News
Diving Myanmar
Myanmar was closed to tourists until recent years and many new dive sites are still being discovered. With over 50 dive sites to choose from so far, this country has plenty to offer. Highlights include exploring the 800 or so islands that make up the Mergui archipelago and the remote ocean dives at Burma Banks.
Myanmar, or Burma, opened to tourists in the late 1990s and passed the one million tourist mark for the first time in 2012. Tourism is still in its infancy in this fascinating country and so offers pristine diving in southeast Asia. Whilst Myanmar is known for its large pelagic species, it is also fast gaining a reputation for macro life.
The dive sites are remote and best experienced by Myanmar liveaboard diving. The liveaboard diving season is October to May, with peak conditions in the popular Mergui Archipelago during December to April. Water temperature typically ranges from 30°C (86 °F) to 26°C (79 °F) and visibility can reach more than 40 meters. The diving can be challenging, with strong currents and rough seas, making Myanmar suitable for more advanced divers. Most dive cruises visiting Myanmar depart from Phuket, Ranong, or Khao Lak in Thailand. The MV Thai Sea liveaboard (pictured) offers diving safaris to Myanmar, including within the Mergui Archipelago and south Myanmar.
Mergui Archipelago
The Mergui Archipelago, in the Andaman Sea, is made up of over 800 islands and is a well-known dive area of Myanmar. Only two of the islands are inhabited and the majority of the islands remain untouched by human influence. The limestone and granite rocks of the archipelago have created underwater ledges, caves, swim-throughs, and overhangs, and the marine life is very diverse. Whale sharks and manta rays are occasionally seen in this area.
Black Rock, an 80-meter-wide islet, has steep banks, walls and fantastic drift diving. This pinnacle has a high density of marine life including numerous soft corals, beds of anemones, hawkfish, pufferfish, angelfish, banded sea snakes, and eels. This dive site receives plenty of nutrients from the depths and attracts huge schools of mobula rays, whitetip reef sharks, silvertip sharks, and blacktip sharks. Manta and eagle rays are also seen at this dive site, as are kingfish and barracuda. Black Rock is one of the most spectacular dive sites in the Mergui Archipelago.
High Rock is another highlight and has wall diving, steep drop offs, and a rocky reef at dive depths of 5 to 25 meters. The rocks are covered with orange and green cup corals and the site is excellent for night diving, when the cup corals open to reveal their bright orange interiors. There is a huge volume of fish life at High Rock including glassfish, fusiliers and Titan triggerfish. There are numerous invertebrates, including frogfish, seahorses and scorpionfish, and the landscape below 21 meters is dominated by black-coral bushes, feather stars and gorgonians.
Rocky Peaks, or Fan Forest Pinnacle, is a pinnacle that starts at 5 meters and disappears into the depths. It is known as one of the most colourful dive sites in the archipelago and is covered in orange fan corals and Gorgonian sea fans, mostly below 30 meters. The top of the pinnacle is home to a garden of anemones, with cowries, pipefish and seahorses. The shallow parts of the area are also home to octopi and cuttlefish. Those wishing to see zebra sharks should head to the eastern edge of the ridge. Manta and eagle rays are sometimes seen at this dive site.
Shark Cave is a dive site at a chain of three islands, the Three Stooges. This cavern sits at 5 meters depth on the north west corner of one of the islands and drops down to 16 meters. The cavern gradually narrows to a tunnel about 20 meters long and emerges at the east side of the island. It is known for its resident nurse sharks and is also popular with grey reef and whitetip reef sharks. The cavern ceiling is covered in marigold cup corals and the floor is covered in sponges. Nudibranchs are commonly found there, as are moray eels, lobsters and Durban dancing shrimps. Divers can also see grey bamboo sharks in the wall cracks. The site is a Myanmar dive highlight whether explored during the day or at night.
Burma Banks
Lying west of the Mergui Archipelago, Burma Banks is rarely visited, and it is possible to dive the area with no other divers present. The underwater landscapes are unique, with huge flat-top sea mounts at the surface disappearing to depths of over 300 meters. The underwater environments of Burma Banks are not found elsewhere. Most dives start at 15 meters and dive highlights include huge table corals, black corals, abundant reef fish, octopi, moray eels, barracuda, and many species of shark.
The dives are open ocean and so the area attracts large pelagic species. The currents can be strong, and divers should expect advanced drift diving in this area.
Discover more liveaboard diving holiday solutions around the world at Liveaboard.com.
Blogs
Four opportunities to go pro in 2024 with Dive Friends Bonaire
Dive Friends teaches the Instructor Development Course (IDC) several times a year to students who are eager to share their passion for diving with the world.
Dive Friends is known for the personal approach throughout the course. Their in-house course director will lead the students through every essential step, mentoring them to achieve their fullest potential as a dive instructor.
Applications for the following IDC start dates are now open:
- 12 April
- 5 July,
- 20 September
- 29 November
Partnership with Casita Palma
If the student opts for the IDC-Deluxe or IDC-Supreme package, their accommodation will be arranged for them at Casita Palma. This small and quiet resort is within walking distance from Dive Friends Bonaire’s main dive shop location and has everything you need to relax after an intense day of IDC training. Breakfast is included, so the student will always be fuelled and ready for their day.
Contact Dive Friends Bonaire’s Course Director Eddy for more information: coursedirector@divefriendsbonaire.com.
Blogs
SOMABAY: Scubaverse Trip Review (Watch Video)
In a video created exclusively for Scubaverse.com, Jeff Goodman visits SOMABAY in the Egyptian Red Sea to experience the diving on offer there.
Book your next Red Sea dive adventure with SOMABAY! For more information, visit www.somabay.com.
Stay at the Breakers Diving & Surfing Lodge when you visit! For more information, visit www.thebreakers-somabay.com.
Find out more about ORCA Dive Clubs at SOMABAY at www.orca-diveclubs.com/en/soma-bay-en.
-
Blogs3 months ago
‘Simply the Best’ – Quintessential Red Sea Diving
-
News2 months ago
Hone your underwater photography skills with Alphamarine Photography at Red Sea Diving Safari in March
-
News2 months ago
Capturing Critters in Lembeh Underwater Photography Workshop 2024: Event Roundup
-
Marine Life & Conservation Blogs3 months ago
Creature Feature: Nurse Sharks
-
News3 months ago
Join Lembeh Resort’s Macro Photography Workshop with Scott Gutsy Tuason this April
-
Miscellaneous Blogs3 months ago
Book Review: The Lives of Seaweeds
-
Marine Life & Conservation Blogs2 months ago
Creature Feature: Swell Sharks
-
Blogs3 months ago
A day in the life of Marsa Shagra with Sea to Sky