A guitarfish and many other cool encounters at the Burma banks and Mergui Archipelago
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.
 | 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.
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.
 Yellow boxfish |  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 |  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!
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 Piccachu nudibranch |  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.
Drift diving over these remote seamounts, 140 nautical miles from land, offered endless encounters with trevallies, fusiliers, and coral gardens alive with marine activity.
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 | 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. |
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 An alien-like larval mantis shrimp with its shimmering exoskeleton.  |   |
It was sooooo goood… we spent a second day at the Burma banks and it was just as Magical!!
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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.
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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.
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 | 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!
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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