Composed of over 800 islands northeast of the Burma Banks, the Mergui Archipelago is the secret treasure of the Andaman Sea. Dive here and you'll be immersed in a world of soft corals, mysterious caverns, gigantic boulders, and a myriad of sea life.
One of the last largely unexplored dive regions, the Mergui Archipelago is still uninhabited, for the most part. It is not unusual to be on board the only dive boat in the area, and to encounter no others during your stay. A diving holiday here will leave a lasting impression of incredible natural beauty – both above and beneath the water.
Let’s dive beneath the warm, peaceful waves to enjoy a look at some of the top diving spots in the Mergui Archipelago region.
Black Rock
One of the most visually spectacular dive sites in the archipelago, Black Rock features an extraordinary variety of reef life and an abundance of gray reef sharks, black tips, silvertips, bull sharks, and manta rays. In the deeper areas you will find beautiful soft coral formations. Maximum depth is 40 meters. Watch for mobula rays and eagle rays, too!
Shark Cave
Named after the nurse sharks that inhabit it, Shark Cave is made up of three small islets. The cave is approximately 20 meters in length with a floor carpeted with yellow sponges. The roof is covered in marigold corals – a great photo op! Maximum depth here is 30 meters, and visibility is often excellent.
Burma Banks
Arguably the most popular dive site in Myanmar, the Burma Banks are composed of gigantic sea mountains, rising to within 10 meters of the sea surface before dropping an astounding 300 meters back into the sea floor.
Shark encounters are virtually guaranteed in these waters. The most common type of shark is the nurse shark, which can grow to over 3 meters in length. Visibility here is incredible – up to 40 meters at times. Maximum depth is forty meters, but it’s easy to hang out at 20 to 30 meters and just enjoy the show. You are likely to encounter white tip, black tip, and silvertip reef sharks here too; especially when controlled feeding is in full swing.
Western Rocky
A dramatic underwater world awaits you at Western Rocky. The dive site offers you a fantastic underwater passage through the center of an exotic island, wall and reef diving, and beautiful pinnacles. Gigantic tawny nurse sharks are often encountered in the underwater passage, which is completely dark in the center. The island itself is approximately 60 meters wide. With a maximum depth of 45 meters and visibility to match, this is a great site for experts!
North Twin Island
Starting at a depth of 20 meters, and descending to a magnificent 35 meters, the great plateau of North Twin Island is noted for its covering of colorful gorgonian sea whips. Divers will also often find themselves escorted by barracuda and white-tip sharks they explore this astounding underwater landscape.
South Twin Island
There are three different dive sites on the bay of South Twin Island, all with a depth of approximately 16m. Huge boulders blanketed with Staghorn and a variety of other corals shelter a myriad of small marine life. Venture further outside the bay and you'll find schools of tuna, jacks, and barracuda. Visibility is great, often exceeding fifty meters.
You’re sure to enjoy diving Mergui Archipelago, especially as a trip to this remote area means you’ll get to enjoy the services of one of the excellent liveaboards that make excursions to the area. Book in advance to be certain you get to enjoy the sites you want to experience!