Unexplored Dive Region in South-East-Asia

Myanmar or Burma is still a hidden gem for many divers. Unspoiled reefs, big pelagics, beautiful islands and stunning landscapes are waiting to be discovered in the Mergui Archipelago – best by a liveaboard trip.

Myanmar or Burma is a country in Southeast Asia. Myanmar is bordered by Bangladesh and India to its northwest, China to its northeast, Laos and Thailand to its east and southeast, and the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal to its south and southwest. Tourism opened up only in 1997, that´s why the country is still unexplored.

Divers might be interested in discovering the mystical Mergui Archipelago. With more than 800 islands, this area is home to some great dive spots in South-East-Asia. In the north, you can expect healthy corals, eagle rays, sharks and occasional whale sharks. Also, small stuff can be seen here including frogfish, lobsters, crabs and shrimps. The south of the Mergui Archipelago is still suffering from over-fishing and shark-finning.

Further west of Mergui Archipelago is another dive hotspot located: The Burma Banks. For fans of big pelagics, this is the place to go. The dive spots of Myanmar are still unspoiled but divemasters discovering new spots every day and if you want to feel the discovery feeling, don´t wait too long for your visit.

BEST TIME TO DIVE IN MYANMAR

The best time to visit Myanmar is between October and May as the sea is calm and the weather is nice and warm. The average water temperature is between 26 and 30 degrees Celcius while the air temperature is between 25 and 35 degrees Celcius. There is a monsoon season between June and September. At this time the liveaboard operations are on hold and the boats are in the harbors.

BEST PLACES TO DIVE

The Mergui Archipelago with its 800 undiscovered islands is a true paradise for explorers. The area has a lot to offer, from small frogfish to big manta rays. Even dugongs can be spotted here. The archipelago comes with pristine beaches and untouched forests. Popular dive sites here are Shark Cave, Black Rock and Western Rocky.

Burma Banks was only known by fishermen until the 1990s. Their exact location remained undocumented by this time. Since then some divers started to discover this area. With success. The area is located 125 km offshore and comes with some underwater mountains with lush marine life. These mountains start at a depth of 300 meters and coming up to 15 to 30 meters below the surface. The six documented peaks are Big, Coral, Heckford, Rainbow, Roe, and Silvertip banks.

LIVEABOARDS IN MYANMAR

By this time there are not many liveaboards cruising around the Mergui Archipelago or Burma Banks. Most of them operate in Thailand and offer some special trips to Myanmar. However, all cruises are in the dry season from October to May. If you are a real explorer and you love to discover unspoiled places, Myanmar should be your next destination.