What great news on this latest trip in Burma! We had our first manta ray of the season at Black Rock! Unfortunately, we did not manage to get a photograph to prove it, so you will just have to take our word for it. You can imagine how happy our divers were when this magnificent animal appeared underwater!

We also had a truly international team on board. Harald, Geert and Marc joined us from Belgium; Marie-José and Manuel came from France; James and Charly from England; Adam and Tracee from Canada; Cigdem, Simon and Matthias from Germany; and Hanna and Johan from Sweden.

It turned out to be an amazing Myanmar diving trip for many reasons. First of all, there was a fantastic atmosphere on board, with plenty of laughter and good times between dives. And then came an epic barbecue night that we certainly will not forget anytime soon!

Starting Off Soft… Then Things Got Wild!

At first, the celebrations looked fairly innocent…

Little did we know that every party with this Belgian triplet would eventually become wild! There is nothing quite like a great group of divers coming together after a day of exploring remote dive sites in the Mergui Archipelago.

Fish Everywhere on Our Myanmar Dive Sites

The second reason this cruise was so memorable was the sheer amount of marine life we encountered. Our favourite Myanmar dive sites were still absolutely packed with fish, making every descent feel like entering a giant natural aquarium.

From huge schools of fish to well-camouflaged reef residents, there was always something to stop and look at. For underwater photographers, this variety of subjects is one of the great attractions of diving in the Mergui Archipelago.

New Discoveries on Our Favourite Dive Sites

The third reason was just as exciting: we found newcomers on some of our favourite dive sites. Even after many years exploring the Mergui Archipelago, the underwater world continues to surprise us.

Nudibranchs Were Everywhere

For macro lovers, the reefs were a real nudibranch haven. Colourful, tiny and often surprisingly well camouflaged, these fascinating sea slugs seemed to be everywhere we looked.

A Kaleidoscope of Colours and Patterns

The Mergui Archipelago is not only about large animals. Look closely at the reef and you discover an incredible world of colours, textures and patterns. From a bright red sea star to strange-looking reef creatures, every dive offered another photographic opportunity.

Even the underwater scenery itself was spectacular. With healthy-looking reefs and colourful marine life spread across the rocks and corals, some of the dive sites really did look like giant aquariums.

Our Usual Residents Were Back Too

Of course, some of our familiar underwater residents were also waiting for us. Octopuses and cuttlefish made appearances, giving divers plenty of opportunities to watch their behaviour and camouflage.

We also spotted a beautifully camouflaged stonefish and another fascinating reef resident resting among the corals. These are exactly the kind of subjects that reward divers who take their time and look carefully.

Curious Mantis Shrimp and Colourful Crabs

The smaller creatures continued to keep our macro photographers busy. The curious peacock mantis shrimp made an appearance, showing once again why these colourful crustaceans are such favourites with underwater photographers.

And there were plenty of different kinds of crabs to discover as well. From decorated spider crabs to tiny porcelain crabs, the reefs were full of small details waiting to be spotted.

Our Mascot: The Tiger-Tail Seahorse

And, naturally, we could not finish a Mergui Archipelago dive report without mentioning our mascot: the tiger-tail seahorse!

These fascinating little animals are always a special find, and this cruise gave us more than one opportunity to enjoy their delicate appearance underwater.

Relaxing Between Dives

Of course, a liveaboard cruise is about much more than the time spent underwater. Between dives, there was plenty of time to relax, chat with fellow divers, enjoy the scenery and have a bit of fun on board the MV Smiling Seahorse.

As the sun went down over the islands, the colours of the sky provided another spectacular part of the experience. Remote Mergui Archipelago evenings have a way of reminding you just how far away from everyday life you are.

Congratulations to Our Newly Certified Divers

It was also a great cruise for learning and progressing as divers. Congratulations to Tracee, Adam and Cigdem for successfully completing their Advanced Open Water course, and to Charly, James and Matthias for earning their Nitrox certifications!

Another Amazing Cruise in the Mergui Archipelago

What a trip! From our first manta ray of the season at Black Rock and the incredible quantity of fish on the reefs to tiny nudibranchs, mantis shrimp, crabs and tiger-tail seahorses, the underwater world of the Mergui Archipelago once again delivered an incredible variety of marine life.

Add a fantastic group of international divers, unforgettable parties, beautiful sunsets and plenty of laughter between dives, and it is easy to understand why this cruise was so special.

Let’s finish with this beautiful shot and start looking forward to the next adventure in Myanmar’s Mergui Archipelago!