Mergui Archipelago

The Mergui Archipelago, comprising over 800 islands and covering an area of 16,000 square km has been closed to all foreign tourists for the last 50 years. Due to change in political climate, these pristine islands are now open for sailing, cuba diving and exploration. You can explore an area totally untouched by modern development, with a rich history of maritime trade, mysticism and piracy. 

Kipling already said that Burma is a country "unlike any other you may have visited" and the Mergui Archipelago is no exception to that.

The Burma Banks are a series of sea mounts located some 130 NM north west of Phuket. The Banks do not offer much in the form of pretty coral reefs but are one of the world’s best shark dives thanks to a thriving population of Silvertip Sharks.
The Burma Banks are well offshore in international waters but they are still within the 200-mile Mynamar Exclusive Economic Zone. At the present time, the Burmese consider diving there a commercial venture and they feel that nobody should dive there without their official permission. In the mean time, if it is exciting shark action you are looking for then you'll find it at Western Rocky Island in the Mergui Archipelago.

The Archipelago was strictly closed to all foreigners until in 1997 a limited number of yachts were granted permission to undertake diving charters in Burma.Because of it's isolation the Mergui Archipelago is only superficially charted, the interior of many of the islands has never been surveyed at all. Wildlife is abundant, as is the vegetation on the rain forest -clad islands. Beaches are clean and stretch for miles. There is virtually no commercial fishing, no industrial pollution at all, no buildings, no developments, just pure nature.

Sailing in Mergui archipelago, not so far from Phuket in Thailand, will take you to remote areas where you will rarely see any other yachts. The only humans you are likely to encounter are the Moken Sea Gypsies who roam the area in their small boats, largely in the way their ancestors have done for centuries. They are very friendly and like to visit for a chat or to barter some fish..

Under water, especially on the Western edge of the archipelago there is world class diving to be found. Reefs, dropoffs, caves, tunnels, sea mounts, enough to keep every diver very happy.

Fish life is abundant. Scuba diving in the Mergui Archipelago usually means frequent encounters with sharks, manta rays, large swarms of eagle rays, and occasionally, whale sharks. The reefs are in excellent condition and they are teeming with life. A special feature are the caves and tunnels on several sites. Some of them cut right trough an island with exits on both sides. Favorite sites include Black Rock and Colona Rocks.

Black Rock

Black Rock is arguably the most spectacular dive site in the Mergui archipelago. 16 miles from the nearest land in deep water it is an ocean site. There is an abundance of life with BIG pelagics being the order of the day. Grey reef and silvertip sharks are almost guaranteed, blacktips, hammerheads and bullsharks by no means exceptional. Stingrays the size of barn doors, manta’s, devil rays and also whale sharks. Additionally the reef life is excellent as well with beautiful soft corals, gorgonia’s and plenty of reef fish. 

Colona Rocks

This is tiny islet, one of three. The main dive is a small cove with a tunnel which exits on the other side of the island. The cove itself is usually crammed with snappers, groupers, jacks, trevallies etc. Silvertip sharks often join the fun.

One great feature of scubadiving in the Mergui Archipelago is that there are hardly any other boats so usually you have even the best sites completely to yourself.

Besides scuba diving the Mergui Archipelago has a lot more to offer. You will never forget the breathtaking scenery, including virgin rainforests, the encounters with rare animals and snorkeling on reefs that have never been explored before.