Back to Burma: A Fantastic Mergui Archipelago Dive Cruise

The MV Smiling Seahorse was back in Burma for another adventure in the Mergui Archipelago!

It was full moon, but the sea was still wonderfully flat. The current made some of the dives particularly fun and challenging 😉 On board, we were happy to welcome Krista from the USA; Marie, Ben, Florian, Yannick, Jean-Philippe, Julien, Evelyne and Gérard from France; Claus from Germany; Claudio from Argentina; and Fausto and Alessandro from Italy.

A great mix of nationalities from all around the world came together to create a warm, relaxed and happy atmosphere on board the MV Smiling Seahorse.

Incredible landscapes of the Mergui Archipelago

Back to some of our favourite places, the landscapes were incredible. The remote islands of the Mergui Archipelago have a very special atmosphere, with beautiful rocky coastlines, secluded beaches and emerald waters that look almost too perfect to be real.

It looked like a series of postcard scenes, with every island offering another spectacular view.

Diving in the Mergui Archipelago

Underwater, there was the same pleasure for the eyes! The diving in Myanmar is one of the great attractions of exploring this remote part of the Andaman Sea, and this cruise gave us plenty to enjoy below the surface.

The underwater topography was particularly interesting, adding another dimension to the dives. Rocky formations, walls, slopes and varied underwater landscapes create plenty for divers and photographers to explore, while the abundance of marine life keeps your eyes constantly moving.

So much marine life

And there was so much life all around 😉 From tiny reef creatures to colourful invertebrates, the underwater world kept everyone busy looking for the next little treasure.

Manta rays at Black Rock

The first mantas were spotted at Black Rock, but unfortunately there was no picture this time 🙁 Don’t be disappointed, though, because the pufferfish saga was about to begin!

Aren’t they the cutest things?

Crabs, cowries and colourful nudibranchs

There were so many crabs … and plenty of beautiful cowries in all sorts of colours and shapes. For divers who enjoy searching the reef for smaller subjects, these are exactly the kind of encounters that make every dive feel like a treasure hunt.

Rainbow nudibranchs and flatworms added even more colour to the underwater scenes.

And there was always this grumpy one, not particularly happy to see us 😉

Seahorses and their relatives

In the seahorse and relatives family, we had some lovely encounters … Can you find the baby seahorse?

And then came an awesome picture of a Zanzibar shrimp!

Finally, one of the best finds of the trip … the pygmy squid!

Island adventures between the dives

Between the dives, there was plenty of time to enjoy the islands and make the most of being in such a remote part of the Andaman Sea. Some guests explored previously unexplored islands, while others enjoyed kayaking, swimming, walking along endless white-sand beaches or simply taking in the views.

And, of course, there was always time for a little fun … including chasing the drone, relaxing with a book and enjoying the scenery with Sharky.

 

Relaxing on the MV Smiling Seahorse

As you may have seen, the huge sofa is the masterpiece of the boat. It is a great place for chilling, relaxing between dives or simply watching the incredible sunsets 🙂

Or simply enjoying a drink all together … because a liveaboard trip is also about the good times shared between dives.

A full moon over the Mergui Archipelago

And to finish, here are some great pictures of the moon! With the full moon lighting up the night sky, the end of the trip was every bit as memorable as the dives and island adventures that came before it.

Discover more of the Andaman Sea

Want to explore more of this spectacular region? Discover our Myanmar diving adventures in the Mergui Archipelago, explore some of Burma’s best dive sites, or browse our liveaboard schedules and itineraries.