Thailand's best dive sites
Richelieu Rock
A small Rock in the middle of the Indian Ocean, Richelieu Rock made it to the top 10 dive sites in the world, and for a reason, divers here are spoilt between big and small wonders. Look up, or in the blue and you might encounter the biggest fish in the planet, the mysterious whale shark and its popular cousin, the manta ray, you can also very often sight schools of barracudas hovering above the reef, reef sharks coming out briefly from the deep, potato groupers hiding in caves or giant morays sticking out from a rock.
But Richelieu Rock is also paradise for underwater photographers focusing on macro life; look well in the soft coral and sea fans for a spectacular array of small critters like seahorse, pipe fish, ghost pipe fish, harlequin shrimp, frog fish and nudibranch of all shapes and colors.
Of course all the in between is also in Richelieu Rock, from the popular clown fish defending fiercely their anemone to mating cuttlefish and all to colorful coral fishes you can expect in one of the top dive sites of the Indian Ocean.
In the shape of a horseshoe, the pinnacle can easily entertain the most eager explorers for up to 4 dives. It will be impossible to see the whole site in one go, or you will miss all the fun. With rocks laying on a sandy bottom at up to 35 meters, you should watch closely your no deco time. The south side is a sheltered bay sloping down gently while the other side is made of walls separated by corridors. Watch out for the current, it might bring you the most exciting visitors but should be taken into account when going down and to plan the dive’s itinerary and way up.
But Richelieu Rock is also paradise for underwater photographers focusing on macro life; look well in the soft coral and sea fans for a spectacular array of small critters like seahorse, pipe fish, ghost pipe fish, harlequin shrimp, frog fish and nudibranch of all shapes and colors.
Of course all the in between is also in Richelieu Rock, from the popular clown fish defending fiercely their anemone to mating cuttlefish and all to colorful coral fishes you can expect in one of the top dive sites of the Indian Ocean.
In the shape of a horseshoe, the pinnacle can easily entertain the most eager explorers for up to 4 dives. It will be impossible to see the whole site in one go, or you will miss all the fun. With rocks laying on a sandy bottom at up to 35 meters, you should watch closely your no deco time. The south side is a sheltered bay sloping down gently while the other side is made of walls separated by corridors. Watch out for the current, it might bring you the most exciting visitors but should be taken into account when going down and to plan the dive’s itinerary and way up.
Myanmar (Burma)'s best dive sites
Western Rocky
Western Rocky is one of the archipelago’s southernmost dive sites and perhaps one of its most exciting in terms of the breadth of diving on offer. Western Rocky itself is a small island, sporting a diveable passage right through its heart that just manages to be lit by daylight all the way through. A guest appearance by a three-metre nurse shark is not uncommon and there are good chances of seeing other shark species including the famous whale shark, bowmouth guitar fish, harlequin shrimp, frogfish and sea horse, while the anemone-lined cavity is full of oversized lobsters and crabs. The four islets off shore are worth a dive on their own, their walls blanketed with clams and colourful sponges, and busy with big reef squid and chevron barracuda. Canny divers who plan their itinerary well can enjoy a spectacular night dive on the south wall where the red and orange coral are lit to perfection by the moonlight.
Black Rock
The islet of Black Rock is a small rock in the middle of the ocean. It provides a steep wall drop to over 100 metres, characterised by rugged boulder formations and fine soft coral. A shallow section of tube corals is home to a bevy of miniature sea creatures, where sea urchins bask and busy crabs and shrimps clatter about their business. Many consider Black Rock to be the finest dive spot in Burma. Its crystal clear waters offer 35-metre visibility, providing breath-taking views past the rock walls to the on-going procession of barracuda, tuna, mackerel, rays, reef sharks, whale sharks and eagle rays.
Shark Cave
Die-hard shark spotters will not be disappointed in Burma. Underwater cave systems provide plenty of opportunity to see nurse sharks basking amongst the crustaceans and clown fish in the privacy of their sheltered homes. Shark Cave is home to a group of nurse sharks up to four metres long. Its entrance is loyally guarded by grey reef sharks and sweetlips, but take the time to look beyond the cave’s obvious attractions if you dare and you will also see a floor covered in yellow sponges, a ceiling of marigold cup corals and a whole host of marine delights, from Durban dancing shrimps, clams and sea stars to moray eels, cowries and sea slugs.
Tower Rock
Few live-aboards make it to the northern extreme of the Mergui region, but those that do are in for a delight. Tower Rock features breath-taking topography with walls studded with corals and fans providing shelter for spiny lobsters, banded shrimps, oysters and clams, while manta rays and schools of modulas glide silently past the impressive backdrop.
North Twin
Several miles off shore, North Twin offers a dive experience that is quite unique within the archipelago, typified by large granite boulders covered in gorgonian sea fans and soft corals. This is the place to spot schools of goat fish, bat fish and snapper in the shallow waters and a popular manta cleaning station at around 22 metres, giving way to yellow tail barracudas, big eye trevally, tuna and eagle rays appearing from the deep blue depths.
Do you want to go diving these amazing places? Check out our itineraries of dive trips and schedule for this year.
Do you want to go diving these amazing places? Check out our itineraries of dive trips and schedule for this year.
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