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Marine Eco Tour in Myanmar
Dive Site in
Mergui Archipelago
Mergui Boat Licensed
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Diving Information
Dive Site in Mergui Archipelago |
Dive Site in Ngwe Saung |
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Myeik or Mergui Archipelago, located in
southernmost part of Myanmar (Burma), comprises over 800 beautiful
islands. Due to its virtual isolation, the islands and surrounding
seas are alive with an amazing diversity of flora & fauna and very
beautiful underwater scenes and marine life. This immense area covers approximately 36,000 SP km (14,000 sq
miles). Diving here is still in its infancy, as the entire region
has been off-limits to outsiders since the late 1940s. After several
years of negotiation by Phuket dive operators, the archipelago was
opened for tourism in 1997, yet much of the area remains unexplored.
One of the main attractions for divers is the strong possibility of
seeing big animals, especially sharks and rays. More dependable,
however, is the tremendous variety of smaller fish and reef
creatures, including many unusual species, some of which are rarely
encountered in Thai waters.
You are likely to hear bombs go off at least once during a multi-day
trip anywhere in the archipelago. In addition to dedicated drive
trips, several companies offer eco-adventure trips in Mergui
Archipelago, combining sailing, snorkeling, diving, beach-combing,
island exploration and, in some cases, kayaking. It is too early to
say what this area's long-term prospects are, but hopefully,
increasing interest in ecotourism will provide enough incentive for
the authorities to take action and protect the reefs before it is
too late.
Sea Gypsies
The only human inhabitants in the area are sea gypsies, namely Salon
in Myanmar (Burma). They live on boats during dry season and remain
on land during rainy season. They still practice the same fishing
and boat building techniques used for generation.
Being affectionate to sea, much skilful in swimming and diving,
their ways of life and customs are so characteristic that
traditional festival will be launched intending to attract
international tourists as well as to operate marine eco-tourism
around the islands in Myeik (Burma) Archipelago.
The famous dive sites in Mergui (Burma Bank) are
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» Western Rocky Island
» Silvertip Bank
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Hard Ford Bank
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North Twin Island |
» Three Islets (In through the out door)
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Black Rock
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Shark Cave
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North Twin Pleateau |
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| North Twin Island |
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Although it has many of diveable areas, the best
site is Western Ridge. A shallow rock pinnacle lies about Sm
below the surface several hundred meters west of the island's
south tip. From there, a long rocky ridge slopes gradually to
the west, eventually reaching 36m or more.
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| Location: |
124 (67 nautical miles) North west
of Kaw Thaung |
| Depth Range: |
5-36m (16 / 118 ft) |
| Access: |
Live-Aboard |
| Expertise Rating: |
Intermediate |
| Can be seen: |
Large sea fans, small but colorful
soft corals and variety of hard corals,
Fish life often includes schooling fish such as queen fish and
rainbow runner, jeweled & giant moray eels, blue-ringed
angelfish, goatfish, and many others. Bigger animals are white
tips reef sharks, grey reef sharks and tawny nurse shark, bull
shark. |
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| Silvertip Bank |
Silvertip Bank is the most frequently visited of
the banks. Covering about 1 sq km (0.4 sq miles), the bank is a
flat platform with patches of dense hard corals and corals
heads, as well as rock grottes and tunnels where soft corals
predominate. The main attraction at the site, however, is its sharks and
there are plenty of them. Reef sharks here include Silvertips,
White tips, Grey and Nurse Sharks, while oceanic visitors
include Tiger Sharks and Hammerheads. Enormous Whale Sharks are
sometimes seen.
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| Location: |
01' 02' 238N, 97'01'217E |
| Conditions: |
The currant here can be zero, but
it can be very strong. Visibility can vary from 10 m to 30 m
(33-100ft) |
| Average depth: |
14m (46ft) |
| Maximum depth: |
60m (200 ft) |
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| Hard Ford Bank |
The bank covers an area of
almost 2 sq km (0.8 sq miles). Its plateau is the deepest of
the four banks, averaging 18m (60ft), with sides sloping
down to 30m (100ft), then a wall down to 300m (1000ft). The
elevated section of this site is scattered with coral
mounds, some rising to 12m (40ft) and being 5m (6ft) across.
Some are divided by impressive gullies and canyons wide
enough for divers to pass through, seafans adrons their
wall, and lesser star corals provide and undulating floor.
Numerous sharks roam this site. Tawny Sharks are the most
common.
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| Location: |
01'21'988N, 97'05'473 E |
| Conditions: |
Visibility varies from 10m to 30m
(33-100ft). Current ranges from zero to very strong. This is the
largest of the banks and in stronger currents you can
drift-drive. |
| Average depth: |
18m (60ft) |
| Maximum depth: |
30m (100ft) |
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| Three Islets (In-Through-the Outdoor) |
| Location: |
99km (53 nautical miles) northwest
of Kawthaung |
| Depth Range: |
0-27m (0-89ft) |
| Access: |
Live-aboard |
| Expertise Rating: |
Advanced |
This large area consists of one small island and two large
rocks, all of which rise well above the surface. Each could
be considered a separate site; there is no way to see them
all on a single dive, or even a full day of diving. All
three islets are perfectly suited for multilevel profiles,
with thriving marine life from the bottom to the surface.
While the main island probably offers the best diving, both
smaller islets are also worth exploring. Before you look at the reef, it is worth doing a quick
survey of the surrounding sandy seafloor. Although it may
appear barren at first glance, a closer look will reveal a
wealth of interesting creatures, including tube anemones,
burrowing sea cucumbers and several unusually beautiful
varieties of sea stars. While you are over the sand, look at
the large brown sea anemones, as they frequently host
eggshell shrimp, as well as sebae clownfish, a species
seldom seen at other sites.
We also properly arrange live board diving service with our
special charter in Mergui, you dont need to take your own
charter and enter to Myanmar, just please contact to us and
get your leisurely days and unforgettable diving
experiences, Your dive destination and our services are as
following ...
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Black Rock
Black Rock is a rocky island approximately 100 meters long. The
bare rocky outcrop of Black Rock may not be so spectacular above
the surface. The steep cliffs of Black Rock continue as dramatic
walls below the water. You will see a large variety of
nadibranchs, crabs, shrimps, spindle cowries, filament wrasse,
maray eels, and abundance of large pelagies including Whitetips,
Blacktips, Silvertips, Gray Reef Sharks, Bull Sharks, Eagle Rays
and Manta Rays. Keep an eye out too for stocky bull sharks
emerging out of gloom an impressive sight indeed.
Shark Cave
This is a group of 3 small islands in the heart of the Mergui
Archipelago. Each of our Burma Live board trip pays a visit. As
you enter the wide gully through the center the main island
expect to see grey reef sharks circling or huge, dense schools
of small barracuda and fusiliers, hunted by circling jacks
above. Once outside the cave, the scene is a veritable orgy of
life.
Cuttlefish and squid choose Shark Cave Island as favorite mating
ground, and honeycomb groupers, banded sea snakes, scorpion fish
lionfish and barracuda are everywhere. There is nowhere to beat
Shark Cave Island. You'll enjoy your diving Myanmar adventure.
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Ecotourism Special Packages |
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