Romantic Getaway. Boats are also an option for some routes; the Mandalay-Bagan service is popular among travelers. Take an advanced diver course before or during your stay in order to get the most out of scuba diving in the Mergui Archipelago. Every diver knows the smaller things are hard to ignore. Possibly joined by frogfish, cuttlefish, ghost pipefish, and octopuses, all having a great time dwelling in the unsurpassed aquatic environment found in Burma! Unless you fly, all travel in Myanmar takes time (it's a nine-hour bus trip from Yangon to Mandalay). Visibility can reach up to 50 meters and you'll dive and explore the Andaman waters of the Mergui Archipelago in a water temperature of 25 - 28C. If you like to meet up with whale sharks and manta rays, they visit the Archipelago waters from February to May. Good. The Smiling Seahorse is the specialist of diving in the Mergui Archipelago in Myanmar, Surin and Similan islands. Diving Mergui Archipelago in April on the Sea World 1. Diving Mergui Archipelago in December on the Smiling Seahorse, Really nice diving, remote and beautiful reefs, Diving Mergui Archipelago in November on the Sea World 1. The information listed on this site is to be used as a reference and is only our opinion/suggestion. The ragged cave entrance is on the north west corner of the islet, and is 5-16 metres deep. The visibility is often close to 130 feet (40 m). It can be accommodated for a maximum 40 passengers (an air gazebo area on upper deck and two private cabins with air condition on main deck). The archipelago's isolation is such that much of it has not even yet been thoroughly explored. Local airlines include Air Bagan and Myanmar National Airlines. Mergui Archipelago Scuba Dive Inormation. 650 Castro Street Just fishing boats. Since sites are quite exposed there are often strong currents, which makes for great drift dives. Boulder Island where the resort is located is one of the furthest islands west in the Mergui Archipelago. Doris Walter 6,912 views. Diving Three Islets, Mergui Archipelago. There are no international car-rental agencies, most travel agencies in Yangon, Mandalay, and Bagan - as well as guesthouses and hotels elsewhere - can arrange cars and drivers. Here’s the first of a two-part guide to what you’ll see. The Mergui Archipelago a.k.a Myeik Archipelago is located in southernmost Myanmar, Tanintharyi Region. Globally the South seems more interesting like Sea Fan Forest : a must. Not only sharks will amaze you. A few boats have occasional cruises departing from Khao Lak in Thailand, but the best departure point is from the border itself. We had fun! When you plan your itinerary, definitely enjoy a spectacular night dive on the south wall where the red and orange coral will lit by the moonlight. Mergui Archipelago Dive Sites. As part of the Tanintharyi region, it is a visually stunning collection of over 800 uninhabited islands that is a diving … With her husband Franck, they opened The Smiling Seahorse liveaboard to offer cruises in the most unexplored area of South East Asia and became quite the experts when it comes to diving in Myanmar! Please fill in your contact details in the form below and LiveAboard’s customer service will get back to you. The water temperature is pretty consistently 81 F (27 C) throughout the season, but adequate exposure protection is still necessary when diving four times a day. The islands of the Myeik Archipelago offer a wide variety of sights and adventurous activities, from hiking through tropical valleys to kayaking through mangroves and up rivers; the opportunities for exploration are almost limitless. The site provides shelter for a host of creatures from crustaceans to blotched stingrays, pineapplefish, pipefish and schooling squid. Excellent scuba diving conditions! One, Cock’s Comb, hides a heart-shaped lagoon within its interior. Photograph: Kara Murphy. Are you looking for a destination that offers world-class diving? The Mergui Archipelago in Myanmar offers some of Southeast Asia’s best diving, and chances are you’ll have sites all to yourself. It's cheaper and easier to book domestic flights via agencies once you are in Myanmar. The secret of this place as a great dive destination won't be secret for long, so we advise you to set sail for some Myanmar - Burma diving safari adventures as soon as possible. Bring some US dollars, preferably in smaller notes. But Black Rock is mostly known as a great spot to see oceanic manta rays, as it is one of their favorite spots in the Andaman Sea to find a mate and breed. Beginning in November 2018, the Phinisi, officially called Cheng I Sao, began sailing the waters of the Andaman Sea with four different itineraries in Myanmar and Thailand. We are a non-profit / non-government organization aiming to promote Mergui Archipelago as a tourist destination. Here, you can feel like you are in another world about to discover the stacks of adventure-bound liveaboard experience, only stunning Myanmar can offer. If you are into birding, you should also survey the island’s green canopies, as 228 species of birds inhabit in the area. Also known as the Archipelago, this immense area covers approximately 36,000 sp km (14,000 sq miles) and included roughly 800 islands. The underwater seamounts are enormous, starting at 1150 feet (350 m) and rising up to about 50 feet (15 m). Proud mother of two she still travels as much as she can and usually joins a dive trip to Mergui Archipelago every month. Myanmar liveaboard diving offers great opportunities for exploration and dive cruises amongst untouched coral reefs and spectacular marine life, with yachts and cruise boats, designed for that purpose. Often found guarding the entance are several long-fin trevally and silver sweetlips. Lucky divers also get to see squadrons of Mobula Rays. Considered the pinnacle (pun intended) of diving in Myanmar, Black Rock is one of the furthest sites north that you can visit on a liveaboard. The underwater landscape here, and at the four sister islets, is covered in a wide variety of coral and sponges and supports a wide spectrum of creatures. Our final remote anchorage, in the southern part of the archipelago, near a cluster of small, dramatic islands, is perhaps the most picturesque of all. Because of these restrictions, very few international divers have experienced diving in the Mergui Archipelago. How about shrimps, crabs, and lobsters in every shape, color, and size. They come to hunt for the masses of juvenile barracudas, cave sweepers and silversides. The visibility was bad but it's a beautiful place. But not a tragedy! The rock pops out of the ocean far from any other islands, and its walls are covered in soft coral and impressive rock formations. We will strive to include Mergui Archipelago in the Word's Heritage site. A lot of plankton, poor visability on most dive sites. This is the nearest departure port/location. We cannot be held responsible for any errors on the site and for any actions you may take after viewing its content. Not just the unspoiled under and over water scenery makes the archipelago such a fascinating place to visit. Macro life in the Mergui Archipelago is abundant and diverse. Macro life in the Mergui Archipelago is abundant and diverse. Good. The best time to dive the Mergui Archipelago is between late October and mid-May, when the skies are blue, and the sea is calm. Buses, although bumpy rides are almost always faster than the trains. Good dive sites but very poor visibility. www.merguiscuba.com Liveaboard diving Myanmar's Mergui Archipelago will take divers to a previously unexplored area for diving. Compared to its neighbor, Thailand, the Mergui dive sites are deserted and you are unlikely to see another dive boat on your dive trip. Arguably one of the most mysterious diving areas in Myanmar is the Burma Banks. This ethnic minority is one of the most distinct of Myanmar's many ethnic groups. Western Rocky is by far the most famous site in the southern area of the Archipelago. Your starting point for your luxury liveaboard safari of a lifetime. For many years the beautiful Mergui archipelago in Myanmar (Burma), comprising over 800 Islands and covering 10,000 square miles, was closed to foreigners. Scuba Diving the Mergui Archipelago, Myanmar. Which is an area in the far southern region of Myanmar (Formerly Burma). These dive sites are located on the west side of the archipelago, where the continental shelf … Unfortunately the visibility was very low. Offshore are extensive coral reefs. Sharks are so numerous that it is rare not to see them on a dive. Because the island chain spreads out over more than 10,000 square miles, it is not surprising to find a vast variety of underwater landscapes, including submerged pinnacles and seamounts, limestone caves, sheer and sloping rock walls, and boulder-strewn sand bottoms. Which includes Nurse, Hammerhead, Bull, Tiger, Grey Reef, and the most highly-anticipated: the Spinner Shark. Some areas with very poor visibility. The visibility is usually great, which allows divers to peep at barracuda, trevally, and tuna. Mergui Archipelago, Black Rock 7 days/ 7 nights We will try to follow this itinerary as much as possible, but this itinerary is susceptible to changes in times and … Also, bowmouth guitarfish, harlequin shrimp, frogfish, and sea horse, while the anemone-lined cavity is full of oversized lobsters and crabs. Loved not seeing other dive boats for days. Mountain View Burma liveaboards also provides spacious dive and sun deck, huge saloon with flat-screen TV and DVD player, 3 spacious toilets with showers and 2 showers on the dive deck. It comprises more than 800 islands that lies in Andaman Sea and most of those are virgin islands, only few islands are occupied with local villagers and Moken people also known as Sea Gypsy or Salone in local language. Indeed, a liveaboard diving cruise is a great way to get to the archipelago and discover it. Myanmar uses Burmese kyat, but you probably won’t need any if you’re going to explore via liveaboard, as cruise operators and resorts in the area use either Thai baht or USD. You can also fly into Phuket and take a taxi or bus along the scenic coastal route to Ranong. Night dives are not to be missed either, as the seas are alive with crustaceans and invertebrates. Monsoon rains mostly characterize the off-season, when tourism in the area basically stops. Mergui Archipelago scuba diving entails more than 800 islands in the Andaman Sea, all along the western shores of the Malay Peninsula. Only in 1997 was Burma opened up for scuba diving to liveaboard dive boats. The four islets offshore are worth a dive on their own, their walls blanketed with clams and colorful sponges, and busy with big reef squid and chevron barracuda. Dive Sites Of Mergui Archipelago One of the most renowned dive sites in Southeast Asia is the huge Burma Banks including Silvertip, Rainbow, Roe, Coral, and Heckford banks). Diving the Mergui Archipelago. The Burma scuba diving season on liveaboards in the Mergui Archipelago is restricted to the dry season only, so we recommend visiting between November and late April, when the seas are at their calmest and visibility highest. DIVING According to the divers, the diving sites in Mergui archipelagoes (Myeik) are as beautiful as other famous international diving sites because of the hard corals and Sea Fans. They are generally covered with thick tropical growth, including rainforest, and their shorelines are punctuated by beaches, rocky headlands, and in some places, mangrove swamps. Western Rocky is one of Mergui archipelago’s southernmost dive sites and perhaps one of its most exciting in terms of the breadth of diving on offer. Find some Frogfish, Ribbon Eels, and False Pipefish, just to name a few. As with these divers paradise islands you can imagine there are dozens of fascinating and exciting sites. Myanmar diving tour which operates all over Myanmar and offers special diving packages of mergui archipelago diving tour in the most beautiful southern part of Myanmar. Still today, the Mergui Archipelago is a restricted special zone. Yangon International Airport is the main hub for domestic flights. Bangkok Airways operate direct flight from Bangkok to Ranong, which has a port on the Thai side of the Myanmar border. Since then, however, it has remained untouched and largely undiscovered. Just north of the Surin Islands, an imaginary line divides Thai waters from Myanmar's Mergui Archipelago. Which was the preferred currency till 2012. The cherry on top? Because Malay inhabitants are locally called Pashu, these islands are referred to as the Pashu Islands. California 94041. Some liveaboard trips focus purely on Burma but also may include the best Thailand dive sites of Richelieu Rock, Koh Tachai and Koh Bon in their itineraries. While certainly not undiscovered, the Mergui Archipelago in southern Myanmar is one of Southeast Asia’s most remote dive destinations and a gold mine for divers in search of adventure. Overall great. Myanmar (formerly Burma) remained closed to foreign visitors until a regulated opening in 1997. Also known as sea gypsies or Salone. Fill in the form below and LiveAboard’s customer service will get back to you as soon as possible. Most notably Silvertip, Whitetip, and Blacktip sharks as well as Manta and Stingrays. by Jun 20, 2017 Marine life of Myanmar’s Mergui Archipelago is still not fully discover and being one of the most challenging territory waiting for best divers to take on an underwater excavation. Travellers go for Scuba Diving in Kawthaung is the best time during High Season from November to March. Here we’ll share some fun facts and answer some common questions about these exquisite animals. There are three bath rooms with toilet and fresh water showers on the main deck. But there was plenty of corals and small fish and general sea life! Watch Queue Queue This vast area has numerous unexplored dive sites as it is one of the furthest from land, sitting roughly 100 nautical miles (180 km) west of Kawthaung. The sea temperature is warmest (30°C) around February and coolest (26°C) in October. Mergui Archipelago diving is in the Andaman sea and is made up of over 800 islands. Geologically, the islands are characterized mainly by limestone and granite. Mergui Princess Cruise (1) was redesigned to arrange Dawei Day Tour Island hopping and Scuba diving. Dive with small groups of elated divers and professionals at the most exclusive dive sites in Thailand and Burma. MYANMAR 2017 - 23 - Nyaung Oo Phee Island , Mergui Archipel - Duration: 12:36. Mergui Archipelago Just north of the Surin Islands, an imaginary line divides Thai waters from Myanmar's Mergui Archipelago. They can be found living on their traditional boats during the dry season and keep to land in the rainy season. The Mergui Archipelago was only opened up to tourism in 1997. And, not only will you appreciate the exclusivity of the Mergui Archipelago, but you will also experience some of the most beautiful and diverse sites in the Andaman Sea. Myanmar (formerly known as … They claim that the islands were detached from the mainland after a great mythological flood. Like most ocean environments, this one is under threat. This video is unavailable. Scuba diving in the Mergui Archipelago, you will be located in the southerly Tanintharyi Region of Myanmar. Diving Mergui Archipelago in April on the Bavaria. The months to visit Burma and enjoy the best diving conditions are from October to May. Boats require special permits and most visitors need a visa. liveaboard boats in Burma get you diving here close to three-meter nurse sharks and there are good chances of seeing other shark species. This collection of 800 tiny islands, spanning over 4,600 square miles (12,000 square km), off the coast of Myanmar, is still widely unmapped and is only accessible by sea. Booking a Mergui Archipelago dive liveaboard tour makes you meet the Moken people. These dive sites are located on the west side of the archipelago, where the continental shelf drops off into the deep sea beyond. These nomadic, sea-dwelling people follow a traditional way of life, doing things such as fishing and building boats very much the way they have done for centuries sea-based life here. Generally this period is little too late to go there. Poor viz that week, but still plenty of sea life and thriving corals. Each dive offers the chance for new discoveries and many like the quality of macro critters to what's found in Indonesia. We invite you to forget the world outside and unravel the mysteries of an untouched island. Diving in the Mergui Archipelago, you will find mostly limestone and granite formations. Including the biggest of them all: the whale shark. Another of the top Mergui Archipelago diving sites, Shark Cave is known for its resident docile nurse sharks. Stretching from beneath Kawthaung in the South to the Maung Ma Kan Islands in the north a distance of over 600 miles. Liveaboards to Burma (Myanmar) usually depart from Ranong in Thailand and the liveaboard operator will take care of all the Burma entry requirements for you. In fact, you are unlikely to see much of anyone than probably a local sea gypsy. The Mergui Archipelago is located in the south of Burma. Scuba Diver Life Myanmar’s best dive sites are quite a way from the coasts, which means they’re usually private. We strive to conserve nature while maintain sustainable tourism in this Last-of-its-kind natural reserve area. Maybe one of these dive cruises' most exciting dive sites is Western Rocky. It is part of the Tanintharyi Region and consists of more than 800 islands lying in the Andaman Sea in far southern Myanmar and off the western shore of the Malay Peninsula. Burma Liveaboards usually can accommodate up to 22 guests in spacious air conditioned cabins with sea-view windows. There are different types of cabin available on each boat. This vast area has numerous unexplored dive sites as it is one of the furthest from land, sitting roughly 100 nautical miles (180 km) west of Kawthaung. There is also a vast garden of coral and sponges where you can spot moray eels, cowries, mantis shrimp and many colorful nudibranchs. Arguably one of the most mysterious diving areas in Myanmar is the Burma Banks. Ranong is on the Thai side of the border and Kawthaung on the Myanmar side, and cruises can pick up guests on either side of the border, but you must arrange permits and visas in advance. You can typically fly from Bangkok to Ranong on one of three daily flights with domestic low-cost airlines Nok Air and Air Asia. Burma Diving – Mergui Archipelago & Burma Banks. Diving with giant oceanic manta rays sits high atop almost every diver’s bucket list. Read on for insight into Ocean Quest Global and their conservation efforts in the Mergui Archipelago. While you cruise over the turquoise waters between the lush jungle-covered limestone islands dotting the horizon, scan the seas for a glimpse of the Mokens, a tribe of nomadic sea gypsies. Here’s the second of a two-part guide to the region’s tiny treasures.
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