Frequently Asked Question
Q: Can you explain me about making adventure
trip to island by cruising?
A: Adventure cruise consist of live-aboard
boat with island hopping, Mangrove tour,
island trekking, Kayaking, snorkeling, bird
watching and observation of native Salone or
Molcen sea gypsies. Meals are served on the
boat with dedicated cook. You can discover
the hidden and well-protected beauty of
Nature in its pristine condition.
Q: What is live board diving cruise?
A: Diving facilities and living
accommodation for divers are provided on
live aboard diving cruise. The boat becomes
your home and you eat, sleep and dive from
it! Live board boats stay at sea for the
duration of the cruise and therefore can
explore more remote destinations. This type
of diving opens up a whole of top class
scuba opportunities that would simply not be
available on a regular daytrip boat.
Q: What is the best time to visit?
A: The Burma dive season runs from end
October to April. The weather and Andaman
Sea are at their calmest during the months
of February to April and this is when
visibility is at its best. This time of year
is also manta ray and whale shark season.
Q: How many dives will make per day?
A: Generally you can make three dives a day.
A typical live board cruise day in Myanmar
starts at 07:00 hrs with the first dive, and
the last being either a sunset or night
dive. You have about three hours between
dives at your leisure.
Q: What scuba license do I need?
A: An open water diving license is
acceptable for diving in Burma (Myanmar)
provided you have an intermediate level of
experience. Although there are some deep and
exposed sites, there are enough easy dive
sites and enough dive masters on board so
that you will never need to dive beyond your
limits.
Q: Are there any strong currents?
A: Some of the Burma dive sites visited by
live boards can have strong currents. This
depends on the site, time of month and time
of day. Your dive master will advise you in
your dive briefings. Generally, there is
never an occasion when you need to swim
against a strong current.
Q: I don't have my diving license with me,
can I still visit?
A: If you have a PADI certification, we can
check your details direct with PADI. Please
provide your name as it appears on your card
and your date of birth. If you contact the
dive centre where you were certified, they
can help you obtain a new card before you
travel.
Q: How far in advance do I need to book?
A: Due to the limited number of reliable
boat operators running live boards in Burma,
you must try to book 2-3 months in advance
to ensure availability. You can always check
with us by dropping an email at sale@finemyanmar.com.mm
Q: Can I dive on my own?
A: Live boards in Myanmar are recreational
diving boats, and as such follow
recreational scuba guidelines. This means
you'll be expected to dive with a buddy to a
maximum depth of 40 meters and observe safe
diving time limits. If you prefer to dive
without a guide, then this is not a problem
provided you have all the equipment
necessary to conduct dives unassisted i.e.
dive computer or timing device, safety
balloon, compass and dive knife.
Q: Do I need a wetsuit?
A: It is recommended to recharge your
batteries while cruising current is stable
during cruising as we can run large
generator. Please check with the boat
captain how to change your batteries.
Q: Can I rent an underwater camera?
A: You can buy 1-time use underwater with
film loaded. Please check with our crew for
availability.
Q: What kind of food is served?
A: Chinese, Myanmar, Thai and European
Breakfast is served on board. The standard
of cuisine is quite good throughout the
industry here.
Q: Can I request vegetarian food?
A: Please do tell us your requirements at
the time you make your booking, so that we
can meet your request.
Q: Can I bring alcohol onboard?
A: You can bring what you like on board
Myanmar live boards. If you have a favorite
tipple or taste, feel free to bring it
along.
Q: Where can you pick me up?
A: We can arrange transfers to your live
board from your hotel, from Ranong Airport
if you arrive just before your boat
departure. Please advise us of your
preferred transfer point before you arrive.
Q: What should I bring on board?
A: All your personal equipment (expect
tanks, weights and weight belts), a bathing
suite, towel, toiletries, T-shirts, shorts,
and sun cream. You may also want to bring
something a little warmer for the evenings.
Q: Will I get seasick?
A: All the live boards in the Mergui
Archipelago use mooring points to over-night
at the islands visited on the cruise. These
mooring points are located in the island's
bays, sheltered away from any open sea
swells.
If you are particularly susceptible to
motion sickness, then you should consider
joining a cruise in February to April, when
the seas are very calm. Do bring your own
motion sickness medicine.
Q: Is insurance for customers included in
the cruise price?
A: We recommend you have your own personal
insurance, for your own peace of mind.
Please make sure your insurance covers
Myanmar waters.
Q: Is Malaria a problem?
A: The Myanmar live aboard scuba
destinations are free of Malaria.
Q: Can a non-driver go on a live board?
A: Non-drives and snorkel are welcomed on
all our live board safaris. Most of the
sites visited offer good snorkeling too.
Q Do I have to share a cabin?
A: As space is the ultimate premium on all
live boards, single cabins are extremely
rare and expensive. Unless we manage to book
you a single cabin, you will be expected to
share. It may be, if the boat is not full,
that you can have your own cabin but this
situation cannot be guaranteed. The only way
to guarantee a cabin for you is to buy for
two beds!
Q: Can I explore the beaches at the islands?
A: Our Discovery/Adventure cruise will stop
at each selected destination for you to
discover the island, beach & under water
beauty. Please do advise the tour leader
before and each time you disembark from the
boat. Note, make sure you bring sun-cover of
some sort, as it can be very hot.
Q: What about tipping?
A: Tipping is entirely a matter of choice.
If you Burma live board charter met or
exceeded your expectations, you may wish to
leave a tip of up to 10% of your cruise
price. Smaller tips are welcome too!
Q: Will I see sharks?
A: We certainly hope so! Leopard sharks and
white-tip reef sharks are the most common
and seen on all trips. Nurse sharks and
silvertip sharks can be seen quite commonly
on Burma Banks live boards. Whale sharks
sightings also occur every year - keep your
fingers crossed!
Manta rays sightings have been very common
in recent years, and you will always see
blue-spotted stingrays, marble rays, and
fantail rays.
How to Get There
Mergui Archipelago
There are regular 1 hour 15 minutes flights from Yangon (Rangoon) to Kawthaung
(Victoria Point). Visitors from Thailand could take a 30 minutes boat trip from
Ranong (Thai border town) to Kawthaung.
There are daily domestic regular 1 hour 15 minutes flights from Bangkok to
Ranong and daily 20 minutes domestic flight from Phuket to Ranong.
It takes 4 hours by car from Phuket or Samui to Ranong, entry visas, valid for
28 days are issued at Kawthaung, we arrange entry Visa-on-arrival at Kawthaung
without extra charges, for more information:
Please contact: info@finemyanmar.com / finetour@myanmar.com.mm
Ngwe Saung
("5" hours driving from Yangon to Beach. by car)
There are special boat running between Yang on and Beach via Pantheon. Boat trip
is unique travel experience along the Irrawaddy River and sightseeing to nearby
township of Pathein will be given you the best and unforgettable travel
memories.
For More Information: info@finemyanmar.com / finetour@myanmar.com.mm
What to Bring:
Sun block
- Polarized sun-glasses
- Light clothing
- Light-weight Water-proof jacket
- Sweat-shirt
- Hand held torch
- Sensible shoes / boots for trekking
- Long trousers for jungle walks
- Long sleeve shirt
- Insect repellent
Security
We havent found any problem for the tourists for eight years. Some adventures
visited the far-flung islands but they didnt find any insurgent group. Thats
why the archipelagoes in Kawthaung district are very safe for the tourists and
enjoy their holidays very happily.
Sites Condition
- Sandbank and water: White sand and
blue water
- Wild Life: Cats, Montero Lizards, Monkeys, Swines, Mouse, Dears and Many
species of Birds
- Coral reefs: Snorkeling and diving are available
because of the hard and soft corals.
- Sharks: Manta, Leopard Sharks, Grey reef, Nurse Shark, Snapper, Barracuda
Visa Procedure
Clients joining in Phuket or Ranong do not need to apply for Myanmar Visas at
Myanmar Embassies. Clients will be issued with Myanmar Entry Permits (which
includes a 30 day Visa) on arrival in Kawthoung (southern port of Myanmar).
Entering to Myanmar from int'l airport without visa it's doesn't matter for you,
as we also arrange to get Visa-On- Arrival services and surely to get in short
time, you can enjoy and feel in the whole of Myanmar by your entry visa and
leave Myanmar from border area.
For more information:
info@finemyanmar.com,
finetourism@myanmar.com.mm
Entry Permission
The pre-approved permission is needed for every tourist traveling to Mergui
Archipelago and those arriving from Yangon and departing from Kawthaung to
Ranaung - Thailand. We could take care of all the application for necessary
permissions. Normally, it takes about 7-14 working days (depending on the
availability of authorized officials) to get the approval and the following
information are needed.
(1) Name and Passport Number
(2) Issue Date and Expire Date
(3) Date of Birth and Nationality
