Mergui Archipelago
A dive safari through the Mergui Archipelago — 800 virtually unexplored islands off the coast of Myanmar, opened for diving in 1997. The route starts and finishes at Badin Pier in Thailand’s Ranong. Rocky islands covered in tropical forests may be home to wild elephants and tigers.
Key dive sites include Western Rocky Island with its underwater channels, Black Rock, North Twin Island, Shark Cave, Seafan Forest, and High Rock. Depths at some sites exceed 60 meters, currents are strong. Underwater encounters include whale sharks, mantas, and diverse reef and pelagic fish.
What You'll See
Conditions
Season
October–May
Visibility
10–30 meters
Water Temperature
26–29°C
Level
Advanced Open Water
Duration
7 nights
Useful Information
Best Season
November–May (dry season, calm Andaman Sea)
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.
How to Get 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.
Climate
Tropical monsoon, 28–34°C, rains from June to October
Currency
Myanmar kyat (MMK); US dollars accepted on liveaboards
Time Zone
UTC+6:30
