Liveaboard diving in Myanmar

Mergui Archipelago — mantas at Black Rock, the Western Rocky tunnel, empty sea with no other boats

2 yachts for liveaboard diving

Myanmar — Mergui Archipelago, mantas at Black Rock, the Western Rocky tunnel with nurse sharks. Liveaboard schedules and prices.

Why divers come here

Black Rock — a reef manta cleaning station in open water
Western Rocky — a 30-meter tunnel through the island with nurse sharks
Shark Cave at Three Islets — nurse sharks inside, grey reef sharks outside
Northern Rocky — macro heaven: frogfish, nudibranchs, harlequin shrimp
Around 800 islands, nearly all uninhabited — practically no other dive boats
Departures from Ranong or Khao Lak in Thailand, permit arranged by the operator

What you'll meet underwater

Reef mantas (Black Rock cleaning station) Tawny nurse sharks (Western Rocky tunnel, Shark Cave) Grey reef sharks Whale sharks (February–April, occasional encounters) Frogfish and nudibranchs (Northern Rocky) Harlequin shrimp and mantis shrimp Schools of snapper and barracuda Soft corals and gorgonians on granite walls

Practical information

Best season: November–May (dry season, calm Andaman Sea)
Water temperature: 26–29 °C
Visibility: 10–30 m
Wetsuit: 3–5 mm (thermoclines down to 24°C at depth)
Experience level: Advanced Open Water and around 30 logged dives (currents, open water, tunnels)
Getting there: Fly to Bangkok, then take a domestic flight to Ranong (UNN) or Phuket (HKT) and transfer to the departure port. Entry via Yangon (RGN) is not used for these liveaboards.
Airports: Ranong (UNN), Phuket (HKT), Yangon (RGN)
Visa: Most nationalities need a Myanmar visa or e-visa; some, including Russian citizens, may enter visa-free for up to 30 days — check the current rules for your passport. Diving in the Mergui Archipelago also requires a separate Myanmar diving permit, which the liveaboard operator obtains in advance from passport details and cannot be arranged individually. Since the trip starts in Thailand, Thai entry requirements apply as well.
Climate: Tropical monsoon, 28–34°C, rains from June to October
Currency: Myanmar kyat (MMK); US dollars accepted on liveaboards
Language: Burmese, English in the tourism sector
Time zone: UTC+6:30