Top Mergui Diving Sites
Mergui Archipelago is comprised of over 800 islands off the west coast of Myanmar, most of which are uninhabited, with the rest having only a handful of fishing communities.
For years this Archipelago remained completely untouched and unexplored: Until 1997 it was a forbidden area and inaccessible. And even when permits were introduced in 1997, most were put off visiting because of the unstable political situation in the country.
But now Myanmar has opened up to the world and is heading towards a functioning Democracy, a steady trickle of divers are slowly but surely discovering this vast island archipelago, almost always on liveaboard dive packages: This is for experienced divers only.
For years this Archipelago remained completely untouched and unexplored: Until 1997 it was a forbidden area and inaccessible. And even when permits were introduced in 1997, most were put off visiting because of the unstable political situation in the country.
But now Myanmar has opened up to the world and is heading towards a functioning Democracy, a steady trickle of divers are slowly but surely discovering this vast island archipelago, almost always on liveaboard dive packages: This is for experienced divers only.
Photographer: Joanne Chui
Many divers rave about the nearby Similian Islands (belonging to Thailand, and are admittedly beautiful in their own right), but divers that have been to both the Mergui Archipelago and the Similian Islands almost always come out saying Mergui was far superior.
Just as with everything in Myanmar: Go soon, before it becomes well and truly discovered!
Here is a guide to 3 of the best dive sites in Mergui Archipelago:
Black Rock
Black Rock regularly tops the list of divers favourite site in Mergui.It stands isolated and alone in the Andaman Sea, some 100 miles away from the coast, and this isolation has made the site a natural magnet for all sorts of fish, big and small: From whitetip, blacktip and silvertip sharks, to massive schools of mobula rays, manta rays and great barrucas over 1.5 metres in length.
Comprising of a western and southern wall, the southern wall has soft, purple corals and as you dive deeper down, orange cup corals, feather stars and Gorgonian sea fans. The western wall is said to include blue, yellow, green and orange soft tube corals.
Overall, Black Rock is a firm favourite for it's variation in species of coral and the numerous big fish.
Little Torres Islands
This site is worthy of mention, simply because while the rest of Mergui generally caters to big fish and sharks, the Little Torres Islands have more of the finer, small fish and are a delight for coral enthusiasts.
Soft corals, red whip corals, mosaic corals and table corals make up the beautiful kaleidoscope coral gardens here.
As for the marine life; expect smaller colourful fish such as Batfish, Long-nose Butterfly Fish and the Moon Wrasse. However, there are the odd few 'big fish' around that are pretty special, such as Leopard Sharks and majestic Sting Rays.
Shark Cave
This is another diver's-favourite site, which is comprised of 3 islets; The centre is the largest at around 100 metres wide.
From the surface, this site doesn't look like much at all: Just a few, bare rocks mark the site. However, do not let this fool you: Once you delve beneath the surface, you'll be delighted with the biodiversity and abundance of marine life.
Of course - as the name suggests – the cave is famous for sharks; in particular, a large population of nursing sharks.
However, other creatures that lurk in this 15 metre deep and 20 metre long underwater cave are Silver Sweetlips who stand as guards to the entrance, stalking cave sweepers, silversides and juvenile barracuda for their next meal.
The top of the tunnel is made of pretty marigold cup coral and the bottom yellow sponge coral.
Grey reef sharks and white tip sharks can occasionally make a surprising appearance and a close encounter for divers through the tunnel!
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