Welcome to our lucky Belgium charter !!!

Mergui Archipelago Dive Cruise: Manta Rays, Vibrant Corals, and a Fantastic Belgian Charter

Happy faces for this Belgian charter who had the chance to have a fantastic cruise, full of life and manta rays from day one! Welcome to Alain, Liliane, Régine, Patrick, Joel, Béa, Jean-Marc, Sabine, Jacques, Magali, Michel, Christiane, Florence, Françoise, Philippe, and Annunzio.

From the very first dives, this group discovered why the Mergui Archipelago is such a special destination for a Myanmar diving adventure. There were beautiful corals and fish everywhere, encounters with large pelagics, fascinating macro life, spectacular sunsets and, of course, plenty of fun on board the MV Smiling Seahorse.

Glass fish schooling above a coral reef in the Mergui Archipelago, Myanmar — Glass fish everywhere over the coral reef.

Colourful coral reef and schooling fish in the Mergui Archipelago — So many fish and beautiful coral in the Mergui Archipelago.

Colourful Reefs and Fish Everywhere

We saw so many schools of different fish: snappers, emperor fish, barracudas, trevallies, batfish, and more!

The reefs of the Mergui Archipelago are remarkably rich in marine life. Large schools of fish can turn a dive into a constantly moving underwater spectacle, with snappers filling the water column, barracudas patrolling the reef and trevallies cruising through the blue. For divers who enjoy wide-angle underwater photography, these large schools and colourful coral formations offer endless opportunities.

Batfish swimming over a coral reef in the Mergui Archipelago — Batfish swimming in Burmese waters.

School of barracudas in the Mergui Archipelago, Myanmar — A school of barracudas cruising through the Mergui Archipelago.

Golden trevallies cruising above a reef in Myanmar — Golden trevallies cruising the reef.

Emperor fish swimming beside a giant seafan in the Mergui Archipelago — Emperor fish swimming near a giant seafan.

Yellow snappers schooling over a reef in the Mergui Archipelago — Yellow snappers swarming up and down the reef.

Big Pelagics: Manta Rays, Sharks and Jenkins Rays

We wanted big pelagics, and we got big pelagics—including manta rays, white-tip reef sharks (unfortunately no pictures!), and an unbelievable number of Jenkins rays!

The Mergui Archipelago can deliver some spectacular encounters with larger marine animals. Manta rays are always a highlight, but Jenkins rays are another fascinating sighting, particularly when several are encountered during the same cruise. White-tip reef sharks may also be seen resting or cruising around the reefs, adding another exciting element to the diving.

Jenkins ray gliding over the sandy bottom in the Mergui Archipelago — A Jenkins ray gliding over the sandy bottom.

Masters of Camouflage

We encountered some masters of camouflage, but our expert guides could still spot them!

The ability of reef animals to disappear almost completely into their surroundings is one of the pleasures of diving in Myanmar. A trained eye can reveal animals that might otherwise go completely unnoticed, turning an ordinary-looking patch of reef into a fascinating discovery.

Crocodile fish camouflaged on the seabed in the Mergui Archipelago — A well-hidden crocodile fish resting on the seabed.

Stonefish camouflaged among coral in the Mergui Archipelago — A master of camouflage, the stonefish, resting on the coral.

The Wonderful Macro World

In the “small world”, there was also plenty to see 🙂

The Mergui Archipelago is not only about big animals and wide-angle reef scenes. Look closely and a whole miniature world appears, with tiny crustaceans, colourful shells and other fascinating creatures hiding among the corals.

Tiny starfish resting on a reef in the Mergui Archipelago — A tiny starfish resting on the reef.

Tiny squat shrimp on coral in the Mergui Archipelago — A tiny squat shrimp on coral.

Feather star shrimp hiding among crinoid arms in Myanmar — Feather star shrimp hiding among crinoid arms.

Yellow snail photographed on a reef in the Mergui Archipelago — A yellow snail in Myanmar waters.

Cowrie shell resting on the reef in the Mergui Archipelago — A beautiful cowrie shell on the reef.

Emperor shrimp photographed in the Mergui Archipelago — An emperor shrimp captured in macro photography.

Nudibranchs, Frogfish and Ghost Pipefish

We spotted some wonderful nudibranchs!

Nudibranchs are among the most colourful creatures in the Andaman Sea, and Myanmar offers plenty of opportunities to find these tiny marine slugs. Some are brilliantly coloured and easy to spot, while others require a careful search by an experienced guide.

Colourful nudibranch on a reef in the Mergui Archipelago — A colourful nudibranch on the reef.

Nudibranch photographed in the Mergui Archipelago, Myanmar — Another beautiful nudibranch from Burma.

In the juvenile world, we found tiny frogfish and delicate ghost pipefish!

Juvenile frogfish clinging to coral in the Mergui Archipelago — A tiny juvenile frogfish.

Ornate ghost pipefish camouflaged among coral in Myanmar — An ornate ghost pipefish camouflaged in the reef.

Harlequin Shrimp and Mantis Shrimp

We had the pleasure of encountering harlequin shrimp in several places! 😉

Harlequin shrimp are always a fantastic find for macro photographers and marine-life enthusiasts. Their striking colours and unusual appearance make them one of those small creatures that can stop a whole group of divers in their tracks.

Harlequin shrimp on the reef in the Mergui Archipelago — A spectacular harlequin shrimp.

There were also mantis shrimp…

Peacock mantis shrimp peering from its burrow in Myanmar — A peacock mantis shrimp peering from its burrow.

Seahorses and Their Relatives

Plus seahorses and their relatives!

Black tiger tail seahorse in the Mergui Archipelago — A majestic black tiger tail seahorse.

Orange spotted pipefish hiding among corals in Myanmar — An orange spotted pipefish hiding among the corals.

Pinecone Fish and Smiling Cuttlefish

And some more wonderful marine creatures that we are always happy to meet, including pinecone fish and cuttlefish with smiling eyes!

Pinecone fish resting on the reef in the Mergui Archipelago — A pinecone fish on the reef.

Cuttlefish showing expressive eyes in the Mergui Archipelago — A cuttlefish with its expressive eyes.

Surface Sceneries and On-Board Fun

At the surface, the scenery was also amazing!

The Mergui Archipelago is just as impressive above the water as it is below it. Hundreds of remote islands, rocky outcrops, tropical vegetation and deserted beaches create a spectacular backdrop between dives. Exploring some of these islands is a memorable part of a Myanmar liveaboard cruise.

Tropical island landscape in the Mergui Archipelago, Myanmar — A stunning Mergui Archipelago landscape.

Lonely tree on a rocky island in the Mergui Archipelago — A lonely tree on a rocky Mergui islet.

We enjoyed some wonderful outdoor activities 🙂

Guests exploring an island in the Mergui Archipelago during a liveaboard cruise — Exploring the islands around the Mergui Archipelago.

Guests discovering a tropical island in the Mergui Archipelago — Discovering a paradisiacal island in Mergui.

On the boat, the atmosphere was over the top, filled with singing and dancing! 😉

The social side of a liveaboard is another important part of the experience. After a day filled with spectacular dives, there is always time to relax, share stories, laugh together and enjoy the company of the group. This Belgian charter certainly knew how to make the most of their time on board!

Guests enjoying a lively atmosphere aboard the MV Smiling Seahorse — An over-the-top atmosphere on board the MV Smiling Seahorse.

Guests celebrating with an improvised conductor party aboard the liveaboard — An improvised conductor party on board.

Guests dancing and celebrating aboard the MV Smiling Seahorse — Dancing and celebrating a fantastic dive cruise.

Breathtaking Sunsets and Sunrises

And we were treated to breathtaking sunsets and sunrises!!!

After days of exploring the underwater world, these peaceful moments above the surface are a perfect way to end a day in the Mergui Archipelago. Watching the sky change colour over the remote islands is part of what makes a liveaboard journey through this part of Myanmar so special.

Golden sunset over the Mergui Archipelago islands in Myanmar — A golden sunset over the Mergui Islands.

Vibrant sunrise over the Mergui Archipelago in Myanmar — A vibrant sunrise over the Mergui Archipelago.

Mergui Archipelago: The Jewel of Burma

Discover one of the most exclusive diving destinations in Southeast Asia…

Scattered like pearls on a blue velvet bed sheet, about 800 islands are spread over the Andaman Sea just off the eastern coast of Myanmar. This is Burma’s tropical paradise, the Mergui Archipelago. The British colonial name of “Mergui” still remains, as opposed to the Burmese “Myeik”.

Myanmar boasts turquoise waters, palm-fringed white-sand beaches, amazing dive sites, rich wildlife and mangrove forests. While Thailand has several well-known island areas, the Mergui Archipelago remains far less famous than its Andaman Sea neighbours, such as the Surin and Similan Islands.

The Myeik Archipelago is still one of the world’s more remote tropical destinations. It only opened to tourism in 1997 and has remained subject to regulations governing access to the region. For divers, this helps preserve the feeling of remoteness that makes a Myanmar liveaboard diving holiday so distinctive.

From vibrant coral reefs and huge schools of fish to manta rays, Jenkins rays, sharks and fascinating macro creatures, the Mergui Archipelago offers an extraordinary variety of underwater encounters. Add deserted islands, jungle-covered landscapes and spectacular sunsets, and it becomes easy to understand why so many divers remember their time here long after returning home.

Discover More of Myanmar Diving

Myanmar diving — discover remote reefs, spectacular marine life and liveaboard adventures in the Andaman Sea.
Mergui Archipelago — explore Myanmar’s remote islands, coral reefs and breathtaking underwater landscapes.
Marine life of the Andaman Sea — discover the diverse species you may encounter while diving in Myanmar.
Burma Banks — explore another legendary remote diving area of the Andaman Sea.
Cruises, schedules & itineraries — check our upcoming liveaboard departures and plan your next adventure.