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Merqui Archipelago
Myanmar liveaboard destinations are divided into two areas. Merqui Archipelago and Burma Banks. The Merquin Archipelago contains about 900 islands, only a small part of which are inhabited. The Mergui Archipelago is a delta area and its dive sites are full of life thanks to the nutritious water coming from the estuaries. The nature here is breathtaking and most likely divers have so far seen only a small part of what this area has to offer. Here you will constantly find new interesting dive sites. Some liveaboards do so-called research dives into new as yet unknown targets. Anything can be encountered during these dives. Below you will find descriptions of the most famous dive sites in Merqui Archipelago.
Western Rocky
Southernmost destination for Myanmar liveaboard. Western Rocky is actually a small island which has two pinnacles next to it. These pinnacles reach above the surface. The dive site can offer almost all the sceneries you would expect from underwater; reefs, walls, pinnacles and caverns. There is a lot of small macro life here, like seahorses and nudibranchs, but also big sea animals like three-meter reef sharks. Whale sharks also visit the site frequently. In terms of corals, here you will find both magnificent hard coral and colorful soft coral.
Level
Advanced
The best attractions in the depth
5 - 35m
Hard coral - Soft coral
Hard and soft coral
What to expect under the surface
Almost everything that You can imagine
Wall - reef - pinnacle - cavern
Wall - reef - pinnacle - cavern
High Rock
This limestone islet is recognizable by the only one tree that grows on it. In this site there is great wall diving on the north and east side of the islet and beautiful reef on the south and west side of the islet. The schools of fish at this site are large and there are several different species; snappers, barracudas, trevallies and bannerfish to name just a few. Life is lively beneath the surface in all the levels, and it is not uncommon for several different species of morays to peek out of the same cavity.
Level
Advanced - experienced
The best attractions in the depth
5 - 30m
Hard coral - Soft coral
Hard and soft coral
What to expect under the surface
Big schools of fish, wide range of species
Wall - reef - pinnacle - cavern
Wall and reef
Fan Forrest Pinnacle
This great pinnacle, also known as Rocky Peaks, is full of life and usually divers would love to do more than just one dive here during the liveaboard. As the name implies, the site has REALLY huge fan corals. Here you will find rare species like frogfish, pipefish, nudibranchs and beautiful little shrimps. Large leopard sharks may be visible at the bottom and whale sharks have been seen very often at this site near the surface.
Level
Advanced - experienced
The best attractions in the depth
5 - 30m
Hard coral - Soft coral
Hard and soft coral
What to expect under the surface
sceneries, small critters, whale shark
Wall - reef - pinnacle - cavern
Big pinnacle
Northern Rocky
About a one kilometer to west from MacLeod Island is located this pinnacle that is full of life. The currents can be strong here, so it’s a good idea to consider at the time of the dive according to the lunar cycle. The currents bring nutritious water here, so the coral reefs are large and really healthy. Here you can see a lot of different colorful pipefish and nudibranchs
Level
Advanced - experienced
The best attractions in the depth
5 - 35m
Hard coral - Soft coral
Full of hard and colorful soft coral
What to expect under the surface
sceneries, small critters, whale shark
Wall - reef - pinnacle - wreck
Pinnacle
Fin Strap
This dive site near Pyin Sa Island is on the list of less frequently dived destinations. It is not because the dive site is not good, but simply because of the limited time. The destination is a beautiful reef that offers great scenery, lots of healthy coral and a wide range of fish species living on the reef. Turtles are also often seen at the site.
Level
Beginner
The best attractions in the depth
5 - 25m
Hard coral - Soft coral
Mostly hard coral
What to expect under the surface
Reef fish, turtles, octopuses
Wall - reef - pinnacle - wreck
reef
Shark Cave
These three islets are located two kilometers to west from the Great Swindon island and are also known as the name Three Islet. The most famous dive site in the place is Shark Cave, where you can often see various reef sharks. The dive site also has a tunnel about 20 meters long through which you can dive. The tunnel is home to huge lobsters. Harlequin crabs and other colorful small critters are also often seen at the dive site.
Level
Beginner - Advanced
The best attractions in the depth
5 - 30m
Hard coral - Soft coral
Hard and soft coral
What to expect under the surface
Sharks, trevallies, colorful crabs
Wall - reef - pinnacle - wreck
riutta - läpiuinti
The Arch
The dive site is located next to Steward Island and is famous for its caverns and amazing macro life. Here you can also enjoy a dive surrounded by a huge school of barracudas and trevallies. The rocky walls of the dive site are full of orange, yellow, purple and red soft coral whose variety of colors offers stunning scenery during the dive. Whale sharks have also been seen very often at the site.
Level
Beginner - Advanced
The best attractions in the depth
5 - 30m
Hard coral - Soft coral
Sharks, trevallies, colorful crabs
What to expect under the surface
Huge schools of yellow snappers
Wall - reef - pinnacle - wreck
Wall - reef
South Twin
The underwater scenery of this southern dive site resembles those of Similan. The large boulders provide different kinds of swim thrus. At the shallowest part of the dive site boulders are full of anemones with their inhabitants and deeper parts there are large white and orange coral fans. Here you will often find colorful nudibranchs and Bamboo sharks hiding under the rocks.
Level
Beginner
The best attractions in the depth
5 - 25m
Hard coral - Soft coral
Hard and soft coral
What to expect under the surface
Beautiful sceneries, small critters, sharks
Wall - reef - pinnacle - wreck
Boulders
North Twin
Located 20 kilometers north of South Twin, the site is full of purple soft coral. Larger marine animals such as reef sharks and bull sharks and Mantas are often seen here. Also here the scenery is reminiscent of some of Similan’s sites with boulders and swim thrus. Turtles are also a common sight during dives here.
Level
Beginner
The best attractions in the depth
10 - 30m
Hard coral - Soft coral
Hard and soft coral
What to expect under the surface
Beautiful sceneries, sharks, Mantas
Wall - reef - pinnacle - wreck
Boulders
North Twin Plateau
About a one kilometer to northwest from North Twin Island You can find this a slightly deeper dive site. As the name implies, this dive site is formed by a series of sloping rocky ridges that form a plateau. Plateau sinks from its sides up to a depth of 40 meters. Larger sharks swimming in the mid water and also leopard sharks can be seen here.
Level
Beginner
The best attractions in the depth
10 - 40m
Hard coral - Soft coral
Hard and soft coral
What to expect under the surface
Beautiful sceneries, sharks
Wall - reef - pinnacle - wreck
Reef
Black Rock
THE dive site in Mergui Archipelago! This rocky island has an insane dive site around it. Dive site is also the meeting point (cleaning station) of Mantas. At its best, our safari guests have seen 52 different Manta individuals here in two days. You can distinguish individuals from unique abdominal patterns. The dive site is incredibly beautiful and full of life even without Mantas, so while waiting for them, you can enjoy this wonderful diving site.
Level
Advanced - experienced
The best attractions in the depth
5 - 40m
Hard coral - Soft coral
Hard and soft coral
What to expect under the surface
Hopefully Manta-mania
Wall - reef - pinnacle - wreck
Wall and reef
Little Torres
This dive site is further north from Black Rock. Most liveaboards return from Black Rock to dive sites located south so this destination is not dived very often. This rocky pinnacle is surrounded by deep water, so the largest inhabitants of the seas, such as bull sharks and huge rays, are often seen here. Mantas and whale sharks also gather here often, so the destination is really diverse.
Level
Advanced
The best attractions in the depth
10 - 40m
Hard coral - Soft coral
Hard and soft coral
What to expect under the surface
Mantas, whale sharks, bull sharks
Wall - reef - pinnacle - wreck
Big Pinnacle
Tower Rock
If You sail even more north You will reach this dive site. Diving here is only done by liveaboards which visit here relatively infrequently. Big marine animals such as Mantas, devil rays, bull sharks and whale sharks are a common sight here. The currents can be really strong here, so the dive site can be challenging.
Level
Experienced
The best attractions in the depth
10 - 40m
Hard coral - Soft coral
Hard and Soft coral
What to expect under the surface
Mantas, whale sharks, bull sharks
Wall - reef - pinnacle - wreck
Wall - reef
West Canister
Hyvin samankaltainen kohde kuin Little Torres, joten siksi yleensä safarit jäävät sinne eivätkä tule näin kauas pohjoiseen. Tämäkin kivinen pinaakkeli on syvän veden ympäröimä, joten merten isoimmat asukkaat, kuten härkähait ja valtavat rauskut ovat täälläkin yleinen näky. Myös Mantat ja valashait parveilevat täällä usein, joten kohde on todella monipuolinen.
Level
Experienced
The best attractions in the depth
10 - 40m
Hard coral - Soft coral
Hard and Soft coral
What to expect under the surface
Mantas, whale sharks, bull sharks
Wall - reef - pinnacle - wreck
Pinnacle
Cocks Comb - Island
Definitely the most photographed island in Myanmar. This island has no sandy beaches, but its most famous attraction is the lagoon in the middle of the island. We dare to say that anyone who has explored the area has seen this island photographed from the air. Because of its lagoon, this island is also called the Emerald Heart Island; freely translated, therefore, the island has an emerald-colored heart.
The best attractions in the depth
The lagoon of this island
Scuba diving - Snorkeling
Possibility for snorkeling
What to expect under the surface
Nice reefs
Clara - Island
One of the most famous islands in the Burmese region. On liveaboards, the bays of this island are most often used as a place to spend the night and for night dives. The place is perfect for enjoy the sunset while preparing for the last dive of the day. Beautiful reefs provide a good and easy destination for the night dive.
The best attractions in the depth
Beautiful bays
Scuba diving - Snorkeling
Good for diving and snorkeling
What to expect under the surface
Nice reefs
Lampi Island
The island was designated a ASEAN heritage park in 2003. The island is the only marine national park in Myanmar and Important Bird Area. It was also originally the home island of Myanmar’s sea gypsies. This island and its surroundings are home to several protected animal species such as Hornbills, hawk eagles, several turtle species and dungons. There are beautiful reefs and wide seagrass areas around the island below the surface. You can read more about the island from here. http://www.lampipark.org/ here.
The best attractions in the depth
Seagypsy (Moken) village
Scuba diving - Snorkeling
Good for diving and snorkeling
What to expect under the surface
Protected animals
MacLeond Island
Myanmar Andaman Resort is located on the island. Due to the fact that the island has that resort and the island is for the private use of the resort, during liveaboards this island will not be visited.
The best attractions in the depth
Resort and its beach
Scuba diving - Snorkeling
Possibility for snorkeling
What to expect under the surface
Nice reefs
Great Swinton Island
The beautiful sandy beaches of this island offer an amazing landscape. Beneath the surface here are healthy coral reefs that are great for diving and snorkeling. These easy dive sites are often used on liveaboard for evening and night dives, when crabs snuggle out from their hiding places and barracudas are activated to hunt for food.
The best attractions in the depth
Stunning sandy beaches
Scuba diving - Snorkeling
Good for diving and snorkeling
What to expect under the surface
Nice reefs
Hayes Island
The beautiful island is located near Little Torres. During liveaboard to the northern Mergui Archipelago, nights are often spent in the bays of this island. The beautiful white, almost untouched, sandy beaches are worth a visit and here you get amazing photos of the sunset. During a long safari, it’s often nice to get solid ground underfoot, so it’s worth visiting the island.
The best attractions in the depth
White sandy beaches
Scuba diving - Snorkeling
Possibility for snorkeling
What to expect under the surface
Nice reefs
Burma Banks
Burma Banks consists of several subsurface plateaus, the most common of which are listed below. The plateaus are at a depth of about 15-25 meters, with the seabed sinking to a depth of 300 meters outside them. These destinations are far from the mainland, so the animals here are larger. The reefs themselves are not the thing here, although hard and soft coral grows everywhere, but the abundance of fish species makes these destinations worth diving. Various sharks will be seen here, the most common of which are black and white spotted sharks, but larger bull sharks as well as rarer hammerhead sharks can also be seen here. Unfortunately, overfishing of sharks is also visible here, so seeing rarer species is not as common as it was some decades ago. The dive sites does not have island protection, so you can only come here if you are sure that the weather conditions will not change unexpectedly.
Heckford Bank
The deepest of the Burma Banks destinations. Here the bottom meets at a depth of about 25 m. You can see several individuals of whitetip sharks here at the same time, and the luckiest divers get to admire them up close as curious sharks orbit around the divers. Large Bamboo sharks are also often seen here hiding in the caches of huge table corals.
Level
Advanced
The best attractions in the depth
21 - 25m
Hard coral - Soft coral
Mostly hard coral
What to expect under the surface
Sharks
Wall - reef - pinnacle - wreck
reef
Silvertip Bank
Through the crystal clear water you can see to the bottom at a depth of 15 meters. So it's easy to see from the boat what to expect for the upcoming dive. Whitetip and blacktip sharks are a common sight here as well. In the southeast corner of the large plateau, the bottom submerges up to a depth of 40 meters. In the deep area larger predatory fishes are more common sight than in the shallow area.
Level
Advanced
The best attractions in the depth
Mostly 15m but deepest 40m
Hard coral - Soft coral
Mostly hard coral
What to expect under the surface
Sharks
Wall - reef - pinnacle - wreck
reef
Coral Bank
The dive site is also known as Rainbow Reef. Huge table corals give a scenery to this dive site. Reef sharks and slightly rarer bull sharks and tiger sharks visit the site from time to time.
Level
Advanced
The best attractions in the depth
15 - 20m
Hard coral - Soft coral
Lots of hard coral
What to expect under the surface
Sharks
Wall - reef - pinnacle - wreck
reef
Roe Bank
The dive site is a combination of a coral reef and sandy areas between corals. Here, the Christmas tree worms living in corals add color to the scenery. Large schools of fish are surrounding the divers here and a great variety of reef fish live in the area.
Level
Advanced
The best attractions in the depth
17 - 21m
Hard coral - Soft coral
Lots of hard coral
What to expect under the surface
Big schools of fishes
Wall - reef - pinnacle - wreck
reef
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