MYANMAR LIVEABOARDS
MERGUI ARCHIPELAGO, BURMA DIVING
MERGUI ARCHIPELAGO, BURMA DIVING
A Myanmar liveaboard with Diversion is the only way to experience the Mergui Archipelago. Although limited day trip options are available, they are impractical and expensive.
The moment you pass through immigration, the feeling of genuine exploration is instantly palpable. The remote islands give you the opportunity to discover quiet and rarely seen dive sites like the Burma Banks, Black Rock and Western Rocky. Myanmar Diving will show you the real ‘Silent World’.
If you are interested in Myanmar diving, the main reason to choose a liveaboard is simply that there are no other options available. However, there are a whole host of other reasons why a Myanmar liveaboard might be the perfect diving experience for you.
Day trips to the Mergui Archipelago are possible from Macleod island in Myanmar. However, the remoteness makes day trips very impractical. Once transport and accommodation costs are accounted for, it ends up being more expensive than most Myanmar liveaboards. This is fortunate as a liveaboard provides by far the best all round diving holiday experience.
The most Western islands, with dive sites like Black Rock, are aggregation sites for Giant Manta Rays and regularly visited by Whale Sharks. This is reason enough to go. Combine this with the fact that most of the dive sites are often empty. Even if you encounter another Myanmar liveaboard, communication between dive centers is still good enough to arrange separate jump times. Myanmar is a place for those who truly love diving.
It is often the time you spend in between dives that determines the enjoyment of your Myanmar liveaboard. After all, you will only be spending 4 hours a day underwater. Our liveaboards vary in quality and we want to ensure you find the one to suit your needs. If you are unsure which Myanmar Liveaboard to choose, the easiest thing to do is ask. We understand your needs and preferences are unique. The quick guide below should help you get started.
Safety is obviously the main concern, especially diving in such remote locations. Myanmar has a troubled past but the Mergui archipelago is a safe tourist destination. The largest concern would be access to medical facilities. You will definitely need to consider your personal fitness and experience levels before choosing to dive in Myanmar. It is also highly recommended to keep conservative dive profiles and dive on Nitrox.
Do you have any specific safety concerns or requests?
The budget of a Myanmar liveaboard is also quite an important factor as the trips are generally more expensive than their Similan liveaboard counterparts. Park fees, visa fees, and larger distances all push the price up. However, the Myanmar trips are also generally longer and often include the best Northern dive sites on offer in Thailand. A Myanmar liveaboard may be more expensive, but it provides many more diving opportunities.
Do you already have a rough idea of how much you would like to spend?
Most Myanmar liveaboards have one thing in common, they all offer a convenient dive platform geared to show you the best of the Mergui Archipelago. Other facilities vary greatly. Experience tells us one of the most common requests is an en-suite cabin. Mid range and high end boats usually have excellent bathroom facilities, whereas budget boats may only have 3 or 4 toilets for all the staff and guests combined.
Do you have any food preferences, suffer from seasickness or need something else?
A typical Myanmar liveaboard is around 7 days and nights. This is considerably longer than any Similan Liveaboard, but may also feature dives at Thailand’s best dive sites like Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock. One major consideration when choosing a liveaboard, is the boat’s history of diving in the Mergui Archipelago. Some operators have only recently started diving in Myanmar and are unlikely to have the same knowledge of the dive sites.
Not sure where, when and who to dive with?
Availability is much more important when considering a Myanmar Liveaboard, as there are not so many operators traveling there. Dive boats like the Deep Andaman Queen and Diva Andaman only visit Burma once a month. A Myanmar diving holiday is generally much more exclusive than in Thailand. Reserve you spaces as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
Are your dates flexible or do you have something more specific in mind?
It is easy to apply the adage ‘You get what you pay for’ when choosing your Myanmar liveaboard. To make things easier we have split the boats into three categories to suit different budgets. Some boats offer exceptional value, but it may be the additional services and on-board facilities that add the extra something you are looking for.
Between 18-25 guests. Space is adequate but can sometimes feel a little cramped. Food is basic. This is for the passionate divers with a limited budget.
Between 16-25 guests, but always feel spacious. There is plenty of room to move around, more relaxation areas, larger dive decks, and lots more private space.
Experiencing the remote islands of the Mergui Archipelago, on a beautiful sailing yacht, is a genuinely unforgettable experience.
If you are thinking about learning to dive on a Myanmar Liveaboard there are several things you will need to consider. Most importantly, a Myanmar liveaboard is maybe not the best place to dive for the first time because of its remoteness and potentially challenging dive sites.
If you are looking to do your Open Water course it might be an idea to learn in Thailand first. It is cheaper, easier conditions and generally more convenient. If you really do want to do the Open Water course on a Myanmar Liveaboard, you should try and complete the theory and confined sessions before departure.
A Myanmar liveaboard is a great environment for more advanced courses. The Nitrox and Advanced Open Water courses are almost essential for you to make the most of your diving holiday. You can learn both these courses on the boat and they will greatly improve your Myanmar diving options.
A liveaboard is the perfect classroom environment for learning to dive. A liveaboard gives you ample time to study, practice and spend plenty of hours in the water honing your diving skills. Diving courses on a liveaboard are always conducted at a much more relaxed pace.
There is less pressure to complete tasks in a limited amount of time. You will have plenty of free time to enjoy the Mergui Archipelago. Should one or two skills require extra practice, do not worry. On a Myanmar Liveaboard you are constantly surrounded by the Ocean. Jumping in for more practice is always an option.
There are many diving courses to choose from and several different certifying organizations. Follow the quick guide below to help you find the best course for you. Alternatively contact us if you need any advice.
Not the best course to learn on a Burma liveaboard. Consider learning in Thailand before the Burma diving trip departs. Or at the very least complete theory and confined in advance.
The perfect course for a liveaboard. Lots of time with your instructor and a huge variety adventure dives. Enjoy the possibility of diving down to a depth of 30m (100ft).
Ideal for a liveaboard because of the extended bottom times it allows. With 4 dives a day, Enriched Air Nitrox can help to keep you safer and can also help you feel less tired.
Learn to dive down to 40m! Have the chance to explore areas that very few people get to see. Some boats are better equipped to teach this course than others.
A liveaboard gives you ample opportunities to improve & practice your underwater photography skills. Contact Us to find out who are the best photography instructors.
‘The way the World learns to Dive’. PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) is the World’s leading Scuba Diver training organization. Founded in 1966, they are Internationally recognized and currently the biggest organization around.
SSI (Scuba Schools International) has been providing Scuba Diver training since 1970 and is the largest competitor to PADI. Since being bought out by equipment distributor MARES, they have made real efforts to improve & modernize their courses.
Founded in France in 1959, CMAS (World Underwater Federation) has one of the most extensive diver training systems. Some divers prefer the slightly tougher training method as they feel it helps to make them all round better and safer divers.
The most important decision you will make is which boat to learn on. Depending on which course you choose (and which organization you want to do it with), there will be a Myanmar Liveaboard suitable for you.
Some diving boats have excellent photographers. Others may be able to teach you CMAS, SSI or PADI. Some trips are designed to just go to the best dive sites and have excellent fun dives.
Your priorities, goals and budget are just a few of the things we will need to know to help you choose the perfect Myanmar liveaboard.
This is why we are here to help. If you have any questions or need any advice about Scuba diving courses in the Mergui Archipelago, we can help advise you and narrow down your options.