Burma Liveaboards - Diving in Myanmar

The Mergui Archipelago only opened up to divers about 10 years ago, mainly because of the military regime in Myanmar who refused entry to tourists. There are still ethical questions of course - should you go? Up to you - if you want great diving you can get it in Thailand, but if you have dived the Similans already and want something new, something off the beaten track, something remote... Burma (yeh, OK, Myanmar) is for you.



There are rumours of dive centers starting to exists inside Myanmar, but for the last 10 years the only way to dive north of the border has been by liveaboard boat. Liveaboards depart from Ranong (on the border), Thap Lamu (near Khao Lak) or Phuket. The boats departing from Thailand will include some dives in Thailand. The few that depart from Ranong do all the dives in the Mergui Archipelago.

The diving is not all easy - some currents and deep water, the trips tend to be longer, at least 5 days in duration, but your reward is to dive and cruise an almost uninhabited and not fully explored part of the world. Over the last few years, fishing and dynamiting caused damage to fish populations, but last year there was a serious crack down by the Burmese and the Faah Yai liveaboard (which runs Burma dedicated trips) reported NO dynamite all of last season from November 2006 - April 2007.



Gilbert took a trip in April on the Sai Mai for 10 days - great trip. Marine life ranging from seahorses to whalesharks! It's all out there.

Burma Diving Links

• Burma Liveaboards
• Burma Dive Sites

Burma Photo Gallery

The photos on this page were taken by either Gilbert Redmann, Bernard Austermann or are courtesy of the Faah Yai Liveaboard.

 
















Burma Liveaboards - Boat Information (updated 2013)

• Diva Andaman (luxury)
• Deep Andaman Queen (mid price)
• Dolphin Queen (low budget)

For more information about diving in the Mergui Archipelago, please contact Sunrise Divers - info@sunrise-divers.com or call our Phuket dive center on 076 398 040.