Burma diving cruise for 6 days 5 nights : Explore the Mergui islands

Burma's best dive sites: Discover the Mergui Archipelago

Itinerary of our dive cruise:

Day 1: Meeting at our dive center headquarters between 9:00am and 12:00pm. Here we will take care of rental equipment fitting for those who require it and dot the i’s and cross the t’s before departure. At 2:00pm we will head to the immigration office to get the necessary exit stamps from Thailand and then make our way to board the magnificent MV Smiling Seahorse. Upon crossing the border into Myanmar, immigration officers will board in Kawthaung and do the necessary border crossing screening. Once the paperwork is completed, we will head out to sea! At sunset we will hold a ceremony to launch our voyage. Then it will be time for your first scrumptious meal before being rocked to sleep by the waves.

Day 2: KNOCK KNOCK, Dive briefing! Wake up to the friendly call of the ocean (and your eager dive guide) as we start the cruise with a day at South Twin Island. Sitting in the outskirts of the Mergui Archipelago, this dive site is quite scenic with consistent crystal visibility and a topography of huge granite boulders. We have even been lucky enough the start the voyage off in style with a guest appearance from a majestic manta ray. Macro lovers will also be treated to chances of ghost pipefish, seahorses and frogfish! We end the first day of diving with a night dive searching for pygmy squid, candy crabs, cowries and nudibranchs!

Ornate ghost Pipefish

Spanish dancer nudibranch

Day 3: We will explore 3 dive sites around Shark Cave. Things to see in this area include Ghost Pipefish, Harlequin Shrimps, Frogfish, Seahorse and gorgeous coral everywhere. And if you’re extra lucky you may even catch a glimpse of a Manta Ray, Eagle Ray, Whale Shark, Grey Reef Shark, Nurse Shark and big blotched Stingray. Between dives 2 and 3, we invite you to get some sand between your toes on your surface interval on the pristine beach of the nearby island.
For night dive, we will give you the option to dive your favourite of the 3 sites you saw on Shark cave’s dives. Keep an eye out for a plethora of crustaceans and other macro life. We often see the undulating Spanish dancer nudibranch here.

Day 4: On this day we will reach our furthest point in the Mergui Archipelago at North Twin. It should be an exciting day as this dive site will offer the best visibility of the trip and the best chance to see large pelagic marine creatures like manta rays, eagle rays, whale sharks, grey reef sharks, nurse sharks and zebra sharks. Coral lovers will be in awe of the massive sea fans here as well.

Adorable pygmy squid

Zebra shark

Day 5: On this fifth day of the cruise we will visit the neighbourhood of Western Rocky. The first dive will be at the nearby Seafan Forest which is carpeted in massive colourful sea fans (surprise!) and lush purple soft corals. This magical site has graced us with up to 4 whale sharks at once, so depending on our luck we can choose to stay here or move to the center of the Western rocky region. The main island has a glorious swim through full of lobsters that passes from one side of the island to the other. The sandy bottom surrounding it gives rise to a collection of islets and secret pinnacles that are home to a multitude of macro critters as well as vibrant coral and several types of sharks including the rare Bowmouth guitarfish.

Day 6: The last dive goes into a volcano where a group of Black Tip Sharks likes to hang around. It is also a site rich in macro life where the question is not if you will see a seahorse, the question is how many? Up to 10 per dive if you have good eyes as well as rare species such as shaded Batfish, Comet Long Fins or Pineapple Fish.

Dive into a former volcano

After the last dive we will head back toward Kawthoung where there will be opportunity to explore the market or enjoy the Smiling Seahorse's hospitality with a beer in the local pub. Once we got our passports back from the Burmese authorities, we will sail back to Thailand where we get a new visa stamp. (30 days for G8 countries passport holders, 14 days for the others getting visa on arrival)

See our Burma's dive sites

High Rock, Shark Cave, North Twin, Mc Leod Island, Western Rocky, Seafan Forest

6 days 5 night, 17 dives
Price Diver 2020-2021
THB 45,000 in Standard cabin
THB 47,000 in Deluxe cabin
THB 50,000 in Master cabin

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INCLUDED:
• Full accommodation and board
(Breakfast, Lunch, afternoon bites, Dinner)
• All soft drinks, drinking water, filter coffee & tea
• Fresh fruits, yoghurt & snacks
• 12 Liter Alum. Cylinders, Weights & Weight Belt
• PADI Professional Dive Guide
• 17 Dives during the Trip (6 Days/5 Nights)
• Towel, shower gel
• Sea kayak and hammock

NOT INCLUDED:

• Burmese entry and diving Fees 200 USD / Pers
• PERSONAL INSURANCE COMPULSORY
• Alcoholic drinks and cigarettes
• Equipment rental (600 THB/ day)
• Computer rental (300 THB/day) rental
• PADI Continuing Education Courses
• Nitrox (250 THB/tank or 3 400 THB/trip 6D5N)
• Transfers to and from Ranong can be arranged by separate charges!

Note: This itinerary is provided as sample itinerary and can be modified by The Smiling Seahorse based on weather forecast, dive conditions, or other unforeseen circumstances.