DIVING CRUISE TO THE UNDISCOVERED MERGUI ARCHIPELAGO

Meeting time 12.00 noon by dive shop in Ranong where we will have time to try equipment before we go to our boat MV Smiling Seahorse. Before sailing off Thai immigration comes on board and will stamp us out of Thailand. Then we set off to Kawthoung where we will get visa for Burma. Then we are off to the first dive site at High Rock. Dinner will under the stars on board.

1 morning dive at High Rock which is a great Macro spot. Here we can marvel at special creatures like Pipefish, Ghost Pipe Fish, Pineapple Fish, Frogfish, Sea Horses and many different species of Nudibranchs.
1 dive at Stewart Island where 3 tunnels cross the islands from part to part. Afternoon and night dive at Tower Rock which can be a very special experience. You may see large Grey Reef sharks, Nurse Sharks and smaller stuff like Sea Horses, Frogfish, Ghost Pipefish and Spanish Dancers in the evening.

4 dives around the very special “Shark Cave”, one of our favorites which is sure to impress you. Afternoon landing to Bounty Beach where we can visit a local fisherman village. This afternoon dive site is a colourful one. You may spot some Eagle Rays and Sting Rays, Grey Reef Sharks, Nurse Sharks sleeping in their cave, peddling Spearing Mantis Shrimps, Frog fish and many more.

Overnight sailing has brought us this morning to Black Rock, a small rock out crop in the open sea.
In this area we have potential to see bigger sea creatures like Sharks and Rays and whatever is passing… During our previous trips to this location we were blessed with couple days “Manta Festival” with Manta rays coming in dozens from everywhere for the whole duration of our dives. Admittedly it was quite difficult to focus on the coral and small stuff, but Black Rock has very rich Macro Life. It is arguably the best dive site in Myanmar / Burma, but rests so far so it is out of reach of most divers who join short trips.

Our next Myanmar diving adventure takes place offshore North Twin and its pinnacle. We have good chances of meeting the Manta and Eagle rays again even some Mobulas. There are many sandy patches between the boulders and pinnacle making this dive site special for spotting Leopard sharks sleeping at the bottom. You may also find some other wonders camouflaged by giant sea fans that decorate the seabed here.

This morning we visit the Sea Fan Forest, the name says it all – there are many boulders and lots of rare sea fans that attract various types of fish. Spot schools of Barracudas, Batfish or Tuna chasing schools of fusiliers. Later in the afternoon, we sail to Western Rocky for 2 more dives to cap the day.

Today we will have 4 dives around Western Rocky which is one of the most famous dive sites in Myanmar. Most likely we will have the place for ourselves. There are no crowds here like in Thailand or elsewhere. One of the highlights of Western Rocky is a tunnel (cave) at 20 meters depth that goes all the way through the island. You will see lobsters hiding in dark corners many types of crabs (sponge crab, spider crab, anemone crab…) We have also spotted Bowmouth Guitar Fish, Whale Shark and various other shark species, Harlequin Shrimp, Frogfish and Sea Horses to name a few.

All good must come to an end. But not yet this morning. our last dive goes into a volcano where a group of blacktip sharks likes to hang around… this is also a special space to find seahorse and rare tropical fish like the comet long fin, the shaded batfish or the Pinneaple fish.

We end the epic Mergui diving liveaboard trip to Kawthaung where there will be the opportunity for some souvenir shopping and a fresh local beer. Once we got our passports back by the Burmese authorities, we will head back to Thailand where we get a new stamp and then you are off to next destination or your hotel for the night in Ranong. (Hotel transfers in Ranong are not included)