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Blog about diving in Burma and Thailand

Diving Myanmar: Trip Report from 12th to 20th November 2024

22/11/2024

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A guitarfish and many other cool encounters at the Burma banks and Mergui Archipelago

trip report Burma banks November 2024, a guitarfish!
If you're dreaming of exploring pristine waters and remote dive sites teeming with marine life, there's no better adventure than a Myanmar liveaboard cruise. Recently, we wrapped up an epic 9-day diving safari through the Mergui Archipelago and Burma Banks aboard The Smiling Seahorse, and what a journey it was! This trip was filled with crystal-clear visibility, thrilling shark encounters, and mesmerizing blackwater dives that left us all in awe.
clown fish in blue anemone - diving myanmar

Day 1: The Adventure Begins!

Our journey began with perfect weather as we checked out of Thailand and cruised towards Myanmar at the Ranong/ Kawthaung Border.

​The sight of the sun setting over Myanmar's golden temples was a magical start to our diving adventure.

Diving in the Mergui Archipelago

Our first dive at High Rock was a feast for the eyes, with heavy traffic underwater caused by thousands of fusiliers and schools of chevron and pick handle barracudas swirling above. 
Shrimp enthusiasts were in for a treat with Durban dancing shrimp, glass shrimp, and boxing shrimp nestled in rocky crevices, while moray eels, mappa pufferfish and yellow boxfish added to the underwater spectacle.
box fish
Yellow boxfish
high rock, dive site in south mergui archipelago
high rock
At Shark Cave and Square Rock, the hunt for seahorses was a success, with divers spotting beautiful tigertail seahorses peeking out from colorful sea fans. Lionfish, trevallies, and bearded scorpionfish added drama to the dives, while copper-colored cave sweepers filled the caves.
Yellow Tigertail Seahorse Myanmar diving
Yellow Tigertail Seahorse
Shark cave, Mergui Archipelago
Shark cave, Mergui Archipelago

​Day 2 brought us to Black Rock: A Secluded Diver’s Paradise

This secluded site, untouched since we left it, six months ago, was alive with schools of big-eyed trevallies, batfish, and barracudas. Strong currents brought vibrant marine life closer, while calmer dives revealed nudibranches (one favorite was for sure the super-cute Pikachu), scorpionfish, and even a beautiful Yellow frogfish!
black rock in the morning, north mergui archipelago
diving with seastars in Mergui archipelago
Lutjanus quinquelineatus Five-line snapper | Blue-banded Seaperch | Blue-striped Snapper
diving with fusiliers in Mergui archipelago
big eye trevalli, andaman sea diving
black rock in the evening, north mergui archipelago
pretty soft coral at black rock
surgeon fish and purple coral reef
pikkachu nudibranch myanmar
Piccachu nudibranch
frogfish burma black rock
frogfish at black rock

Day 3 & 4: Burma Banks: Shark Encounters in Perfect blue!

The Burma Banks delivered on their reputation for big marine life. At Roe Bank, divers encountered nurse sharks by the dozen, porcupine rays, Napoleon wrasses, and the rare bowmouth guitar shark.
Drift diving over these remote seamounts, 140 nautical miles from land, offered endless encounters with trevallies, fusiliers, and coral gardens alive with marine activity.
bowmouth guitarfish - guitar shark - Rhina ancylostoma, also known as the bowmouth guitarfish, shark ray or mud skate
nurse shark at burma banks
sunset at sea in good compagnie
After a beautiful Sunset with a 360 view over open Ocean...
​
​
The evenings were reserved for blackwater dives, where the open ocean revealed a galaxy of bioluminescent creatures, larval fish, and jellyfish. It was a surreal experience that left everyone eager for more.
Pretty coral at burma banks
nurse shark at burma banks
Picture
fusiliers at burma banksPicture
An alien-like larval mantis shrimp with its shimmering exoskeleton.
An alien-like larval mantis shrimp with its shimmering exoskeleton.
coral larvae on blackwater dive
blackwater diving in Myanmar
A translucent sea creature with a visible orange internal structure against a dark ocean background blackwater diving
It was sooooo goood… we spent a second day at the Burma banks and it was just as Magical!!
diving with a honeycom moray burma banks
burma bank's nurse sharks
pretty hard coral boulder in burma
fish on blackwater dive with the smiling seahorse
flounder on blackwater
blackwater crustaceans
flounder on blackwater
half beak on burma banks blackwater dives
blackwater coral egg
black water weird creatures
half beak reflecting on the surface at the end of the blackwater dive
half beak artistic photo blackwater

5th day: ​North Twin and Beyond

The next leg of the trip took us to North Twin Island and its pinnacle, where calm waters showcased sprawling coral gardens, peacock mantis shrimp, and neon fusiliers. At Sea Fan Forest, massive gorgonians provided a stunning backdrop for sightings of octopus, cuttlefish, and banded sea snakes.
octopus in the andaman sea
banded sea krait in Myanmar
fun diving burma
scuba diver on a liveaboard
thai crew on the liveaboard

​The Grand Finale

Our final dives at Western Rocky brought us face-to-face with stonefish, nudibranchs, and playful anemonefish. Exploring the caves and pinnacles was a perfect end to an unforgettable journey.
fairy basslet in myanmar dive site
burma pretty reef scene
flasher wrasse in myanmar diving safari
group of divers make the shark sign on a group photo
Group of people socializing on diving holidays cabin holding drinks

​A Celebration to Remember

On our last night, we gathered for The Smiling Seahorse’s famous BBQ party, feasting on ribs, chicken, and roasted veggies while sharing stories of the incredible sights we had witnessed. As dolphins swam alongside the boat, we knew we had experienced something truly special.

​Why Choose The Smiling Seahorse for Your Next Diving Tour?

Our Myanmar liveaboard cruises offer unparalleled access to exclusive dive sites like the Burma Banks and Mergui Archipelago, with expert guides and a crew dedicated to making your trip unforgettable. 
While our current Myanmar diving season is fully booked, we still have availability on our Thailand itineraries and next year’s Myanmar dive safaris.
Ready for your own adventure? Book your spot on The Smiling Seahorse and discover the magic of diving in Myanmar!


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Camille Fogarolo 

Camille has been traveling the world since her mid twenties and dived many seas before finally settling down in Thailand in 2012. With her husband Franck, they opened The Smiling Seahorse liveaboard to offer cruises in the most unexplored area of South East Asia and became quite the experts when it comes to diving in Myanmar! Proud mother of two she still travels as much as she can and usually joins a dive trip to Mergui Archipelago every month.

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  • When & Where
    • Schedule and Prices
    • Destinations >
      • North Andaman Thailand >
        • Similan Islands
        • Surin Islands >
          • Richelieu Rock
        • The essential Underwater photo Guide to diving Thailand
      • South Andaman Thailand >
        • Phuket & Koh Phi Phi National Parks
        • Koh Lanta National Park
        • Koh Lipe and Tarutao National Park
      • Mergui Archipelago >
        • Liveaboard diving holiday in Myanmar
        • Burma's best dive sites
        • The Ultimate Underwater photo Guide to diving Burma
  • ABOUT
    • Our Boat >
      • DELICIOUS FOOD
    • Diving in Thailand in 2024-2025
    • Diving in Myanmar/Burma in 2024-2025
    • Blackwater diving in Thailand and Myannmar
    • Marine life in Thailand's Andaman Sea
    • Marine life in Mergui Archipelago
    • Dive Courses >
      • Learn to Dive
      • Continue diving education
      • Rescue diver
      • Professional Dive Courses
      • Hone your dive skills with a specialty course
      • Photo coaching in Thailand on the Smiling Seahorse
    • Guest Book
    • FAQ
  • Plan your trip
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    • Taxi services >
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    • 10 things to do around Ranong
  • PROMO
    • HOT DEALS
    • Special Expeditions >
      • 8D Special Marine Bio with Gavin Miller - 10 Nov 2025
      • 8D Whale shark expedition - 20 March 2026 - North and South
  • gallery
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  • CONTACT
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    • Most popular posts