Mergui Archipelago: Discover Myanmar’s Last Great Marine Paradise
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The Mergui Archipelago, which remained inaccessible for half a century before opening to boutique tourism from 1997 to 2019, closed again during the international Covid crisis. Still largely undiscovered, this remote corner of Myanmar is home to an extraordinary diversity of coral reefs, marine creatures and pristine tropical landscapes.
Stretching for more than 400 kilometres from north to south, the archipelago is a spectacular combination of primary forests, secluded coves and immaculate sandy beaches, dotted with limestone and granite rocks. Some of these dramatic formations are the result of ancient geological events and landslides, creating a landscape that feels almost untouched by time.
The local population includes the Moken, often nicknamed the “nomads of the sea”, whose traditional way of life has been closely connected to the waters of the archipelago for generations.
Myanmar’s Mergui Archipelago has more than 800 islands spread across approximately 12,000 square kilometres of crystal-clear waters waiting to be explored. Since the Burmese seas first opened to tourism, only a small number of boats have ventured into this remote region, and many of the islands remain almost entirely uninhabited apart from a few local Moken villages.
These “sea gypsies” display remarkable skills in harpoon fishing and breath-hold freediving, traditionally taking from the sea what is needed for sustenance and trade. A few thousand Moken live within the archipelago and have preserved a distinct cultural identity despite the changes brought by modern life.
Traditionally living aboard kabangs, their boats were crafted from large tree trunks and served as both transport and home. Today, some Moken communities also live in modest village settlements, where they cultivate basic crops to supplement their fish-based diet.
Diving the Mergui Archipelago
Scattered like pearls on a blue velvet bedsheet, the Mergui Archipelago is a tropical paradise stretching between Kawthaung in the south and Mergui in the north. The southern islands are accessible by boat from the Ranong–Kawthaung border, making liveaboard travel one of the best ways to explore this vast and remote region.
Myanmar’s waters remained relatively unexplored for decades, but they offer a unique underwater landscape for experienced divers. Numerous caves, pinnacles covered in soft corals, dramatic rocky formations and exclusive dive sites combine to create an experience unlike almost anywhere else in the Andaman Sea.
Diving in Myanmar gives divers the opportunity to encounter giant manta rays, schools of barracuda, fascinating frogfish, spider crabs, decorator crabs, sponge crabs, seahorses, pipefish and a remarkable variety of other crustaceans. Among the favourites for underwater photographers are the colourful harlequin shrimp.
Different types of sharks also inhabit the region, and encounters with them can be an unforgettable part of a Mergui liveaboard adventure. And if you travel further offshore to the Burma Banks, you can also experience some of the enormous coral bommies that make this remote area so special.
If you have a drone, Mergui is also a fantastic archipelago to discover from above. The scale of the landscape is difficult to appreciate underwater, with hundreds of forest-covered islands, hidden beaches and deep-blue channels stretching towards the horizon. We hope you like our aerial shots!
Why Explore the Mergui Archipelago by Liveaboard?
The sheer size and remoteness of the Mergui Archipelago are part of what makes it so special. With hundreds of islands spread across a huge area, travelling by liveaboard allows divers to reach remote reefs and dive sites that would be difficult to experience from a land-based resort.
Rather than returning to the same coastline every day, a liveaboard expedition can travel between islands, pinnacles and offshore dive sites while giving you the opportunity to experience both the underwater world and the extraordinary landscapes above the surface.
For divers looking for something beyond the better-known destinations of the Andaman Sea, Mergui offers a genuine sense of exploration. The combination of remote islands, unusual underwater topography and rich marine life is what makes diving in Myanmar such a memorable adventure.
Explore the Best Dive Sites in Myanmar
From coral-covered pinnacles and rocky outcrops to encounters with pelagic species, the diving around the Mergui Archipelago offers plenty of variety. The region is also home to some of the most distinctive dive sites in Myanmar, each with its own character and underwater scenery.
Check out the best dive sites in Myanmar and discover what makes this remote part of the Andaman Sea so fascinating for adventurous divers.
One Response
Sadly I can no longer scuba dive. BUT I am really interested in a small boat sailing into the mergui-archipelago. Does your ship ever sail with a “land person” aboard. Also, (silly question but!) do you have a cabin with open windows or a door to a balcony. Sorry to bother you but I am rather interested in seeing this part of the world. I love the sea and sailing “warm climates”