Scuba Diving in Myanmar / Myanmar Dive Sites
After nearly 50 years of seclusion, Myanmar finally opened its rich and vivid waters to outsiders in 1997 marking a new beginning for both local and international divers. The famous Mergui Archipelago and the remote Burmese Banks are an absolute must see for every impassioned sea diver at any skill level. Mergui Archipelago is populated by over 800 barely-explored islands scattered over nearly 3600 km2 of land and sea. Many of the islands are inhabited solely by the elusive Sea Gypsies of Siam’s West Coast, a rare sighting if you’re able to spot any of them at all.
In addition to the incredible underwater journeys to the untouched, breathtaking and bustling reefs, scuba diving in Myanmar is not complete without cruising past one of the last archipelagos in existence. Complete with quiet beaches, local fishing villages, and incredible rock formations, land exploration in Myanmar boasts more than its fair share to offer the adventurous traveler.
As part of your booking with A-One Diving, divers not only visit the archipelagos but the Burmese waters as well. During our time in this area, divers are welcome to visit any one of the handful of locally-owned scuba dive shops. Stop in for quick and easy access to diving products and apparatus during your escape to the Myanmar dive sites!
These diving tours are available as liveaboard cruises. Book now and explore one of the most well-known, yet little-traveled sites for scuba diving in Myanmar with A-One Diving today. Space on the boat is limited, so book now for this popular scuba diving Myanmar site!
Questions?
Give us a call at +66 (0)81 8915510 orsend us an email at info@a-one-diving.com
Myanmar Dive Sites Gallery
The Smiling Sea Horse
The MV Smiling seahorse took its maiden voyage in November 2018. We broke the mold choosing to build a specialized boat designed by and for divers instead of converting a fishing vessel as is very common in this region. Its Steel hull is much more suited to easily cut through waves than a wooden hull and its 2 superior engines allow the MV Smiling Seahorse to venture further into the unknown.
Although the boat is larger than its predecessor, measuring 25m long and 6.4m wide, its 8 cabins and bathrooms spread over 4 decks still cater to a maximum of 16 guests. More space for the same number of people definitely ups the ante of comfort and freedom during your cruise.
The heart of the boat is also located on this deck where our talented chef with fill the air with mouthwatering aromas of local and international cuisines 4 times a day. Alongside the chef, the crew of the MV Smiling Seahorse is second to none. Our large team of specialized workers take care of everything you need on the frontlines and behind the scenes during your stay. The ratio of guest to staff is close to 1:1 on our boat to ensure that no necessity is left forgotten and its always taken care of with a smile!
Read More about The Smiling Sea HorseMV Thai Sea
This attractive boat in traditional wooden style welcomes 12 divers on board. You will feel as if you have chartered the boat for yourself. The boat has an open and comfortable lounge area where meals are served buffet style and we promise you will never go hungry on M/V Thai Sea. Our sun deck area can be partially covered so you can choose between relaxing in the sun or go for the more chilled covered area for your leisure. On the technical deck, the equipment platform offers an individual place for each diver with plenty of space for your scuba gear. We dive in individual groups so it is never crowded on the deck when we gear up.
Our photo area with a charging station and rinsing buckets for electronic equipment is conveniently placed right before the dive platform so you can grab you equipment on the way. The large diving platform is also bordered by only one group at the time. M/V Thai Sea is 5m wide so we can comfortably all line up next to each other and still have plenty of space even in scuba gear. The dive platform have 2 fresh water rinsing showers and quick rinse bucket for just out of the water and “other than electronics” to keep the electronics buckets salt free. 2 diver friendly ladders easy to climb in full scuba makes it the perfect dive platform. If you need a hand, there are always lots of them around when we are diving.
Read More about MV Thai Sea
Thing to know
Time zone:
There are mainly two time zones: Thailand Time – seven hours in advance (UTC+7 hours) of GMT; Myanmar Time – six thirty hours ahead (UTC+6:30 hours) of GMT.
Currency:
The Thai Baht is the currency of Thailand. However, many dive operators also accept US dollars.
Weather & Best period:
The climate of Thaïland and Myanmar are tropical with 3 distinct seasons : a dry and relatively cool season from November to February and a hot season from March to mid-May. The rainy season runs from mid-May to October and the sea can be rough. The air temperature is between 23 and 35 °C while the sea is warm all over the year (28-30 °C)
Safety diving rules:
Dives limited to 40 meters deep, NO decompression. All certifications are accepted for diving (PADI, SSI …) The maximum depths allowed for recreational divers are therefore 18, 30 and 40 meters depending on the level of certification. End of dive pressure gauge = 50 BAR (arrival at the surface). Diving time including safety stop: usually 60 minutes.
diving with a buddy pair system 1 SMB and 1 diving computer are required per diver. End of last dive 24 hours at least before taking the plane. Remember to drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration. Participation in the pre-dive briefings given by the guide. For Burma trips, as we go far from the coast, evacuation can take up to 1 day, and we will do many successive dives, so please dive safely with NO-Decompression Time
Recommandation Diving equipment:
The sea temperature is around 28-30 °C however we recommend wearing a wetsuit or a shorty of 3-5 mm. Current can be strong in Burma so it’s better to get your Advanced and Deep Speciality before coming to maximise your pleasure but the sites are open to all.
Our renting service Depends on your needs, we can rent : Diving equipment comprising mask, snorkel, fins, BCD, regulator and wetsuit (long or shorty) for 500 THB per day Diving computer (Suunto Zoop) for 300 THB per day 15 L Tank for 250 THB per day