Embarking on an expedition with a diverse group of adventurers hailing from France, the USA, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, Luxembourg, and Japan, we set our course westward toward the remote waters of Myanmar. Our journey unveiled a mesmerizing world beneath the surface, teeming with vibrant life and unexpected discoveries.

​​Day 1: Exploring High Rock and Dinosaure Island

Our first day into this aquatic wonderland commenced at High Rock, where the ocean seemed to burst with activity. The scene was a kaleidoscope of marine beings – rainbow runners, snappers, fusiliers, surgeonfish, and trevallies pirouetted around the rock, painting the waters with their vivid hues.
Next, our boat led us to Dinosaur Island, aptly named for its resemblance to a diplodocus taking a majestic sip from the sea. This miniature isle, pierced thrice from east to west, offered thrilling swim-throughs that beckoned us to explore their mysteries. Within these passages, shadowed by the island's contours, schools of sweetlips sought refuge, while a path to the surface revealed an ethereal spectacle. The gleaming light illuminated countless fish, their glimmering bodies forming mesmerizing shoals. Although our hopes for encounters with sharks or rays weren't fulfilled that week, a magnificent congregation of bigeye trevallies delighted us at the journey's end.
Venturing deeper, our third dive brought us to The Tower and Bawai. Bawai, a charming coral garden adorned with soft pastel hues, revealed a hidden gem discovered a decade ago – a cavernous sanctuary that hosted a captivating eagle ray. It was heartwarming to find this majestic creature still calling the place home. Unveiling nature's mysteries, did you know that eagle rays could thrive within caves? The belief that they solely inhabited the open pelagic waters was swiftly dispelled.
Amidst the vivid coral tapestry, a delightful encounter awaited us: a charming octopus, though its species eluded our immediate identification.
As night descended, our immersion continued at Spanish Dancer, a site aptly named for the enchanting creatures it often unveils. True to its reputation, the night dive revealed the graceful movements of the Spanish dancer, adding a touch of magic to our underwater odyssey.

Day 2: Unveiling the Wonders of Shark Cave and Square Rock

On the second day of our Myanmar adventures, we set our sights on the fabled Shark Cave area, a domain whispered about for its mysterious allure. We first explored the main dive site: "Shark Cave" which started through a glommy channel at the end of which we had the choice between going through a brief cave /swim-through or continuing through a large corridor to the other side of the island. We chose the cave and coming out of it was a breathtaking spectacle through a thick cloud of glassfish, shimmering in radiant light. The ensuing coral garden held myriad treasures awaiting our discovery – two enchanting tigertail seahorse babies and a vibrant array of colorful nudibranchs.
Our exploration continued at Square Rock for the second dive, revealing yet more secrets of the deep. A small octopus peaked out of its hole to greet us and our mask fell upon another tinny seahorse hanging by its tail to its coral branch. A blotched stingray nestled under a rocky alcove, and the elusive presence of a ghost pipefish. The water was a bit cold due to a thermocline (our video explaining the Indian Ocean dipole) so we went closer to the surface where a school of moorish idol competed for our attention with a school of giant trevallis playing in the light rays. It was beautiful.

The third dive led us to "Submarine", a realm teeming with life and excitement. Here, we were greeted by the magnificent presence of two colossal blotched stingrays, surrounded by an orchestra of bustling marine life. The underwater symphony of colours and movements was a testament to the sheer abundance thriving in this underwater haven.

Between dive 3 and 4, we had some time to visit the local village inhabited by the last Mokens living a simple life.

As the evening draped the underwater landscape in an inky embrace, we embarked on a night dive back at shark Cave. Amidst the nocturnal ballet, two majestic Spanish dancers gracefully adorned the reef, their elegant movements mesmerizing us. Our nocturnal explorations revealed further treasures – three miniature seahorses, and the elusive presence of two ghost pipefish. Even amidst the darkness, the sea unveiled its magic – anemone crabs, feather star crabs, candy crabs, and the mesmerizing giant basket star, unfolding its intricate arms to seize passing plankton. Various species of sea urchins (flower urchin, imperial lance urchin, globe urchin) and flatworms painted a vibrant tapestry against the backdrop of the night.

Day 3: Unveiling the Wonders of Black Rock

Our exploration on the third day centered around the enigmatic Black Rock, a solitary outpost rising majestically from the heart of the ocean. As we descended into its depths, an explosion of life greeted us, painting a vibrant tapestry of colors and movement. A bustling metropolis of marine species surrounded us – from the graceful rainbow runners to the majestic giant trevallies, accompanied by jacks, red and silver snappers, and the dazzling yellow back fusiliers.
The ocean stage transformed into a theater of spectacle as a massive school of barracudas coalesced into a swirling tornado, enveloping us in their mesmerizing dance. Amidst this aquatic symphony, bannerfish, tunas, and sizable cobias heralded the arrival of something grander.
Our attention pivoted as massive marble rays, exhibiting inquisitive behavior, captivated our focus. Their elegant movements followed us, their inquisitive nature making for an intimate connection as they shadowed our journey. However, the pinnacle of excitement arrived when a formidable presence emerged from the midst of the barracuda school – a formidable shark, shrouded in mystery. Its sheer size and bulk, surpassing that of a typical reef shark, left us in awe. Although its specific identity eluded us, whether a silvertip or bull shark, its commanding presence was undeniable.

Day 4: Encounter with North Twin’s Abundance

Our fourth day took us to North Twin, where the first two dives at the pinnacles revealed a lively underwater scene despite a mild current. Highlights included spotting a magnificent marble ray and two cobias gracefully cruising together at 25 meters. However, the pinnacle's star was an adorable octopus, cleverly swaying in the surge like the soft coral surrounding its burrow, leaving us pondering its motives – is it hiding from its predator or preys?
Transitioning to a serene reef dive, we enjoyed the tranquility amidst colourful fish and the grand passage of huge tunas above.

Day 5: Shark Thriving in Burma Banks's blue waters

The day kicked off with exhilarating dives as our guests were thrilled to spot a dozen nurse sharks, silvertip sharks, and the elusive tiger shark alongside the enigmatic porcupine ray! The underwater spectacle was nothing short of sensational.
Later, a change of banks led to more shark encounters, this time with blacktip ocean sharks, silvertips, and the return of nurse sharks. Amidst this sharky excitement, the vibrant reef showcased a kaleidoscope of colors – playful octopuses, regal angelfish, sizable pufferfish, yellow angelfish, emperors, trevallies, and the majestic presence of groupers.
The day's excitement was so infectious that a unanimous decision was made aboard to extend our stay at the banks. Everyone's enthusiasm for more shark-centric dives led to an unanimous agreement to explore further the next day!

Day 6: Diving into Tiger Kingdom

Our sixth day saw us waking up again at the Burma Banks, starting with two exciting morning dives at Tiger Kingdom. Once again, the banks welcomed us with a diverse congregation of sharks – nurse sharks, silvertips, grey reef sharks, and the majestic presence of tiger sharks. Their elegant movements amidst the surrounding marine ballet added a thrilling dimension to our underwater exploration.
The aquatic landscape teemed with life, showcasing not only the mesmerizing sharks but also schools of trevallies, neon fusiliers, and the graceful dance of bannerfish. Parrotfish added splashes of color to the scene while the powerful presence of big tunas patrolled the waters. Wahoos and giant trevallies joined the mesmerizing ensemble, while on the bank's periphery, big marble rays gracefully glided through the depths, adding to the spectacle of this underwater kingdom.

Day 7: Exploring Seafan Forest and Western Rocky

Venturing into Seafan Forest, our day began with the sight of a sizable school of barracudas, accompanied by the hidden presence of stonefish and leopard moray eels, adding an air of mystery to the topography.
Transitioning to Western Rocky, we were immersed in a vibrant underwater tapestry. The scene was bustling with life – from the majestic presence of massive blotched stingrays and jenkin rays to a bustling school of jacks and emperor fish. Angel fish and butterfly fish painted the scene with their vibrant hues against a backdrop of stunningly bright soft corals, creating a picturesque dive.

Day 8: Grand Finale: Exploring Secret Pinnacles and Volcano Dive
Our eighth day commenced at a secret pinnacle site, unveiling a mesmerizing display of rays and lively marine activity. Chevron and yellowtail barracudas vied for attention amidst bustling schools of surgeonfish, red tooth triggerfish, emperors, and trevallies, creating an underwater symphony of colors and movements.
Our last dive centered around the enigmatic Volcano. Here, the underwater world revealed its secrets – two elusive comet longfins peeking from their dark abodes, a tigertail seahorse cleverly concealed in plain sight, and an unexpected spectacle as a cat eel met its fate in the jaws of a grouper, unfolding before our eyes.
With beautiful visibility enhancing our final dive, we concluded our underwater odyssey with a serene cruise back to Kawthoung, weaving through the captivating karstic islands reminiscent of scenes from James Bond movies.

Exploring the underwater wonders of Thailand was an expedition that brought together a diverse group of adventurers hailing from Hungary, the USA, Malaysia, Romania, Switzerland, and France. Our journey was a kaleidoscope of breathtaking dives, vibrant marine life encounters, and awe-inspiring moments that stitched together unforgettable memories.
As we bid farewell to Phuket, our compass directed us towards Koh Haa fondly known  “The 5 Islands”, where our check dive unfolded in the serene embrace of the "Lagoon." Within a first five minutes underwater, our first Ghost Pipefish of the cruise made an entrance, a testament to the beauty awaiting us this week. Traversing through vibrant coral reefs, we found ourselves amid a pristine white sand expanse, a picturesque lagoon that set the tone for our extraordinary voyage.

​For our second day, after cruising during the night, we wake up at Hin Muang/Hin Daeng, the purple and the red rock, in the middle of the sea, no land at sight! In Thai Hin means Rock, Muang means purple and Daeng means red. These colossal underwater structures, are named after the prominent colors of the soft corals covering them (in shades of purple and red). They house a bustling community of red tooth triggerfish and a majestic Manta Ray passed us by bestowing their grace upon us.

Transitioning to Day 6 in the Similan National Park, we explored infamous dive sites like Elephant Head, a giant underwater playground amidst colossal granite boulders where we go from one swim-through to another inhabited by colourful nudibranchs, ribbon eels. The fortuitous sighting of the White tip reef Shark added an exhilarating dimension to our underwater escapade.
 
On day 7th, we explored Koh Bon and Koh Tachai were some of us spotted a giant guitarfish and plenty of fish action!

Once again, Richelieu Rock proved to be a breathtaking sight, living up to its reputation of astonishing beauty on the 8th and last day of our South + North Expedition. Richelieu Rock is rated as one of the top 10 best dive sites in the world but it is always mind blowing to witness its breathtaking beauty, thriving biodiversity, and vibrant activity. Seahorses, harlequin Shrimp, Candy Crabs, schools of Longnose Emperor, Rainbow Runners, Giant Trevallies embellished our dives. However, the highlight was the remarkable congregation of Jenkins Sting Rays, a sight to behold, embellishing the sandy bottoms all around Richelieu Rock!