Burma banks photo and video expedition
Perfect your uw photo and video skills
Who is this UW Photo/videography expedition for?
- You just got an underwater camera and want to learn how to use it?
- You wish to understand underwater photography principles better?
- You are an advanced underwater photographer and want to improve your skills or try new artistic challenges?
- You want to enjoy exclusive dive sites away from the crowds!
- You want to be one of the first to do blackwater dives around the Burma banks!!!
A VIDEO clinic animated by 2 very special guests : Mike Bartick and Walter Marti!
Teaming up with our onboard photo pro, Franck they will answer all your questions about video and still photography.
Teaming up with our onboard photo pro, Franck they will answer all your questions about video and still photography.
Meet Mike Bartick, a celebrated Macro photographer, writer, and renowned public speaker whose captivating work is published monthly in numerous magazines, websites, and online platforms. Recently awarded for his Blackwater video by the smith rice foundation Natures Best Awards, Mike is particularly well known for his stunning Blackwater photos/videso and he recently published The World of Blackwater: an Illustrated Guide to the Life and Techniques of Blackwater Scuba Diving which has been one onboard as one of our Blackwater identification guide of reference ever since. Mike has been hosting regular photo clinics and seminars in Anilao since 2009 and we are delighted to get him onboard for the very first time this year!
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Walter is an accomplished videographer whose shots have been shown on BBC, PBS and many others. His films have been shown in numerous International Film Festivals/Contests and he has recently retired to pursue his videography passion full time. He has been a keynote speakers at several shows and runs regular videography clinics around the world. Walter often team up with Mike Bartick in the Philippine for Workshop where his unparalleled experience of Videography is always appreciated.
Walter already ran our video clinic last year and we are thrilled to have him back onboard for 2 cruises this year! |
Franck Fogarolo will also be part of the voyage. Franck is a passionate photographer with an unparalleled level of expertise in the region as he has lead countless expeditions, diving and shooting in the Andaman Sea 4 times a day throughout the seasons since he co-founded The Smiling Seahorse in 2012.
Learn from the pros: daily seminar and one on one attention
HONE YOUR UNDERWATER PHOTO AND VIDEO SKILLS & PRACTICE
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PHOTO REVIEW AND EDITING:
(Exact curriculum will be tailored to the group)
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Some of Mike Bartick's recent blackwater Photos
Some of Walter's latest videos:
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Because the waters around the banks are pretty deep, it is also a perfect spot for BLACK WATER DIVING!
We will do up to 4 dives per day, the fourth dive of the day will either be a sunset, a night dive on the reef or a Blackwater dive.
We will do up to 4 dives per day, the fourth dive of the day will either be a sunset, a night dive on the reef or a Blackwater dive.
What is Blackwater diving?
Blackwater diving is an extraordinary new way of night diving away from the reef! You will dive on top of deep water with no other reference than a downline fitted with powerful lights. Blackwater dives give us the opportunity to encounter marine life never seen on usual dives, such as all types of larvae and baby fish, crabs or shrimps still floating mid-water until they are strong enough to settled down on the reef or deep sea creatures who will never visit a reef... more on this here
Blackwater diving is an extraordinary new way of night diving away from the reef! You will dive on top of deep water with no other reference than a downline fitted with powerful lights. Blackwater dives give us the opportunity to encounter marine life never seen on usual dives, such as all types of larvae and baby fish, crabs or shrimps still floating mid-water until they are strong enough to settled down on the reef or deep sea creatures who will never visit a reef... more on this here
The Smiling Seahorse gives you the chance to come improve your underwater photography skills in Myanmar best dive spots! How to get the most out of your underwater camera? How to approach different marine species? We'll talk about aperture, shutter speed, ISO and composition... Day 1: Meeting at our dive center in Ranong between 10am and 12pm. At 2pm we will head to the immigration office to get the necessary exit stamps from Thailand and then make our way to board MV Smiling Seahorse. Upon crossing the border into Myanmar, immigration officers will board in Kawthaung and do the necessary border crossing screening. Once the paperwork is completed, we will head out to sea! At sunset we will hold a ceremony to launch our voyage. Then it will be time for your first scrumptious meal before being rocked to sleep by the waves. We will make 4 dives per day and 1 or 2 dive for the last day, according to our itinerary. The last dive ends no later than 11:30 The last day , will will be back to Ranong around 5-6pm. |
In Mergui Archipelago we will seeShark Cave. Made out of 3 separate dive sites, this area is one of our favorites for macro life but it is also home to some have huge marble rays. Spearing Mantis Shrimp, seahorses, vibrant soft corals are on offer here so Macro lenses are recommended. For this first day we will do a night dive on the reef and you may be lucky to spot Spanish dancers, decorator crabs or more elusive critters...
The Burma banks, seamounts coming from hundreds of meters to about 25 m deep in the middle of the open sea. Here we are hoping for the big stuff like Sharks and Rays and whatever is passing… This is the place to go for blue superbe visibility and shark/ fish actions shots! The conditions this far in the open sea are a bit more challenging and these dives are usually drift dives on top of the banks.
Because the waters around here are fairly deep (we reach 300 meters quite easily), the burma banks is also a perfect spot for Blackwater diving and we hope to see plenty of weird little monsters coming up from the depths. Western Rocky. The first two dives of the day will be spent exploring the scenery of Seafan forest, the limestone formations proudly display their wonders between 50 and 8 m depth and are home to many creatures including giant frogfish, stone fish, seahorses, nudibranchs and more. There is also a lovely sandy area bordered by purple soft coral that is a popular spot to see leopard sharks.
The magnificent corals attract many schools of fish and the shelter of the topography is a favourite pace of ours to search for stonefish. The last two dives of the day will be in around the main island and islets of Western Rocky. Here we will also have a night dive where we can see a vibrant mosaic of yellow soft coral polyps blooming in the darkness. Spanish dancers and all types of crustaceans can be observed here. Western Rocky area is one of the Highlights of the entire Mergui Archipelago with its tunnel that goes all the way through the island inhabited by many lobsters. We will do 3 dives here but the first one will be on a submerged pinnacle for spectacular scenery and schooling fish action! We have spotted here various shark species (Bowmouth Guitarfish, Whale Shark, Reef Sharks) and often see resident Harlequin Shrimp, frogfish, Seahorses and lots of crustaceans and nudibranchs.
One of our favorite divesite, Dendro’s Peak, a pure festival of fish and Manta!
For the last dive we will go into a volcano where a group of black tip reef sharks likes to hang around… this is also a special site where we can find seahorses and rare tropical fish like the longfin comet, the shaded batfish or the pineapple fish. |
Photos or videos, leave with the best souvenirs!
Macro or wide angle... The Andaman Sea has it all! During the day, you will encounter plenty of beautiful subjects to photograph, whether you are a macro enthusiast or more into wide angle photography you will find what you’re looking for in Myanmar. On this cruise, if the weather allows, we will take our vessel far offshore towards the Burma Banks where we've seen a lot of Sharks recently! |
When you reach the Burma Banks there won't be another boat or piece of land as far as the eye can see. This is the best dive areas for encounters with massive pelagic animals (sharks, rays, tunas and even whales if you are lucky) + big schools and reef fish. Beside the sharks (nurse, grey reef, silvertip) the Burma banks are also home to beautiful tropical creatures such as the honeycomb moray eels, and the clown triggerfish which you curiously seldom encounter in the rest of Mergui Archipelago.
The Burma Banks are a collection of underwater mountains with sloping sand dune-like sides covered with massive bummies and barrel sponges. Sitting roughly 100 nautical miles (180km) west of Kawthaung, the Burma banks are enormous and present prestine coral reefs (mostly hard coral). The visibility is often close to 40m and being so exposed there are often strong currents making it a great spot to experience drift dives. Return flights to Bangkok:
AirAsia: 1:25 p.m. - 2:35 p.m. (first flight you can safely take) (Don't forget your 24 hours without flight time after the last dive...) Bus: You can also return to Bangkok by bus in one of the VIP buses with fully reclining seats for around 700 thb arriving in Bangkok around 5am. |
If you've got some extra time in Thailand, why don't you join us as well on the previous cruise to shoot the best of Thailand on our Thailand photo and video workshop?
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Have a great holidays, sharing our passion on a fantastic new boat built for videographers and photographers!
Built at the end of 2018, The MV Smiling Seahorse is a comfortable vessel to explore the Andaman Sea.
Designed by and for underwater image hunters, it is the first liveaboard in Thailand with a camera room.
Built at the end of 2018, The MV Smiling Seahorse is a comfortable vessel to explore the Andaman Sea.
Designed by and for underwater image hunters, it is the first liveaboard in Thailand with a camera room.
With hundreds of dives in the area, our guides know how to find the nicest subjects for your lenses to record.
Don’t waste your time looking for the frogfish or the ghost pipefish, they will do it for you. So you can focus technical stuff and take the best shot!
Share a good time with fellow underwater photographers and videographers
Being part of a photo/video clinic is the guaranty to improve your shots and make like minded friends!
You will have plenty of time to share your experience, technics and tricks with fellow passengers. As many opportunities to learn and try new styles and ideas on your next dive. All of it with the advices of a very experienced professional underwater photographer and Videographer.
Don’t waste your time looking for the frogfish or the ghost pipefish, they will do it for you. So you can focus technical stuff and take the best shot!
Share a good time with fellow underwater photographers and videographers
Being part of a photo/video clinic is the guaranty to improve your shots and make like minded friends!
You will have plenty of time to share your experience, technics and tricks with fellow passengers. As many opportunities to learn and try new styles and ideas on your next dive. All of it with the advices of a very experienced professional underwater photographer and Videographer.
Pick one of our 8 confortable cabins, our boat only welcome 16 guests!
On the main deck you'll find 2 (double-bed) master cabins at the front and 4 (twin or double) deluxe cabins behind them all equipped with their own ensuite bathrooms.
For travellers looking for a bargain, our upper deck also has 2 standard cabins (twin or double) sharing two bathrooms on the dive deck.
All our cabins have large windows and doors opening to the ocean, individual aircon units and plenty of storage space.
On the main deck you'll find 2 (double-bed) master cabins at the front and 4 (twin or double) deluxe cabins behind them all equipped with their own ensuite bathrooms.
For travellers looking for a bargain, our upper deck also has 2 standard cabins (twin or double) sharing two bathrooms on the dive deck.
All our cabins have large windows and doors opening to the ocean, individual aircon units and plenty of storage space.
Diving certification required
Because you need to be a good diver prior to bring a camera down there, we ask you to be an advanced diver, certified up to 30 metres with good buoyancy skills. In order to participate to our blackwater dives you also need to be sufficiently experienced and confident to dive as a buddy team in a safe manner. Equipment required for photography: Compact, hybrid or DSLR no matter the camera you have, as long as you can set it in manual mode you'll get the best out of the clinic. The aim here is for beginners is to set yourself free from automatic modes, and for experienced photographs, to improve your knowledge and underwater photo skills.
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After the last dive we will go back to Kawthoung where there will be opportunity for some souvenir shopping and a refreshing local beer.
Once we get our passports back from the Burmese authorities, we will head back to Thailand where we get a new entry stamp. 30 days for G8 countries passport holders, 14 days for the others getting visa on arrival.
Once we get our passports back from the Burmese authorities, we will head back to Thailand where we get a new entry stamp. 30 days for G8 countries passport holders, 14 days for the others getting visa on arrival.
Burma banks, High Rock, Shark Cave, North Twin, Western Rocky, Seafan Forest, Volcano... and some blackwater dives...
7 days/6 nights, 21 dives
From Ranong 2pm On the 29th October 2024 to Ranong 6pm on the 4th November 2024 Price per diver 2024-2025 THB 67,000 in Standard cabin THB 70,000 in Deluxe cabin THB 73,000 in Master cabin |
INCLUDED
• Full accommodation and board (Breakfast, Lunch, afternoon bites, Dinner) • All soft drinks, drinking water, fresh coffee & tea • Fresh fruits, yogurt & snacks all-day • 12 L scuba tank, Weights & Weight Belt - All Blackwater dives included • PADI Professional Dive Guide (for up to 4 divers) • up to 21 dives. • Towels, reef-friendly amenities • Daily presentation by the photo pros / photo reviews/ coaching |
NOT INCLUDED:
* You will have to apply for an E-visa for Myanmar, cost: 50$, port of entry: Kawthaung, link to apply * Burmese entry and diving Fees 210 USD / Pers (to be confirmed) . COMPULSORY IF YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR OWN: - PERSONAL DIVING INSURANCE (compulsory to cover evacuation and treatments). General Travel insurance is highly recommended (to cover trip cancellation, lost luggages etc) - Computer rental 300 THB/day - Equipment rental 600 THB/ day . OPTIONS: - Nitrox : 250 THB/tank or 4,500 THB for the whole cruise - 15L Tank 300 THB / day or 1,800 THB for the whole cruise - Private guide 5,000 THB/day . Transfers to and from the boat on-demand . Alcoholic drinks and cigarettes . Gratuity/ tips (1000 THB / day /pers is common practice) |
Note: This itinerary is provided as sample itinerary and can be modified by The Smiling Seahorse based on weather forecast, dive conditions or other unforeseen circumstances.
The Smiling Seahorse Andaman Dive cruises
★★★★★
by fiftystatesevenconts
January 21, 2024
Review:
5, based on
194 reviews
"The best Similan diving expérience!!" by
fiftystatesevenconts, written on
April 21, 2024
The title says it all and every component of the Smiling Seahorse stands out. The dive sites were varied and each one offered something new to shout about. I reached my 900th dive on this trip from Khao Lak to Phuket, and have been on many live-aboards, and this one knows what divers want. They help you don your wetsuit, hold on to your tank before you jump in or climb back up the ladder, to save your back for your 24 dives in a week, put your fins on for you, remove them after the dive, and would likely breathe for you if requested.
James, my extremely experienced guide and cruise director, did everything in his power to make all my dives special. What resulted in that, were some pretty special dives: 8 black tipped sharks in a few minutes, 5 massive blotched fantail rays, a guitar shark, a leopard shark, a deadly stonefish, giant clams, and rivers of fish swimming through the corals, actually blocking my view of him at one point, and it was hard to follow him, like in a fog! These big schools of fish are one of the main reasons for a live-aboard, remoteness, and these are some incredibly healthy reefs.
The food was excellent as well, with mountains of it offered 3 times a day, plus a "snack", which really amounted to 4 meals a day.
If you want to feel like every day is your birthday, with your invited guests including countless green morays, cuttlefish, huge schools of giant trevallies and bright fusiliers carpeting the ocean, get aboard the Smiling Seahorse.
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