Scuba diving in Burma
1. Mergui Archipelago Dive Sites
a. Kawthaung
district
b. Myeik (Mergui) District
According to the divers, the diving sites in Mergui
archipelagoes (Myeik) are as beautiful as other famous
international diving sites because of the hard corals and Sea
Fans. Nowadays, the good reputation of the Mergui Archipelago
and diving sites are more and more popular thanks to the
coverage by National Geographic Magazine and Discovery Channel.
(Moken Sea Gypsies, Burma's Forbidden Islands)
The Mergui Archipelago (Myanmar), is a unique area both
above water as well as below. There are over eight hundred
islands , most of them uninhabited, scattered over an area of
some 12000 square miles. The place is endowed with the
breathtaking scenery, virgin rainforests and diving on reefs
that have never been explored before.
The Archipelago was strictly closed to all foreigners until in
1997. You can find a wealth of knowledge about the area which is
rivaled by very few others. Because of it's isolation, this
place is only superficially charted, the interior of many of the
islands has never been surveyed at all. Wildlife is abundant, as
is the vegetation on the rain forest -clad islands. Beaches are
clean and stretch for miles.
The only humans you are likely to encounter are the friendly
Moken Sea Gypsies who roam the area in their small boats, like
their ancestors have done for centuries.
Underwater there is world class diving to be found.
Reefs, drop- offs, sea mounts, caves and tunnels, which
sometimes cut right trough an island with exits on both sides.
Enough to keep every diver very happy.
Fish life is abundant. Scuba diving in the Mergui Archipelago
usually means frequent encounters with sharks, manta rays, large
swarms of eagle rays, and occasionally, whale sharks. The reefs
are in excellent condition. All of yachts like exploring and, if
guests want to, new sites which have never been dived before are
tried out.
Mergui Dive Sites
1. Western Rocky
2. Sea Fans Pinnacle
3. Boulder Rock
4. McCarthy Rock
5. Stewart Rock
6. Cavern Rock
7. High Rock
8. Rocky It
9. Shark Cave
10. South Twin
11. North Twin
12. Gorgeous anchorage http://www.burma-diving.com/dive_burma.htm#north
13. Black Rock
14. Horse Shoe Island
15. Colona Rock
16. Great Swinton
17. Burma Bank
18. Little Torres
19. Peacock Island
20. Pu Nala
21. Rocky Island
22. Freddie's Pass
23. North Sentinel
24. Stewart Island
25. Horsburgh Island
26. McLeod Island
27. Davis Island
28. Barwell Island
29. North Rock
30. Clara Island
1. Western Rocky
Located 80 km off the coast of Myanmar, Western Rocky offers a
sloping reef, great wall diving and several surrounding
pinnacles. A tunnel leads right through the island, with lots of
crayfish and usually some large sleeping nurse sharks. Western
rocky is one of Burma's best spots for shark sightings.
Encounters with Whitetips, Gray reef sharks, Blacktips or even
Bull sharks are fairly common.
http://www.sunrise-divers.com/burma_divesites.htm
m
Another dive site visited by all Santana MV Discovery scuba
diving Burma Banks liveaboards. For many, the highlight of this
Andaman Sea dive site is the cave that cuts right through the
island. From the middle of the cave one can just see daylight
coming from either end. Looking with your torch at the walls of
the cave, lined with spiny lobsters, you could be forgiven for
thinking you were starring in a sci-fi movie.
Outside the cave one can see a plethora of marine life, often
including octopus and a variety of rays. This Andaman Sea live
aboard dive site shares many of the characteristics of Shark
Cave, but in comparison with that site, Western Rocky is usually
free of surge and there is plenty of time to explore the hidden
small treasures.
At 20m you'll swim through a large, picturesque arch populated
by a shimmering school of yellow fusiliers, a great opportunity
for underwater photographers aboard of Santana's MV Discovery
live boards in Burma Mergui!
To see more visit Bubble Vision's Burma underwater photos or
underwater video all made during our dive holiday Burma Banks
live aboard.
Small towering rock plus several scattered pinnacles. The main
rock has a tunnel right through the island ,entry at 28m (85
ft)exit at 16m ( 50ft).The tunnel is literally covered in
crayfish and there are usually some large nurse sharks piled on
top of each other. The pinnacles surrounding the main rock offer
good reef diving with a good chance of seeing sharks as well.
“ Western Rocky stands at number 4 in the world,” said dive
master. The entrance of the cave is in the south and many sea
creatures including sharks live in it. So it is a popular dive
site for the divers. Western Rocky offers you an overwhelming
choice of wall diving, reef diving, pinnacles and an impressive
passage through the center of the island.
A small barren island, perhaps 60 m wide, the southern wall is
split by a tunnel five meters below the surface. The passage
entrance runs for 30 m from a maximum depth of 24 m and opens
out through a small exit hole onto the north side’s fringing
reef at a depth of 21m. There is also a large archway to the
west of the tunnel entrance, that provides an easy swim through,
and there are four small pinnacles to the east of the main
island.
As you’d expect with tunnels and caves, Western Rocky is home to
hundreds of painted spiny lobsters and some playful nurse
sharks, cuttlefish and big reef squid are common and giant
fusiliers sweep over the reef, made up of large flower corals
and yellow feather stars. The wall is covered with soft purple
tree corals and is host to bearded scorpion fish, spot-faced
moray eels and white-eyed morays.
Myanmar(Burma) authorities have declared Western Rocky Island
off-limits to boats for "security reasons" since late 1998 and
until 2001, Western Rocky, a small limestone island with several
nearby outcroppings, offers Fascinating underwater topography,
big-animal potential and a plethora of invertebrate be
circumnavigated on a single tank, although it would take many
dives to see everything this site has to offer.
After investigating the perimeter, swim east-northeast from the
island's eastern tip. You'll cross a narrow sand channel before
reaching the first of two groups of pinnacles. The nearest group
consists of four spires connected by a common base at 24m; the
more distant group is a pair of somewhat larger rocks with a
similar structure. Both groups reach well above the surface.
East-northeast beyond the base of the more distant pinnacles is
a huge field of orange fan corals, starting at about 30m deep
and continuing beyond recreational diving limits. The nearly
vertical sides of the pinnacles and the main island are ideal
for multilevel dives.
Like most limestone formations, these structures are honeycombed
with crevices that provide superb cover for shy-reef creatures.
A large tunnel runs completely through the island, and there are
several smaller caverns and a huge archway. The most obvious
entrance to the tunnel is at 21m on the island's south leads to
a roomy inner chambers. Here a shell-and-rubble bottom slopes
uphill slightly before dropping down to 24m, where the chamber
narrows to fairly small exit on the north side of the island.
Several species of crab and shrimp, murex and cowries shells,
big eye snappers and robust fusiliers and even spiny lobsters
live within the tunnel. The lobsters are crucial prey for the
large tawny nurse sharks that sometimes inhabit the tunnel. If
you are lucky, you may get a look at these amiable creatures,
some of which measure nearly 3.5m long.
While at least a glimmer of daylight is usually visible from any
point inside the tunnel, this is an advanced cavern dive because
of its depth and distance between openings. Be sure to keep your
fins off the bottom to avoid kicking up silt___ even the easiest
cavern dive can become a nightmare if visibility is reduced. To
further ensure safety and enjoyment, no more than six divers
should be inside at a time
Regardless of whether or not you enter the tunnel, this site has
a wealth of marine life , with something to see at every depth.
In deeper areas, stingrays, white tip reef and leopard sharks
lie on the sand bottom, while grey reef and spinner sharks
sometimes patrol in the distance. You'll see plenty of reef fish
as well, including blue-ringed angelfish, and many varieties of
moray eels.
Invertebrates are also well represented, with a wide assortment
of nudibranchs, shellfish, feather stars, anemones and hermit
crabs. On occasion, even rarities like clawed reef lobsters,
harlequin shrimp and frog-fish are encountered. While only
limited hard coral remains after years of blast fishing, large
portions with orange cup corals and small, multihued soft
corals. It is still an extremely since site.
North Rocky Island
1. lies ten kilometers to the east of Western Rocky.
Western Rocky Reef Basics: Tunnels and nurse sharks
Depth: 5-35 m
Visibility: 10-45 m
Currents: Can be rough
Water Temperature: 25-28 C
Experience Level: Advanced
Diving Season: October to May
PADI Course Suitability: Great for cavern diving
Distance: ~55 km west of Kawthaung ( 3 hours)
Access: Burma live aboard diving from Kawthaung or Ranong in
Thailand.
Sea creatures
1. Manta
2. Leopard Shark
3. Grey reef Shark
4. Nurse Shark
5. Snapper
6. Barracuda
Water
Very clean and good.
North Rocky Island
1. lies ten kilometers to the east of Western Rocky.
Western Rocky Reef Basics: Tunnels and nurse sharks
Depth: 5-35 m
Visibility: 10-45 m
Currents: Can be rough
Water Temperature: 25-28 C
Experience Level: Advanced
Diving Season: October to May
PADI Course Suitability: Great for cavern diving
Distance: ~55 km west of Kawthaung ( 3 hours)
Access: Burma live aboard diving from Kawthaung or Ranong in
Thailand.
Sea creatures
1. Manta
2. Leopard Shark
3. Grey reef Shark
4. Nurse Shark
5. Snapper
6. Barracuda
Water
Very clean and good.
2. Sea Fans Pinnacle
Fan Forest Pinnacle
The pinnacle rises from a depth well beyond the limits of
recreational divers, to about 5-meters below the surface. It
features huge orange sea fans, black coral, and large barrel
sponges. The potential for spotting larger fish is excellent,
but even if you do not, the dive site is very dramatic and the
fish life excellent, including groupers or potato cod at the
deeper depths.
Fan Forest Pinnacle, like Western Rocky, has been off-limits to
dive boats for "security reasons" since late 1998. The
authorities have not indicated whether this restriction may be
lifted. Just 10km north of Western Rocky, this large limestone
pinnacle rises from more than 45m deep to within 5m of the
surface. Accordingly, it offers a good multilevel profile,
although the shallowest portions are rather barren.
Perhaps the site's most striking feature is a tremendous number
of huge, undamaged orange fan corals, most of which are below
30m. Blue-ringed angelfish, lionfish and coral trout are among
the most common reef fish, in addition to mid water species like
jacks, barracuda and batfish. You'll also have a good
possibility of encountering big animals like leopard, grey reef
and white tip reef sharks, mantas and eagle rays.
The Pinnacle dive site is located five miles to the north of the
Western Rocky. It is a huge rocky under water and has a mass of
sea fan in the east but it is very deep and stone in the north
and south.
Sea creatures
1. An abundance of Leopard Sharks
2. Big eyes Trevally Fishes
3. Barracuda
4. White tip reef shanks
Since early 2002 Santana's dive vacation live aboard Burma
cruises have been visiting the isolated, submerged rock that has
become known as Hin Taleh. The underwater landscape is a
spectacular forest of enormous gorgonian sea fans. Swimming or
resting amongst these fans it is common to find leopard sharks
and large species of stingray such as black splotched fantail
rays or Jenkyn's stingrays. As usual, white tip reef sharks
patrol the depths in the Andaman Sea.
The top of the rock, in 5m depth, is perfect for your safety
stop. Either hang on or look out for manta rays, which are
frequent visitors to top your adventurous vacations, or search
the nooks and crannies for smaller creatures such as hermit
crabs, lobsters, moray eels and cuttlefish.
Some publications refer to this site as "Fan Forest Pinnacle" or
"Western Rocky Pinnacle".
(3) Boulder Rock
The corals are in the north-eastern island and the best location
for the drive is in the east and west.
Creatures
Nurse shanks, Eagle Rays, Barracudas Grey reef shanks.
Water
Blue water. Dive site ratio is 6/10.
(4) Steward Rock
There are many different spot corals of various colors on the
wall which is 18-meters deep, in the western dive site. Some
soft corals and sea fans are among the boulders that are
26-meters deep and three swim-throughs are still there where the
divers can take a swim.
The creatures under water
1. Barracudas
2. Large Snappers
3. Black Spotted Stingrays
4. Scorpion Fishes
5. Moray eels
Water
Sometimes clean but sometimes not.
(5) Mac Carthy
Rock
Boulder and soft Corals are in the western dive site,
More boulders and soft corals sea fan can be seen in the
northern and southern McCarthy Rock, are not very good for the
green divers because of the strong current.
Creatures under water
1. Scorpion Fish
2. Stone Fish
3. Moray eels
4. Shark
Water
Sometimes clean but sometimes not.
(6) Three
Sisters (Cavern Island)
A lot of reefs are in the west and the boulder are in
the south.
Creatures
Scorpion fish, Sting Rays, Snappers, Moray eels.
Sea creatures
Barracudas, Rays, Ghost pipe fish, Star fish.
(7) High Rock
A mix of steep drops and gentle reefs around a small island,
known as High Rock. The depth is only 18 - 25m with plenty of
soft coral and cup coral especially in the deeper parts.
Seahorses are commonly found hanging on remnants of fishing
nets, while other critters are also found hiding in the corals.
The site is only about 35 miles from Kawthaung and is often
dived on the last day of a trip. http://www.sunrise-divers.com/burma_divesites.htm
Marine live thrives here, with dense growths of orange cup coral
covering many of the deeper rocks and vertical walls. Below 21 m
, huge green tubastrea coral and large black-coral bushes
dominate the seascape , complemented by red harp gorgonians,
pastel-green rope sponges and feather stars of most every color.
High Rock also offers a chance to encounter camouflage experts
like harlequin ghost pipe fish and frogfish and sea horses
High Rock lies 500, to the south of Quion Island. It is a small
islet with a single tree, and has a wall on its north and east
sides, and a rocky reef on its south and west.
The walls feature common lionfish, bearded scorpion fish, orange
and green cup corals and a small overhang.
High Rock lies 500m to the south of Quion Island. It is a small
islet with a single tree, and has a wall on its north and east
sides, and a rocky reef on its south and west.
The walls feature common lionfish, breaded scorpion fish, orange
and green cup corals and a small overhang. Look into the crags
and you may be surprised to see Indian Ocean nurse sharks
snoozing the day away. Gold-striped fusiliers sweep over the
seafans, whilst flute mouths stalk their prey.
High Rock Reef Basics: Pinnacle and nurse sharks
Depth: 5-26 m
Visibility: 5-15 m
Currents: Can be strong
Surface Conditions: Can be rough
Water Temperature: 25-28 HC
Experience Level: Easy – intermediate
Number of dive sites: 1
Diving Season: October to May
Distance: ~25km northwest of Kawthaung (1.5 hours)
Access: Mergui live aboard diving from Phuket, Khao Lak and
Ranong in Thailand
(8) Shark Cave
Island
Many consider Shark Cave Island to be the finest liveaboard dive
site in Myanmar Mergui and Thailand, and we are not about to
disagree! This is a group of 3 small islands in the heart of the
Mergui Archipelago. Each of Santana's Burma Banks liveaboards
Mergui scuba diving vacations cruises pays a visit.
As you enter the wide gully through the center of the main
island expect to see grey reef sharks circling or huge, dense
schools of small barracuda and fusiliers, hunted by circling
jacks above. Look under the stones and you can see black
splotched fantail rays.
To pass to the other side of the island take one of two routes:
either allow the surge to whisk you through the main canyon, or
swim through the cave itself where 3m nurse sharks usually
sleep.
Once outside the cave, the scene is a veritable orgy of life.
Cuttlefish and squid choose Shark Cave Island as a favourite
mating ground, and honeycomb groupers, banded sea snakes,
scorpion fish, lionfish and barracuda are everywhere.
Smaller gems such as seahorses, pipefish, nudibranchs and
cowries are regularly found amongst the beautiful hard and soft
corals. For sheer diversity, there is nowhere to beat Shark Cave
Island, you'll enjoy your live aboard diving Myanmar Burma Banks
dive vacations adventure in the Andaman Sea.
Some publications also refer to this site as "Three Stooges" or
"In Through The Out Door".
One of the best sites anywhere in the Andaman Sea, also known as
"3 Islets". A channel in the main island at 14-18m takes you to
a natural bowl where Gray Reef Sharks are usually found
cruising. On the far side of the bowl a tunnel leads to the
other side of the island and a beautiful hard coral reef.
http://www.sunrise-divers.com/burma_divesites.htm
As the clean water, hard corals and soft corals, it is the best
dive site in Myeik archipelago. A cave is under water where so
many kinds of fishes especially Nurse Sharks can be seen
permanently.
Creatures There
1. Tuna
2. Travally
3. Wahoo
4. Grey reef sharks
5. Nurse Sharks
6. Manta Ray
7. Sea Sharks
8. Stone fish
9. Sea Horse
10. Currer Fish
11. Squid
(10) South East
Point (South Twin)
It is a boulder dive site where very soft sea fans can be seen
among the boulder, very clean blue water, see though 25 meters
deep. South Twin is a grassy, tree-topped island, one kilometer
long, lying in an east-west direction. There are two small bays
on the south side. Topographically similar to the Similan
Islands, South Twin Island has deep, large rock structures
forming gullies, long swim-through passages and overhangs.
In the shallows you’ll find fine table corals hidden amongst the
boulders. There are tiger cowries here and the elusive ribbon
eel. Look carefully; as they are really very small, only showing
may be three centimeters above their holes in the sand. Male
ribbon eels are black and females blue with bright yellow fins.
South Twin Reef Basics: Ribbon Eels
Depth: 5-40m
Visibility: 10-40m
Currents: Easy
Surface Conditions: Calm
Water Temperature: 25-28 HC
Experience Level: Easy – intermediate
Number of dive sites: 2
Diving Season: October to May
Distance: ~ 85 km northwest of Kawthaung (5 hours)
Access: Burma live aboard diving form Phuket, Khao Lak and
Ranong in Thailand
Sea creatures
Tunas, Wahoo, Leopard Shark, Moray eels, Small fishes and
especially Lion fish can be seen.
(11) North Twin and
South Twin Islands
Those travelers who have already been on the Similan Islands in
Thailand will be surprised by the resemblance. These islands are
granite rocks rather than limestone, like most other islands.
The resemblance continues under water, here we also find the big
boulders, lots of staghorn coral, rich soft coral as well and
the fish life is mainly reef fish. The abundance of fish is
quite staggering.
Twin Cheeks (North Twin)
A plateau dive site a lot of fishes, can find and sharks are in
the northern dive sites where the shallow part is 9 to 12 meters
deepest and deep area is 26 to 35 meters when you away from the
dive site.
North Twin is the slightly smaller, tree-topped, sister island
of South Twin and lies 20 km to the north.
North Twin Island’s waters are visited by pelagic fish such as
Zambezi-bull sharks, rainbow runners, and eagle rays. One
kilometer to the North West of North Twin lay a series of
sloping rocky ridges. These ridges have sea fans, feather stars,
and flower corals. Local inhabitants include several loose
groups and nurse sharks hidden under the overhangs.
North Twin Reef Basics: Pinnacles, rocky ridges and large marine
life
Depth: 12-35 m
Visibility: 15-40 m
Currents: Can be strong
Surface Conditions: Can be rough
Water Temperature: 25-28 C
Experienced Level: Intermediate- advanced
Number of dive sites: 3
Diving Season: October to May
Distance: ~90 km northwest of Kawthaung (5 hours)
Access: Scuba Burma liveaboard from Phuket, Khao Lak and Ranong
in Thailand.
Creatures
Leopard Shark , Bull Sharks, Grey reef Shark, Schools of
Snapper, Groupers fish, Eagle Rays.
Black Rock
This pinnacle is one of most spectacular dive sites in the
Mergui archipelago with an excellent variety of reef life and
abundance of large pelages including Silvertips, Gray reef
sharks, Black tips, Bull sharks, Eagle and Manta rays. There are
beautiful soft coral formations in the deeper areas.
This is the most
northerly point of your Burma Banks dive holiday liveaboard
diving Myanmar Mergui adventure, and a tremendously exciting
dive site. The steep cliffs of Black Rock continue as dramatic
walls below the water, gradually turning into a shelving seabed
strewn with granite boulders.
It is at depth that Black Rock has the most to offer. Venturing
to 30m and beyond, one can see whitetip sharks, grey reef
sharks, leopard sharks, spotted eagle rays, and enormous black
splotched fantail rays, sometimes in schools of 10 or more. Keep
an eye out too for stocky bull sharks emerging out of the gloom
- an impressive sight indeed, but don't worry, there have been
no reported attacks on regular liveaboard scuba divers.
Take in all manner of reef fish and pretty corals during your
ascent and then observe bonitos, trevally, tuna and barracuda
zipping about in the current during your safety stop. This is
one of those dive sites that gives one the feeling that anything
might swim by, and we make new discoveries at Black Rock with
every live aboard visit. And remember to always keep one eye on
"the Andaman Sea's blue" as there is always the chance of seeing
manta rays, whale sharks and other large pelagic species.
To see more visit Bubble Vision's underwater photos
Black Rock is an 80 m wide islet, standing in a northwest to
southeast position, with steep banks all around, and a wall on
its west and southwest sides.
Black Rock arguably the most spectacular dive site in the
Archipelago. 16 miles from the nearest land in deep water it is
an ocean site. There is an abundance of life with BIG pelagic
being the order of the day. Grey reef and silvertip sharks are
almost guaranteed, black tips, hammerheads and bull sharks by no
means exceptional. We have seen stingrays the size of barn
doors, manta's, devil rays and also whale sharks. Additionally
the reef life is excellent as well with beautiful soft corals,
gorgonian's and plenty of reef fish. We, weather permitting,
anchor overnight on this spot . Night dives here are spectacular
to say the least and not for the faint hearted!
Many divers’ favorite Burma scuba diving spot in the Mergui
Archipelago, Black Rock will have your heart pounding from
spectacular passes of whitetips, silvertips and blacktip sharks.
Standing alone in the Andaman Sea, Black Rock is just as famous
for its incredible schools of mobula rays. Then, there’s the
majestic encounters with manta rays and eagle rays soaring above
and around you off the deep north western corner, and huge
marble stingrays and leopard sharks on the sandy bottom.
Diving down on to the boulder slopes to the south you’ll find
sprawling carpets of brown disc anemones (Corallimopharian
Discosoma) and purple soft corals (Dendronephthya). Home amongst
the lower boulders is the granddaddy of all great barracudas.
Over 1 ½ m long, this thick set monster is so huge it ignores
divers, intent instead on receiving dental surgery from the
cleaner wrasse. Its scars bare testimony to many a bruising
encounter.
Head to the shallower eastern section for mantis shrimp, red
swimmer crabs and large hermit crabs, and dotted on the rocks
are the unusual white hairy urchins (Lovenia Elongata).
Explore the wall for blue, yellow, green and orange soft tube
corals, and the banks for hunting big-eye trevally, pompano and
banded sea snakes.
Please do take note that currents can be strong and terminally
downward, particularly on the deeper sides of the islet.
Altogether, a truly awesome Burma dive site.
Black Rock Reef Basics: Sharks and rays
Depth: 5->40 m
Visibility: 15-50 m
Currents: Can be strong
Surface Conditions: Can be rough
Water Temperature: 25-28 H C
Experience Level: Advanced
Number of dive sites: 3
Diving Season: October to May
Distance: ~140 km north northwest of Kawthaung (7 hours)
Access: Burma liveaboard diving from Phuket, Khao Lak and Ranong
in Thailand
Rocky Peaks
12 km to the north of Western Rocky lies Rocky Peaks. Mountains
granite rocks, capped with soft corals and black diadema sea
urchins, rise to urchins, rise to within five metres of the
Andaman Sea surface at Rocky Peaks.
The north and east sides sport thick forests of orange and pink
gorgonian sea fans. Here you can see schools of blacktail
barracuda, yellowfin emporer and lone remoras. Often there’s
whitetip and leopard sharks resting in the day time. The north
west corner has a small fishing boat wreck.
At the south of Rocky Peaks is a cliff face. Undulated moray
eels receive dental work from ghost cleaner shrimps, and the
ugly devil scorpionfish waits for usnsuspecting strays. In the
far south west corner at 25 m is a swim-through archway. Check
out the gorgonian fans in this area, as there are often lime
green harlequin ghost pipefish and tigertail seahorses hiding
there.
This Burma diving site is also known as Fanforest Pinnacle.
Rokcy Peaks Reef Basics: Mountains terrain and sea fans
Depth: 5->40 m
Visibility: 15- 30 m
Currents: Can be strong
Surface Conditions: Can be rough
Water Temperature: 25-28 H C
Experience Level: Advanced
Number of dive sites: 2
Diving Season: October to May
Distance: ~55 km west of Kawthaung (3 hours)
Access: Burma liveaboard diving from Phuket, Khao and Ranong in
Thailand
Little Torres Islands
Here’s a dive site to catch your breath, and take in the finer
parts of diving. Soft corals, red whip corals, mosaic corals,
and table corals have all made Torres Islands their home amongst
the rocks.
You’ll see round batfish, long-nose and ornate butterfly fish
and the awkward and clumsy, but beautiful azure moon wrasse.
Don’t think that you won’t see anything special here, as there
are usually lots of leopard sharks and sting rays.
Little Torres Islands Reef Basics: Pinnacles, rocks and large
marine life
Depth: 10-25 m
Visibility: 10-30 m
Currents: Can be rough
Surface Conditions: Can be rough
Water Temperature: 25-28 HC
Experience Level: Intermediate
Number of dive sites: 1
Diving Season: October to May
Distance: ~ 165 km north northwest of Kawthaung (9 hours)
Access: Burma liveaboard diving from Phuket, Khao Lak and Ranong
in Thailand
Tower Rock
Located off Northeast Little Torres Island, this island rises
dramatically out of the sea and plunges over 60-meters to the
bottom. Schools of mobula rays are seen here often. It’s also a
good place to spot sharks, but the remarkable landscape and the
chance of seeing ghost pipefish is the more reliable interest.
There are over eight dive sites we've found in this area now.
Tower Rock, as its name suggests, is a magical dive site with
towering walls descending into the depths, below the water
you’ll find a lunar site of boulders, made up from the taller
reaches of Tower Rock in years past.
The walls are laced with whip corals and sea fans, oysters and
clams. White banded cleaner shrimp and ornate spiny lobster hide
amongst the crags, whilst blue faced angelfish and yellow
striped fusiliers dance their way up the walls.
Tower Rock is manta ray country, so prepare yourself for some
special close encounters with schools of these massive
creatures.
Keep your eyes peeled also for those reclusive blacktip sharks,
often staying just out of vision, behind the boulders.
Water Temperature: 25-28 HC
Tower Rock Reef Basics: Wall diving and manta rays
Depth: 10-35 m
Visibility: 10- 50 m
Currents: Can be strong
Surface Conditions: Can be rough
Water Temperature: 25-28 HC
Experience Level: Advanced
Diving Season: October to May
PADI Course Suitability: Great for dive propulsion vehicles
Distance: ~195 km north northwest of Kawthaung
Dive site in Myeik District
1. As rich of Marine life, hard corals, soft corals, sea fans
and blue water some dive sites are very popular among the
divers. They are as follow –
a. Black Rock
b. Submarine Rock
c. North East Little Torres
d. Elether Point
(1) Black Rock
The rock wall is in the east and Sea fans and Corals are in the
north and east. A lot of Manta Rays were seen there in 1997-98.
Nowadays, so many different sharks and few Manta Rays are still
there.
Marine Life
Different kinds of Sharks, Monta Rays, Lobsters and fishes.
(2) Middle Little Torres Submarine Rock
When you see it at first sight as if a submarine is floating. It
has different Rock Reefs from the other dive sites and can be
seen Rays, fishes and sharks.
(3) North East Little Torres
This small island is surrounded by deep water and boasts a
healthy hard coral reef and a good chance to see larger pelagic
fish such as schools of "devil" rays, a smaller cousin of the
manta ray. At the West end of the island is a narrow rocky ridge
which drops down into the depths and you may catch a glimpse of
a shark or two. Follow the ridge towards the island and you come
to the reef with a wide variety of species on display.
http://www.sunrise-divers.com/burma_divesites.htm
The best dive site in Myeik district. A lot of corals are in the
western island like a garden. During the open season, Manta
Rays, Devil Rays and Eagle Rays are around there.
Marine Life
Sharks , Rays, Lobsters and Turtles.
(4) Elether Island North West Bay
A good place for Noght Dive and 10 to 22 meters deep, has
many corals and sea fans but no shark.
Gorgeous anchorage
a small beach surrounded by towering rocks and scattered rocky
pinnacles. Good snorkeling. On shore there are caves, you will
probably see (and hear) crab-eating maquaqes (a type of monkey),
hunting their prey around sunset and sunrise.
Horse shoe island
A lovely jungle-clad island with a spectacular anchorage.
Towering cliffs and numerous caves are there to be explored
Colona Rocks
tiny islet, one of three . The main dive is a small cove with a
tunnel which exits on the other side of the island. The cove
itself is usually crammed with snappers, groupers, jacks,
trevallies etc. Silvertip sharks often join the fun.
Burma Banks
The Burma banks are a collection of seamounts located some 180
km north west of the Similan Islands. With surrounding waters
exceeding a depth of 300 m, the top of the banks rise to within
15-24 m of the surface. The Banks used to offer one of the
world's best shark dives due to their large population of
Silvertips, but in recent years, fishing has made the reefs much
less active. Some boats now don't go to the Banks and prefer the
better sites in the Mergui Archipelago.
http://www.sunrise-divers.com/burma_divesites.htm
The Burma Banks are a series of under-water plateaus lying in
the Andaman Sea, some 200km west of mainland Myanmar, rising up
from a general surrounding depth of 300m. Positioned incorrectly
on the British Admiralty charts, the Burma Banks were discovered
in their correct position in the late 80s by the german native
sailor Mikel Diehl on board of his Angemiva live aboard and are
well worth the liveaboards dive vacations charters out.
Your Burma Banks dive vacations liveaboard will travel overnight
to the Burma Banks in time for you to make a full day's diving
Myanmar adventure. First you will notice how clear and blue the
Andaman Sea is at the Burma Banks, permitting a panoramic view
of the coral-covered landscape. Nothing beats the thrill of
diving Myanmar dive vacations with sharks and this is what
diving the Burma Banks live aboards is all about. Wander around
the reefs with your eyes peeled or just hang onto a corner of
corals and wait for the action!
The "Silvertip" Burma Bank is a flat plateau at a depth of 15m,
covering about 1 square km. As the name suggests, the chances of
seeing stunning silvertip sharks aboard MV Discovery's
liveaboard here is very high and smaller reef sharks and nurse
sharks are also common. Hammerheads too have been spotted
recently aboard the Burma Banks liveaboards. "Brutus" the giant
barracuda and "Freddy" the inquisitive potato cod are also
resident at the "Silvertip" Burma Bank.
The "Nurse" Burma Bank is further out in the Andaman Sea and a
little deeper. The top of the Burma Banks here is at 18-25m.
Expect to see lots of big tawny nurse sharks, and a range of
reef sharks such as whitetips, gray and silvertips. Some of the
coral heads at the Nurse Bank are huge, with cracks and gullies
lined with sea fans and wide enough to swim through and enjoy
your MV Discovery liveaboard Burma Banks adventure.
Burma banks are a number of shallow patches rising up from the
ocean floor. None of them actually breaks the surface. They are
way out of sight of land and one therefore moors in the middle
of nowhere. The main attraction is the abundance of sharks,
silvertips, black tips, but also bull sharks and at times
hammerheads. The "reefs" themselves are not particular
outstanding, but fish life is quite good.
Great Swinton Island
Idyllic anchorage with a sparkling white beach . Rainforest in
the background. Some rocky pinnacles 1/4 of a mile off provide
good snorkeling and diving. You will find soft corals, reef
fish, gorgonian's and the odd pelagic. We have seen iguana's
here so large we first thought they were alligators. North side
of the island has a large beach with a fresh water stream
flowing in the sea. We often stop here for lunch.
Little Torres
A small island surrounded by deep open water, this site has a
good selection of reef fish and invertebrates , along with a
chance of seeing sharks and other big animals. Keep an eye
towards the open water in this area, as spinner, bull and grey
reef sharks sometimes patrol just off the reef.
Peacock Island
Beautiful beach, the island is forested. South tip has a good
dive site, a ridge at 12m. The continuous slight current
encourages the growth of soft corals which are abundant. Many
reef fish, notably snappers, jacks and also smaller stuff. Good
snorkeling as well.
Pu Nala
One of the few inhabited islands. There is a small monastery
with one monk. When we visit we pay our respects. Neighbouring
is a Sea Gypsy village, about 100 huts. This we can visit as
well, it is certainly no touristy place. At low tide the people
wade for shellfish, sea cucumber, prawns etc. These are traded
or used for food.
Rocky Island North
Bare limestone pinnacle. One side has a wall to 45 m. Abundant
soft coral. Reef life very prolific, if not in size than
certainly in quantity. West side is shallower, but has large
gorgonian's Good snorkeling as well.
Freddie's pass
Spectacular 3 mile passage . A very narrow channel separating
two islands zigzags between towering cliffs covered in
rainforest. You are sure to see (and certainly hear !) a lot of
wildlife.
North Sentinel
Small island, mostly barren, surrounded by some rocky islets.
Large boulders are scattered on the seabed. Good for soft corals
and reef life.
Stewart Island
consists of a 200m long ridge, lies North to South, rises to
about 30m (100ft) above the surface. One huge arch cuts right
through the island above the surface, several smaller caves do
the same below water. Best diving 12-20m, prolific reef life,
soft corals, sea whips many small sharks.
Horsburgh Island
On the West side is a very large pristine beach which is cut in
two by a spectacular towering cliff. As Horsburgh lies on the
Western edge of the Archipelago you can watch Hollywood-like
sunsets (including the Green Flash).
Mc Leod Island
Andaman Resort is built with 15 chalet type bangalows. More info
for the Resort refer to the home page www.mergui.org.
Beautiful anchorage in a horse shoe shaped bay. A short walk
through the rainforest brings you to the West side of the island
to a perfect beach. Watch the perfect sunset. But after that
you'll have to walk back to the yacht through the forest in the
dark!
Davis Island
high island covered in rainforest. Idyllic anchorage and a good
beach. A short walk inland brings you to a freshwater stream
cascading over the rocks and plunging into a pool you can bathe
in.
Barwell island
Pleasant anchorage a short distance from Kawthung.
Cavern island
Spectacular scenery topside, a nice dive consisting of 5
pinnacles on the SW side.onsisting of gigantic rocks piled on
top of each other. At 10-15 m depth there is a large anemone
garden
North Rock
Fabulous critter dive, lots of small reef life, nudibranches
etc. Plateau at 18 m. Sandy bottom at 30 m, good for leopard
sharks.
Clara Island
Anchorage in a large bay. Good for watching sunsets.
West Canister
Located almost 80 nautical miles north of Black Rock, the island
looks almost exactly like Ko Bon in Thailand, just flipped 180¥.
The best site is a pinnacle located almost in the middle of the
small bay, and is almost connected to a ridge that runs from the
westernmost point of the island. On dives we’ve done there, the
top of the rock acts as a cleaning station for manta rays. It’s
a huge granite rock starting about 15-meters and continuing to
over 40-meters. From there, you’ll find a hard coral reef
sloping down to over 60-meters. Large sea fans swathe the
granite boulders, with purple, pink and orange soft corals
covering most of the rock. Barracudas, fusiliers, jacks, Spanish
mackerel, and rainbow runners cruise over the top of the reef.
Painted crayfish hide in the overhangs. Visibility can be well
over 30-meters here.
Freak Island
A small island with enough tree cover to keep a pair of sea
eagles happy, it is located about four nautical miles east of
West Canister. The island can easily be swam around in one dive,
but here it’s important to slow down and look carefully, as the
smaller marine life is what you should be enjoying. With usually
clear water, the boulders with sea fans and soft corals make
powerful topography, while the hard corals are healthy and
colorful. Anemones and sea whips dot the terrain, and you’ll see
various triggerfish, stonefish, scorpionfish, and tigertail
seahorses.
End Bit
During my vacations in
spring 1999 my dive buddy Broschi and I dived extensively in the
Mergui Archipelago in Burma (Myanmar). This part of Burma is
very nice, because there are so few dive operators. Diving in
Burma has only been open since 1997 so the area is operated by
Myanmar owned Kawthaung based live boards – The Mergui Princess.
We were always the only scuba divers around. The ship would
anchor in unspoiled bays - clean beaches with no other
footprints than our own. Stars in the sky during the night,
murmuring of waves and the noise from insects at the beach. We
saw hornbill birds, monitor lizards ....... and sand flies!
My favorite dive sites around Burma
Colona Rock: we did a total of four dives here, first because it
is a sheltered place but mainly because it is just great!! You
dive at the narrow part of the rock. There are two tunnels that
connect the two bays. One is more like a covered canyon, the
other a very narrow underpass (don't get stuck!) with lobsters
living underneath.
As we jumped into the water here, we landed in the middle of a
school of squids preying on small fusiliers. When we looked
around more, there were two cuttlefish just mating, they were
positioned face to face and entwined their tentacles. The four
divers around didn't bother them at all, they kept at it for
about 5 minutes. Further on we saw two of the rare Devil
Scorpionfishes (very similar to stonefishes but they have a
distinctive humpback). We then saw a gray reef ray, moray eels,
nudibranchs, a sea snake and lots more .... also plenty of small
jellyfish, when we surfaced, specially in my face!
On another dive Broschi found a beautiful yellow seahorse. It
was small but extremely conspicuous, no other yellow animal
around. Only on a later dive did we realize that some of the
tubecorals around the dive site will sprout yellow tentacles
during dusk and night. We figured, these would be a perfect
camouflage for our seahorse.
Cúpola (Italian for dome). It is a very special place. You enter
through a underwater passage and exit in a huge cavern. I
believe, the roof is about 20 meter high with about 3 openings
to the air, one large enough to climb down. Some trails of
plants were growing down into the cave and some birds swooped in
and out.
This cavern is used by a type of sea swallow (Collocalia
esculenta) for nesting. Those nests consist of the saliva of the
birds, mixed with bits of plants and some feathers. The saliva
hardens when exposed to air. When cooked the nest soften and
separate and look like bean thread noodles. The Chinese believe
them to be a medicinal food that imparts sexual vigor! So of
course they are hideously expensive (prices of about 2000 US
dollars per kilo were quoted to us).
During harvest time, this cavern is guarded by armed men from
the sea gypsies. When we arrived, there were only 3 men living
inside the cave on a rack made with bamboo. We came up close to
the underwater passage and paddled slowly to the rack. We
greeted them, then looked around. All over the cave long bamboo
poles were wedged so it is possible to climb up to the nesting
areas just under the roof. I have no idea, how they climb up, it
looked very dangerous to me! They also had two small boats in
the cave, so I think during low tide there must be a small
passage out of the cave.
We dived back through the tunnel, where we encountered a large
jellyfish, that had drifted there from outside. The dive on the
outside was nothing special, because visibility was quite bad.
http://www.starfish.ch/dive/print/Burma-print.html
The Mergui Archipelago has something for everyone, and although
the dive sites here can often learn towards the advanced, even
intermediate divers will love the place as long as the dive
sites are picked carefully. As always, consult with the
divemaster before diving to make sure you aren't getting more
than you bargained for. Conditions change constantly due to
fluctuating tides and your dive professional is the best source
of current information.
