Where to go for a 1 day scuba diving trip?

Yeah, Sattahip is doable but it's mostly wreck diving and the viz is a gamble. If you are set on it, you can get a bus from the Ekkamai terminal straight to Sattahip, takes about 2 hours and costs 120-150 baht. The shops there usually run trips to the HTMS Khram wreck which is around 18 meters deep, fine for your level. But honestly, if you only have one day, skip the hassle and go to Pattaya. The buses from Ekkamai run every 30 minutes, drop you at the north bus terminal, then a songthaew to the pier is like 20 baht. Koh Larn has some decent easy reef dives and you will be back in Bangkok by evening.

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If you're set on staying close to Bangkok, Sattahip does work but the diving there is mostly military-related wrecks and the viz can be pretty hit or miss. I'd actually suggest looking into Koh Samet instead, it's a bit farther but still doable in a day if you leave early. You can catch a minivan from Ekkamai to Ban Phe pier for about 250 baht, then a speedboat over to the island, and there are a couple of shops near Ao Wong Deuan that run dives to nearby sites like Hin Khao. The water's clearer than Pattaya and the coral is healthier, though you'll be paying closer to 3500 baht for a two-tank trip with gear. Just call ahead to confirm they'll take your certification, most places in Thailand recognize equivalent cards as long as you show the plastic.

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honestly for a single day trip from bangkok your best bet is koh larn near pattaya, not sattahip. you can grab a bus from ekkamai to pattaya then a ferry over, total door to door maybe 2.5 hours. the viz isn't amazing but there's some decent coral and a few wrecks, and plenty of shops in pattaya that do one day trips for like 2500-3000 baht including gear. just make sure they know ur cert is equivalent to ow, most places are fine with it as long as u show em the card

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Krua Dok Mai Kao is solid but I've always found their som tam a bit tame on the pla ra. If you want the real funky version, try the shophouse spots along Soi Udomsuk 26, near the night market end. They pound it fresh with fermented fish that'll clear your sinuses, and it's like 60 baht. Different style from the On Nut places, more Lao-leaning.

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for som tam specifically i'd say the Isaan spots in Chatuchak are underrated, weekdays only though since the weekend crowd ruins the vibe. there's a stall near gate 2 that does tam pa with fermented bamboo shoots, super sour and funky, not something you see much in On Nut. if you're already heading north for Or Tor Kor anyway its worth the detour.

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honestly the som tam at Krua Dok Mai Kao is good but what got me hooked is their nam prik pla raa dip with the raw veggies, that funk hits way harder than the papaya does. think most people sleep on it cuz they just order the som tam and gai yang. also pro tip, go before noon on weekdays, after that teh pla ra gets milder cuz they batch it for the lunch rush

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