2024 Manta Rays Expedition in MYANMAR
9D8N expeditions to learn more about Manta Rays in Myanmar
Diving the best Manta spots in the Mergui Archipelago and Burma Banks
From Ranong on the 20th of April to Ranong on the 28th of April 2024
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in partnership with Thailand Manta Project
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The Smiling Seahorse team has partnered with Thailand Manta project to offer you a very special cruise which will combine the best aspects of liveaboard diving with daily marine biology presentations!
Our Special guest onboard: Thailand Manta Project Leader
JAMIE PIYADA MONMANEERAT
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Jamie Piyada Monmaneerat, Thailand Manta project Leader will be onboard to share her knowledge about Manta rays in Thailand.
Through multidirectional research, the Thailand Manta Project is working to shed light on the Manta populations on both sides of the Thailand population, and the threats that are impacting their life and put them in danger. Thailand Manta project collects datas about Mantas in Thailand and observe its economic impact in Thailand. It also plays a role in educating all stakeholders on how to make Manta tourism sustainable. |
Snorkeling with Mantas
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JAMIE PIYADA MONMANEERAT giving a talk about manta rays mating habits onboard MV Smiling Seahorse
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What's special about this Manta rays Special trip?
We have designed this itinerary to maxime our chance to see giant oceanic mantas on the Andaman Sea:
This is your chance to contribute to Manta conservation efforts:
by recording any sighting we may have |by educating yourself | by contributing financially
This is your chance to contribute to Manta conservation efforts:
by recording any sighting we may have |by educating yourself | by contributing financially
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Of course sightings 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. |
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Captivating moment with a Manta ray
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Itinerary of Myanmar Manta Expedition 2024
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The Smiling Seahorse team has partnered with Thailand Manta project to offer you a very special cruise which will combine the best aspects of liveaboard diving with daily marine biology presentations!
The itinerary is not fixed, we will remain flexible in case we had more pelagic sightings in the north or the West (visiting either north of Blackrock or the banks) We will maximise our chances to encounter Manta rays but while they are not guaranteed, we are sure to see a lot more marine life!
How to reach Ranong: Daily flights from Don Muang Airport to Ranong AirAsia: 11:45 -> 13:00 Nok Air : 14:40pm -----> 15:50pm (latest flight you can take on the day prior to departure) We can arrange an airport pick up (250thb). You can also come by night buses for around 700thb (21h-5am).
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
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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. |
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Tiger Shark at the Burma Banks
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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!
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... |
Note: This itinerary is provided as sample itinerary and can be modified by The Smiling Seahorse based on weather forecast or other unforeseen circumstances.
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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!
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9 days/ 8 nights, up to 29 Dives
From Ranong The 20th of Apr 2024- 2 pm To Ranong the 28th of Apr 2024- 3 pm Price per diver 2023-2024: THB 68,000 in Standard Cabin THB 72000 in Deluxe Cabin THB 76,000 in Master Cabin |
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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 • 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: - 15L Tank 250 THB / day or 2,000 THB for the whole cruise - Nitrox : 250 THB/tank or 5,700 THB for the whole cruise - Private guide 3,000 THB/day - Optional Blackwater dive 500 THB/ 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
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The Smiling Seahorse Andaman dive cruises.!
Review:
5, based on
176 reviews
"Highly recommend Smiling Seahorse is the best Liveaboard we have be on" by
alwayslove2travel_10, written on
February 24, 2023
Full of praise for all the staff, the quality of dive gear, cleanliness of the boat and the food oh the food was plentiful and wonderful.
We have been on many Liveaboard trips across the world and The Smiling Seahorse rates almost the best we have sailed on.
The dive staff have a safety first culture which is second to none. They are very friendly and relaxed and provide full briefing and debriefing with every dive.
We had 15 guests and 4 dive masters so the trip was certainly not over crowded. Staff can also speak a variety of languages which made communication very easy for all guests.
Diving in the Andaman sea and around Similan Islands is great at the best of times but was made even better thanks to the wonderfully professional dive team and crew. Everything was looked after from the moment we stepped onboard.
The equipment is well maintained with a spacious dive deck to make gearing up easy. The boat is fully equipped with Nitrox so you can dive Nitrox every dive for a small charge which was well worth the cost.
Cabin was clean and spacious, we had a Master Cabin at the front of the boat with ensuite however all rooms were equally as good.
Plenty of comfortable space to chill out between dives and you can easily find a quite place to read a book or have a snooze.
The boat was fully equipped with everything we could want on our trip and there was ice cold beers to have with dinner.
The captain was fantastic motoring through the night to our next dive site. All cabins face out to the water with air-conditioning and opening windows if you want fresh air. The boat is very stable and does not rock around while travelling or at anchor.
Thanks to James, Julien, Mint and Joon our team masters for making this trip an unforgettable holiday.
Highly recommend The Smiling Seahorse
Thank you team.
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