Jomtien or Central anymore. I have a very bad case of conjunctivitis, had to go to hospital and guess what? 5 other people in the eye department with exactly the same thing. Doctors say it is very, very common especially after a torrential downpour. The drains back up, the water floods and floods onto the beach (you can see the channels carved into the beach next day) and all the shit, muck, crap off the roads and drains goes into the sea. Likewise with all of the roadworks on second road in Jomtien, the dust there is crappy too I have heard.

 

Want to swim, go to a pool, or visit Koh Samet where the water is unbelievably clean (you can see your feet shoulder deep in the water)!

[THAJEC]

My favourite Koh Larn. Pattaya beach is dirty but I think little bit better than before 10 years.

[Get Thai'd]

I never go in for a swim at Jomtien or Central anymore. I have a very bad case of conjunctivitis, had to go to hospital and guess what? 5 other people in the eye department with exactly the same thing. Doctors say it is very, very common especially after a torrential downpour. The drains back up, the water floods and floods onto the beach (you can see the channels carved into the beach next day) and all the shit, muck, crap off the roads and drains goes into the sea. Likewise with all of the roadworks on second road in Jomtien, the dust there is crappy too I have heard.

 

Want to swim, go to a pool, or visit Koh Samet where the water is unbelievably clean (you can see your feet shoulder deep in the water)!

Thanks, I'll take your good advice and confine my swimming to the pool!

[sport84]

Put it in another way: what is the last place in Thailand you would go for swimming? 9 out of 10 would say Pattaya. If it's all about "elbow-bending and pelvic thrusting" and you are determined to land in Pattaya, try playing tennis or or mixture of routines in a gym.

[tony113]

Iwas swimming in the sea in patts afew years back, i grazed my leg on a boat,s rope. No big problem, next day my leg went black up to my knee. i went to hospital.I had cellulitus and nearly lost my leg.I was on medication for about 8 weeks after i got back uk. Up to you dhaling!

[Zizou Z]

I swam in Pattaya Beach one time. And that was b/c my friend and I were piss drunk.

 

As long as you take a shower afterwards nothing will happen.

 

At least the water is warm.

[pubstud]

The water is best up North Pattaya, way better than than South Pattaya and IMO better than Jomtien. However, I won't put my head under the water, don't want to risk some shitty things getting into my ear canal or eyes or mouth for that matter. Swimming pools are really your best bet in Pattaya.