Diving Burma is a trip for experienced divers who want to see something different to Asia’s other superlative scuba diving destinations. Burma’s still mysterious and largely unexplored Mergui Archipelago has its own unique atmosphere. As well as the solitude of the dive sites with no other dive boats around and the rugged topside scenery, underwater there is a huge amount of marine life waiting to be discovered in towering granite seascapes and explosively colourful coral reefs.
5 Days And 6 Night Trips
Our 5 days and 6 nights aboard the MV Dolphin Queen liveaboard diving Burma’s Mergui Archipelago explores famous dive sites like the Burma Banks where you can experience huge pristine coral banks with a good chance of seeing nurse sharks, or Black Rock, famous for Giant Manta Ray sightings. There’s also the spectacular Three Islets with Burma’s most famous dive site, In Through The Out Door, a natural underwater canyon that is a haven for huge bail balls of schooling fish and squadrons of barracuda.
See our Burma Liveaboard Departure Schedule for the exact dates of each of our Burma liveaboards. Send us an email to check availability using the contact form on the right.
Imagine diving with no other dive boats in sight, exploring fascinating underwater sites barely explored and deserted, white sandy beaches scattered through the mysterious Mergui Archipelago – this is just a taste of what the Mergui Archipelago has to offer.
Isolated From The World
Since the late 1940s after the Second World War and the end of British and Japanese colonisation, the islands of the Mergui Archipelago reverted to a state of isolation, only inhabited by small populations of Moken, often referred to as sea gypsies. With over 800 islands the Mergui Archipelago remains one of the few places in the world still offering the chance of discovery and adventure, as much still remains unknown about the area.
Are You Up To The Challenge?
Diving in Burma is not quite the same as diving in Thailand – the water temperatures can be a little bit colder and the visibility not quite so clear, thanks to the nutrients sweeping through the water and feeding the coral reefs. It’s different and more challenging diving to Thailand but incredibly rewarding too, particularly the knowledge you’re exploring a part of the world that few Westerners have seen before.
The Stunning Diversity of Mergui Above And Below The Water
The Mergui Archipelago begins at the border with Thailand in southern Myanmar (Burma) and stretches over 450 kilometres northwards and 160km west into the Andaman Sea. The geological diversity of the islands that make up the Mergui Archipelago is simply breathtaking. The sea scape is punctuated by large granite islands, some hundreds of square kilometres long, covered in dense rainforest, dotted with white sandy beaches along the shoreline and fringed with coral reefs visible below the turquoise waters.
These islands support an amazing variety of flora and fauna. Look out for sea otters, monkeys, wild boar, small deer and the vast array of birds and reptiles that inhabit the lager islands. In contrast hundreds of smaller limestone islands jut from the sea forming spectacular shapes that defy the imagination. Even the smallest, most inhospitable limestone pinnacles are home to birds such as herons and sea eagles and in some cases even trees.
Moken – The Burmese Sea Gypsies
On islands such as Lampi and Great Swinton, the Moken have settled in small villages where you can experience the traditional life of these simple fishermen. However you are much more likely to encounter the Moken as they go about their trade, fishing around islands in their longtail boats.
Burma – A New Beginning
New efforts are being made by the Myanmar Ministry for Tourism and some non-profit organisations such as SEE & SEA to ensure a more sustainable future for the region. As Myanmar continues to open up to foreigners, so the Mergui Archipelago will become more accessible and more valued for its stunning beauty. By visiting now you get to see and dive Burma before the rest of the world realises what incredible beauty lies above and below Burma’s shoreline.
