Mergui Archipelago Dive Cruise: Whale Encounters, Whale Sharks and Macro Treasures
It was a trip full of surprises and, for most of us, a dream come true — watching whales at the surface, coming close enough to the boat for us to enjoy the show!
We happily welcomed on board Gérard, Corinne, Kévin, Emilie, Pascal and Fanny from France; Bob, Lee, Eric and Pamela from the USA; Kristel and Daniel from Germany; Olli from Finland; Yosita from Thailand; and Christopher and Amanda from England.
Once again, the reefs across our Myanmar diving sites were absolutely full of life, with glass fish everywhere, forming sparkling clouds above the reefs.
We encountered schools of jacks, snappers, trevallies and barracudas all around the reefs.
Gigantic sea fans stretched across the walls, adding another spectacular dimension to the underwater scenery.
They led us through intricate tunnels, caves and swim-throughs, making every dive feel like an underwater exploration.
Whales, Whale Sharks and Rays in the Mergui Archipelago
A manta was spotted in an unusual place (unfortunately, no picture!), and on the exact same day, in the same place, we encountered a whale shark on a sunset dive, accompanied by marbled rays! 🙂
Several friendly turtles also came to say hello!
Macro Wonders and Small Critters
For the macro lovers, the reef offered incredible treasures. Even with all the big animals and spectacular scenery around us, there was plenty to discover by slowing down and looking closely.
And for the nudibranch fanatics, there were some beautiful little treasures to photograph:
And in a bigger format, the magnificent Spanish dancer nudibranch!
In the seahorse family and its relatives, we captured a fantastic shot of a family trio of tiger-tail seahorses, alongside an ornate ghost pipefish!
Decorator crabs were everywhere, using anything available for camouflage!
Plus all the other beautiful creatures around, including pinecone fish, clownfish in their anemones and wide-eyed gobies.
Happy Times on Board the Liveaboard
Between dives, guests enjoyed reading, sleeping, learning, crocheting, or simply snorkelling and enjoying the relaxed liveaboard atmosphere. After all, a great Myanmar liveaboard is about more than just what happens underwater!
We also treated everyone to a yummy barbecue night!
And, as always, to finish off the day, we enjoyed incredible sunsets and sunrises over the Mergui Archipelago.
Discover More of the Andaman Sea
- Mergui Archipelago – explore the remote islands, reefs and breathtaking underwater landscapes of Myanmar.
- Best dive sites in Burma/Myanmar – discover some of the region’s most remarkable dive sites.
- Andaman Sea marine fauna – discover the incredible marine life found throughout these waters.
- Underwater photography in Myanmar – useful information and inspiration for photographers exploring Burma’s underwater world.
- Myanmar liveaboard diving holidays – find out more about exploring the Mergui Archipelago by liveaboard.
