2025 Marine Biology Expedition in MYANMAR with Manta ray specialist
9D8N to learn more about Giant Oceanic Mantas and their environment
while diving some of the best dive spots in the Mergui Archipelago and the Burma Banks
2nd to the 10th of April 2025
|
|
The Smiling Seahorse team has been running manta expeditions since 2021 with several amazing marine biologists and manta rays advocate!
JAMIE PIYADA MONMANEERAT giving a talk about manta rays mating habits onboard MV Smiling Seahorse
|
Jamie Piyada Monmaneerat, the mind behind Thailand Manta Project has been running our annual manta expeditions since 2021 and helping with keeping Thailand manta ray database up to date.
This season Scarlette Taylor is taking over to answer all the questions you may have about Manta rays.
|
Our Special guest this year: Scarlett Taylor
Scarlett Taylor - this fantastic Marine Biologist will be onboard with you
|
Scarlett Taylor is a marine biologist with a Master’s degree in Biology from Dalhousie University, where she researched the population dynamics of basking sharks (Cetorhinus maximus) in Atlantic Canada. Her research interests focus on the movement ecology and conservation of sharks and rays, as well as the protection of critical marine habitats.
Scarlett has worked globally on a variety of projects, including acoustic tagging of blue sharks in the Northwest Atlantic, studying the movement ecology and telemetry of reef and oceanic manta rays in rural Mozambique with Marine Action Research (MAR) Expeditions, and contributing to devil ray conservation with the Manta Trust in Malaysia. Currently, Scarlett is a researcher with Global Reef in Thailand, contributing to marine conservation efforts in Thailand. She also helps with the Maya Bay and Blacktip Reef Shark Project with the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources of Thailand, using innovative technology to study shark abundance and help establish protected areas for neonate and juvenile blacktip reef sharks. Through her extensive underwater and field experience, Scarlett advocates for marine conservation through science communication and teaching the next generation of marine scientists. Her passion for protecting marine ecosystems drives her ongoing research and outreach efforts. |
What's special about this Manta rays Special trip?
This is your chance to contribute to Manta conservation efforts:
by recording any sighting we may have |by educating yourself | by contributing financially
by recording any sighting we may have |by educating yourself | by contributing financially
|
Of course sightings of pelagic animals, such as Manta rays are 100% natural and cannot be predicted or guaranteed but we will have onboard a lovely Marine biologists to talk to us about this incredible creatures with daily presentation!
This is also your chance to ask all the questions you may have about the Oceanic Manta Rays. |
|
Captivating moment with a Manta ray
|
Itinerary of Myanmar Manta Expedition 2025
|
The itinerary maximize our chances to encounter Manta rays but while we cannot guarantee a sighting, we are sure to see a lot more marine life while learning more about these gentle giants. Day 1: The check-in is at our dive center 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 MV Smiling Seahorse. Upon crossing the border into Myanmar, immigration officers will board the boat in Kawthaung and do the necessary border crossing screening. Once the boring paperwork is completed, we will head out to sea! At sunset, we will hold a ceremony to launch our voyage and introduce the crew. Then it will be time for your first scrumptious meal before being rocked to sleep by the waves. For the return, we will be back to Ranong around 5-6 pm on the 10th. The last dive ends no later than 9 a.m. |
After the last dive we will head back toward Kawthoung where there will be opportunity to explore the market or enjoy the Smiling Seahorse's hospitality with a beer in the local pub. Once we got our passports back from the Burmese authorities, we will sail back to Thailand where we get a new visa stamp. (30 days or 15 days depending on your country of origin).
In Mergui Archipelago we will see
|
South Twin Island. Sitting in the outskirts of the Mergui Archipelago, this dive site is quite scenic with consistent crystal visibility and a topography of huge granite boulders. We have even been lucky enough the start the voyage off in style with a guest appearance from a majestic manta ray. Macro lovers will also be treated to chances of ghost pipefish, seahorses and frogfish! We end the first day of diving with a night dive searching for pygmy squid, candy crabs, cowries and nudibranchs!
4 dives around the very special "Shark Cave", with 3 dive sites to explore one of my favorites. In the afternoon we explore a paradise beach or a small fishermen settlement. In shark cave you can expect to see nurse sharks or big blotched sting rays, a lot of Mantis Shrimp and crustaceans of all types. The coral around makes it a very colorful dive site. For the night dive, you'll have the choice and can go to the site you preferred from the 3 you saw. All I can say is, this is a night dive you certainly shouldn't miss! Black Rock, a small rock out in 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 "Manta Festival" with Manta rays coming in dozens from everywhere (no guarantee of course, but they are pretty common). The conditions this far in the open sea are a bit more challenging and currents make it a different style of diving to other areas of Mergui. This is probably the best dive site in Myanmar and is still seldom visited by divers. We stay offshore with North Twin and its pinnacle where you will have more chances to cross Manta Rays and sometimes eagle rays. Because there are many patches of sand between the boulders making the particularity of this dive site, we also sighted Leopard Sharks sleeping quite regularly. Giant Sea Fans are also often hiding magnificent macro critters so look thoroughly! Seafan Forest a gorgeous site with giant Sea Fan like nowhere else on one side and purple vibrant soft coral on the overs. We can see up to 4 whales sharks at the same time on this site ! We will do the next 2 dives around Western Rocky which is also absolutely amazing. 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. The last dive usually goes into a volcano where a group of Black Tip Sharks likes to hang around, it is also a site rich in macro life. Here the question is not if you will see a seahorse, the question is how many? Up to 10 per dive if you have good eyes as well as rare species such as shaded Batfish, Comet Long Fins or Pineapple Fish. On this cruise: We will take it one step further West toward the Burma Banks for some exploratory dives or a day north of Black Rock (which has regular schools of mobulas) depending on recent reported sightings... |
Tiger Shark at the Burma Banks
|
Note: This itinerary is provided as sample itinerary and can be modified by The Smiling Seahorse based on weather forecast or other unforeseen circumstances.
|
|
|
Our boat: MV Smiling Seahorse, the newest liveaboard around!
Built by and for divers in 2018, the MV Smiling Seahorse is one of the newest dive boat currently cruising the Andaman sea
The Smiling Seahorse has been operating since 2012, both in Thailand and Myanmar. Ocean preservation is very important to us and these "special expeditions" are an integral part of our sustainability strategy.
We promote responsible diving, low impact tourism and also reduce/ reuse/ recycle as much as we can and offer (refillable) organic, reef friendly amenities onboard such as Reef friendly Soap, Shampoo and hair conditioner. We are proud to represent Thailand on Swim with Mantas "Responsible Operator Wall of Fame".
Our boat, MV Smiling seahorse, was built by and for divers and took its maiden voyage in November 2018.
We added all the "little extras" you may want on a new liveaboard: a spacious dive platform, a well equipped camera room, lovely lounge areas, a massive sun deck, 8 cabins for only 16 guests all with large windows and doors to the ocean.
We keep dive groups small and organise each group to stagger their diving times to ensure that the already spacious dive deck never has too many divers gearing up together. While your group is ready to jump in for a dive, the next group will be doing safety checks and the following group is still upstairs taking their last sips of water during their dive briefing. Everyone is a VIP on the MV Smiling Seahorse!
We promote responsible diving, low impact tourism and also reduce/ reuse/ recycle as much as we can and offer (refillable) organic, reef friendly amenities onboard such as Reef friendly Soap, Shampoo and hair conditioner. We are proud to represent Thailand on Swim with Mantas "Responsible Operator Wall of Fame".
Our boat, MV Smiling seahorse, was built by and for divers and took its maiden voyage in November 2018.
We added all the "little extras" you may want on a new liveaboard: a spacious dive platform, a well equipped camera room, lovely lounge areas, a massive sun deck, 8 cabins for only 16 guests all with large windows and doors to the ocean.
We keep dive groups small and organise each group to stagger their diving times to ensure that the already spacious dive deck never has too many divers gearing up together. While your group is ready to jump in for a dive, the next group will be doing safety checks and the following group is still upstairs taking their last sips of water during their dive briefing. Everyone is a VIP on the MV Smiling Seahorse!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 days/ 8 nights, up to 29 Dives
From Ranong on the 2nd of Apr 2025 at 2 pm To Ranong on the 10th of Apr 2025 at 5-6 pm Price per diver 2024-2025: THB 75,000 in Standard Cabin THB 79,000 in Deluxe Cabin THB 84,000 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 - Free 1 Blackwater dive • PADI Professional Dive Guide (for up to 4 divers) • up to 29 Dives • Towels, reef-friendly amenities • Sea kayak and hammock |
NOT INCLUDED
* You will have to apply for an E-visa for Myanmar, cost: 50$, port of entry: Kawthaung, link to apply * Myanmar entry fees and visa 280 USD *subject to government's change • 2,000 THB donation for Thailand Manta Project . COMPULSORY IF YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR OWN: - PERSONAL INSURANCE (General Travel insurance is highly recommended) - Computer rental 300 THB/day - Equipment rental 600 THB/ day . OPTIONS: - Nitrox : 250 THB/tank or 5,700 THB for the whole cruise - 15L Tank 300 THB / day or 2,400 THB for the whole cruise - Private guide 5,000 THB/day 1000 THB/ Extra Blackwater dive . COURSES: - PADI Courses - Photographer private coaching . Transfers to and from the boat on-demand . Alcoholic drinks and cigarettes . Gratuity/ tips (1000 THB / day /pers is common practice) |
The space is limited on this very special expedition! Book early to avoid disappointment!
Other cruises in Burma
The Smiling Seahorse Andaman Dive cruises
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.
