9 days Burma exploration cruise: one step further

Let's explore new dive sites in Burma... Come with us to the most remote locations...

• Day 1: Meeting at our dive center headquarters between 9:00 am and 12:00 am. 

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• At 2:00 pm 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.​
• We will be back to Ranong around 3pm

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• 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!

Roboasta Luteolineata Nudibranch

Nurse Shark in a cave

• ​​Day 3: 4 dives around the very special "Shark Cave", with 3 dive sites to explore one of my favorites. In the afternoon we  explore a paradise beach or a small fishermen settlement. In shark cave you can expect to see nurse sharks or big blotched sting rays, a lot of Mantis Shrimp and crustaceans of all types. The coral around makes it a very colorful dive site. For the night dive, you'll have the choice and can go to the site you preferred from the 3 you saw. All I can say is, this is a night dive you certainly shouldn't miss!

• Day 4: After a night of crossing, we will reach Black Rock, a small rock out in open sea. Here we are hoping for the big stuff like Sharks and Rays and whatever is passing… This is the place to go for "Manta Festival" with Manta rays coming in dozens from everywhere (no guarantee of course, but they are pretty common). The conditions this far in the open sea are a bit more challenging and currents make it a different style of diving to other areas of Mergui. This is probably the best dive site in Myanmar and is still seldom visited by divers.

Black Rock

Thousands of schooling fish

• Day 5: We stay offshore with North Twin and its pinnacle where you will have more chances to cross Manta Rays and sometimes eagle rays. Because there are many patches of sand between the boulders making the particularity of this dive site, we also sighted Leopard Sharks sleeping quite regularly. Giant Sea Fans are also often hiding magnificent macro critters so look thoroughly!​

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• ​Day 6: on this cruise: ​We will take it one step further West toward the Burma Banks for some exploratory dives we hope to have some exceptional dives and you may be the first divers to explore some of these dive sites...​

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Tiger Shark at the Burma Banks

Gorgonian fan at the mouth of a swim through

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• ​Day 7: The first 2 dives will be around Seafan Forest a gorgeous site with giant Sea Fan like nowhere else on one side and purple vibrant soft coral on the overs. We can see up to 4 whales sharks at the same time on this site ! We will do the next 2 dives around Western Rocky which is also absolutely amazing.

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• Day 8: Western Rocky area is one of the Highlights of the entire Mergui Archipelago with its tunnel that goes all the way through the island inhabited by many lobsters. We will do 3 dives here but the first one will be on a submerged pinnacle for spectacular scenery and schooling fish action! We have spotted here various shark species (Bowmouth Guitarfish, Whale Shark, Reef Sharks) and often see resident Harlequin Shrimp, frogfish, Seahorses and lots of crustaceans and nudibranchs. 

Vibrant soft corals in Mergui Archipelago

Harlequin Shrimp

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• Day 9: 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. Here 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.   

After the last dive we will head back toward Kawthoung where you can visit the local market or enjoy The Smiling Seahorse's hospitality with a refreshing beer at the local pub.
Once we get our passports back from the Burmese authorities, we will head back to Thailand where we will get a new visa (30 or 14 days for visa on arrival). ​

See our Burma's dive sites

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Black Rock, High Rock, Shark Cave, North et South Twin, Burma banks, Western Rocky, Seafan Forest, Volcano...

9 days 8 night, 29 dives
From Ranong 2pm to Ranong 3pm

Price Diver 2023-2024:
THB 75,000 in Standard cabin
THB 78,000 in Deluxe cabin
THB 80,000 in Master cabin

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INCLUDED
• Full accommodation and board 
(Breakfast, Lunch, afternoon bites, Dinner) 
•  All soft drinks, drinking water, fresh coffee & tea
•  Fresh fruits, yogurt & snacks all-day
•  12 L scuba tank, Weights & Weight Belt 
•  PADI Professional Dive Guide (for up to 4 divers)
•  up to 29 Dives
•  Towels, reef-friendly amenities
•  Sea kayak and hammock ​

NOT INCLUDED:
•  Burmese entry and diving Fees 300 USD / Pers (to be confirmed) 
•  PERSONAL INSURANCE COMPULSORY 
•  Alcoholic drinks and cigarettes 
•  Equipment rental (600 THB/ day) 
•  Computer rental (300 THB/day) 
•  PADI Courses
•  Private guide 3,000 THB/day ​​
•  Nitrox : 250 THB/tank or 5,700 THB for the whole cruise
•  Optional Black water dive (500thb/ diver)
•  Photographer private coaching
•  Transfers to and from the boat on-demand (prices)

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

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