‘Aqua Zone’ opens in Patong

PATONG, PHUKET: Tourists seeking some good, clean fun in Patong can once again enjoy ‘Aqua Zone’, a collection of 13 inflated playthings floating in a roped off section of Patong Bay.

The 150-square-meter aquatic playground is located off the Patong Bay Garden Resort, which is owned by Patong Mayor Pian Keesin.

The structures are anchored to the seabed about 20 meters offshore at a depth of about five meters.

The playthings include a mountain, trampoline, slide and see-saw.

Free of jet-skis, Aqua Zone is open from 9:30am to 6pm daily until the end of April, about the time monsoon-season winds and currents are expected to return.

A flat fee of 300 baht allows beach visitors to use Aqua Zone as much as they want for one day.

Now in its fourth year, Aqua Zone went into operation last Sunday.

It is run by JAV Partner Co, Ltd, whose director Jazon Edouard is also manager of the HeadStart International School Phuket, located near Central Festival in Kathu.

Mr Edouard said setting up the operation required permission from three government agencies: the Phuket Provincial Office, Patong Municipality and the Marine Transport Department’s office in Phuket.

The company pays Patong Municipality 20,000 baht a year for the concession and the money is used to fund the municipality’s beach cleaning budget, he said.

— Pimwara Choksakulpan