Diving liveaboard in Thailand and Myanmar
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        • Koh Lipe and Tarutao National Park
      • Mergui Archipelago >
        • Marine life in the Andaman Sea
        • Burma's best dive sites
        • The Ultimate Underwater photo Guide to diving Burma
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  • PROMO
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    • Special Expeditions >
      • Ultimate Underwater photo combo expeditions
      • Video & photo expedition North Andaman 05 Nov 2023
      • Blackwater expedition 23 Jan 2024
      • UW Photo clinic North Andaman 31 Jan 2024
      • Special Marine Biology - 18 Feb 2024
      • Whale Shark Special - 19 Mar 2024 - North and South
      • Manta rays expedition - 20 April 2024
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Marine life in the Andaman Sea

Ultimate Marine Life guide to Mergui Archipelago

Myanmar has a large area of the Andaman Sea, made up by Mergui Archipelago and the Burma Banks is also very rich in Marine life.

We have been diving in Burma since 2012 and I wrote quite a few blogposts about the critters we encountered here.
​
I wanted to share on this page the Ultimate Marine Life guide to Mergui Archipelago ​linking to the articles we wrote about all these wonderful critters!

Whale shark in Andaman Sea

Sharks

We have quite a few kind of sharks in Myanmar:
Whale shark
Tiger shark
White and black tip reef sharks
Silver tip sharks
Leopard / zebra sharks
all about whale sharks
all about leopard sharks
All about the Tiger Sharks
Andaman Sea manta rays

Rays

Manta rays are not the only rays present in Mergui Archipelago. We also have:
Blue spotted sting rays
Marble blotched sting rays
Eagle Rays
Long nez et Bowmouth poissons guitare
Shark and rays are also accompanied by cobias and remoras
Voici un blogpost en Anglais sur les raies we see most in Myanmar:
learn about Andaman Sea Rays
all about giant oceanic manta rays
all about Andaman Sea Rays
Cephalopods in Andaman Myanmar Sea

Cephalopods

Several kind of cephalopods can be seen in Myanmar:
common octopus,
Pharaoh Cuttlefish
Schooling squids
Pygmy squids
Cephalopds camouflages in Burma
all about the Nautilus and Argonauts

Schooling Fishes in Andaman Mergui archipelago Sea

Schooling Fishes

Mergui Archipelago has many kinds of schooling fish:
the tornado of barracudas
puppy-curious batfish (orbicular and shaded)
hunting big eye trevallies
yellowtail and yellowback fusiliers
Sergeant major, 
 goat fish
Rainbow runners, moorish idols
​Crocodile needle fish, Rabbitfish,
Surgeonfish, ​Butterflyfish, triggerfish,

hundred of kinds of snappers emperors, squirelfish, and parrotfish.​
all about the shaded batfish
Moray Eels in Andaman islands of Burma

Moray and other Eels

Moray eels are very common in Mergui Archipelago and you will mostly see:
white eyed moray,
fimbriated
giant morays (some really huge) Honey comb morays (mostly at the Burma Banks)
anded snake eels
ribbon eels
​Garden eels
Ribbon Eel, the marine drag queen: Blogpost
territorial reef fish species in Andaman Sea

Frog Fishes and other territorial reef fish

 Master of disguise, the frogfish could be looking at you on each of your dives in Myanmar.
Damselfishes inhabit ever anemone: tomato clownfish, false clownfish, clarks anemonefish.
Golden, Humburg and blue Damsel, Rounded and fine-spotted Porcupinefish, Giant pufferfish.
Hawkfish, Trumpetfish, ​Razorfish, groupers, wrasses, boxfish
Emperor/ regal/ Andaman Angelfish
 Lizardfish and Crocodile fish,
Comet longfins, cardinal fish, sweetlip

many types of gobies and fairy basslet.​
all about the clownfish family

Harlequin shrimp in Mergui Archipelago

Shrimps and crabs

The Harlequin shrimp is on the list of many divers and underwater photographers. Spiny lobsters, dormant lobsters, Durban shrimp, Mantis shrimp, boxer shrimp, (anemone and crinoid) commensal shrimp, imperator shrimp (on Spanish dancers), sarong marbled shrimp, squat shrimp, serpentine shrimp.
Porcelain crabs, spider crabs, sponge crabs, hermit crabs, orangutan crabs and many other crustaceans are found in the Mergui Archipelago.
all about harlequin shrimps
Nudibranch in Mergui Archipelago

Nudibranch & mollusks

​We have a very large array of nudibranches, flat worms, sea slugs, cowries and snails in Myanmar such as the Spanish dancer above but also the popular Bornella Anguilla
Picture
Picture
Many halgerda and grossodoris slugs as well as the piccachu nudibranch (Thecacera pacifica)​.
You'll see giant clams, Oysters, conch, tiger cowries, soft coral cowrie, cone shells and much more...
Beautiful coral in Mergui Archipelago

Coral species, sea stars and more

You will be amazed by the coral reef of Myanmar as most dive sites are limestone covered by a rainbow of tree, cauliflower and broccoli soft corals. You can also see hard coral formations (giant mounts of massive coral), pale staghorn or solid table coral as well as the very photogenic giant seafans, knotted fan coral, whip and spiral black corals.
You will also find in the landscape many types of sponges, anemone, Sea stars, basket stars, bushy feather stars crinoid, sea cucumbers and sea urchins.
all about corals of the andaman sea

Lion Scorpion Fish

Scorpion fish

Scorpion fishes are ambush predators relying on their preys getting close-by. You will see several kinds of
lion fishes as well as the well hidden stone fish and so many bearded and devil scorpion fish.​
Stone fish scorpion fish in Mergui dives
stonefish
Picture
Indian Walkman
Sea Turtle in Mergui Islands

Reptiles

Hawkbill turtles are the most commonly sighted in Thailand and Burma.
Picture
Picture
​But you can also spot green turtles and banded sea crait (sea snakes) on a regular basis.
Sea snake of Myanmar
banded sea crait (sea snakes)
Seahorse species in the Andaman Sea

Seahorses and pipefishes

As you may guess from our name, we are seahorses and related pipefish families.
Tiger tail seahorses, spiny seahorses
ornate ghost pipefish, Orange spotted pipefish , Bend stick pipe fish, 
​Cleaner pipefish and more...
all about tigertail Seahorses
Ghost pipefish
Ghost pipefish
Marine life in the Andaman Sea is very rich, especially when diving in Myanmar where marine life is diversified and abundant and no coral has been broken like in other over crowded tourism spots. What set Mergui Archipelago and Burma Banks apart from other scuba diving destinations rich in Marine life is the fact you can be alone on every dive site and I'm sure that like us, you will LOVE IT!
It's the best moment to book your dream diving holiday! Check our disponibilities today!
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Burma diving cruise for 6 days 5 nights : Explore the Mergui islands
Burma's best dive sites: Discover the Mergui Archipelago

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Burma diving cruise of 7 days and 6 nights : up to Black Rock
Burma diving liveaboard to Black Rock in a week

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8 days diving around the undiscovered Mergui Archipelago
Our most popular Myanmar diving cruise featuring a full tour of the Mergui Archipelago

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9 days Burma exploration cruise: one step further
Let's explore new dive sites in Burma... Come with us to the most remote locations...

See our schedule

Our dive cruises

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​Dive in Thailand
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​Discover our boat
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More information

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The Smiling Seahorse

170 Ruangrat Rd, Tambon khao nivet, Mueang Ranong District, Ranong 85000​
Phone: +66860110614​
​Mail: info@thesmilingseahorse.com

www.thesmilingseahorse.com/
​

TripAdvisor

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Responsible Manta Tourism Operator
TAT Licence number : 31/00935
© COPYRIGHT 2018-2023. The Smiling Seahorse ​
  • 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 >
        • Marine life in the Andaman Sea
        • Burma's best dive sites
        • The Ultimate Underwater photo Guide to diving Burma
  • ABOUT
    • Our Boat >
      • DELICIOUS FOOD
    • Diving in Thailand
    • Diving in Myanmar/Burma
    • Itineraries
    • Blackwater diving in Thailand
    • Marine life in Thailand's Andaman Sea
    • Dive Courses >
      • Learn to Dive
      • Continue diving education
      • Rescue diver
      • Professional Dive Courses
      • Hone your dive skills with a PADI specialty course
      • Photo coaching in Thailand on the Smiling Seahorse
    • Guest Book
    • FAQ
  • Plan your trip
    • Our hotels recommendations
    • Khao Sok National Park
    • Taxi services >
      • Taxi services to and from Ranong
      • Taxi services to and from Phuket
      • Taxi services to Tap Lamu and Khao Lak
    • 10 things to do around Ranong
  • PROMO
    • HOT DEALS
    • Special Expeditions >
      • Ultimate Underwater photo combo expeditions
      • Video & photo expedition North Andaman 05 Nov 2023
      • Blackwater expedition 23 Jan 2024
      • UW Photo clinic North Andaman 31 Jan 2024
      • Special Marine Biology - 18 Feb 2024
      • Whale Shark Special - 19 Mar 2024 - North and South
      • Manta rays expedition - 20 April 2024
  • gallery
    • Photos
    • Videos
  • CONTACT
  • BLOG
    • Most popular posts