Diving in Mergui Archipelago
Why dive here
Mergui Archipelago offers some of Myanmar's richest diving, with 164+ marine species recorded in the area - including blacktip reef sharks, eagle rays, giant moray eels, whale sharks and clownfish. Water ranges 28-31°C, warmest April, May, June.
The Mergui Archipelago holds a special place for us. It’s not just the 800-plus islands; it’s the genuine feeling of being somewhere few others have been. We’ve done our share of liveaboards, but here, the dive sites really do feel like discoveries, especially in the further flung areas. Think big granite pinnacles draped in soft corals, creating dramatic landscapes that shelter everything from the tiny, vibrant Striped Triplefin to cruising Blackfin barracuda schools. It's the scale of it all that truly captivates. We've spent dives just watching Falcate Lionfish drift lazily, or spotting Star Blaasop tucked into crevices. The coral here, particularly the large colonies of Wrinkle and Closed brain coral, feels incredibly robust, a testament to the limited human interaction. Current can be present, especially around some of the more exposed pinnacles, but it often brings in the bigger stuff, like the manta rays we’ve been lucky enough to spot during the cooler, drier months. Our pick for a truly immersive experience would be a multi-day liveaboard, allowing you to venture deep into the archipelago and witness these untouched underwater worlds, often with just your boat at the site.
Mergui Archipelago Dive Site Map
Dive sites and dive centres in Mergui Archipelago
Mergui Archipelago Dive Sites
62 dive sites in Mergui Archipelago
Ao Sapparot (Pineapple Bay)
Ao Sapparot, or Pineapple Bay, is a pleasant, easy dive, perfect for warming up in the Mergui Archipelago. We've found the shallow reef, topping out at 20 meters, to be a relaxed spot for newer divers, or anyone just wanting a gentle fin around. The corals are quite healthy here, and you'll often see groups of snapper and fusiliers weaving through them. It’s not going to blow your mind with massive pelagics, but it's a calm introduction to Myanmar's underwater world, usually with mild currents.
Aow Pakard/Pakkad
Aow Pakard, sometimes called Pakkad, gives you a gentle introduction to the Mergui Archipelago. We usually take newer divers here, or use it as a first check-out dive. It’s a shallow spot, topping out around 18 metres, with plenty of interesting nooks and crannies in the reef for you to explore. You’ll often find us poking around for critters like various colourful nudibranchs, maybe a small cuttlefish, and plenty of reef fish going about their day. It’s a very relaxed dive, perfect for getting comfortable with the conditions before moving onto the more challenging sites Myanmar has to offer.
Aow Suthep
Aow Suthep is a pretty sheltered spot in the Mergui Archipelago, ideal for newer divers or a relaxed second dive. You’re looking at a gentle slope down to 17m, mainly sandy patches and some scattered coral bommies. We usually find plenty of nudibranchs here, small reef fish, and sometimes a cuttlefish tucked away. It's a nice easy dive, good for getting your buoyancy dialled in.
Burma Diving: Explore the Mergui Archipelago
The Mergui Archipelago still feels like a proper frontier, perfect for divers who prefer their adventures a little rough around the edges. We’ve found the diving here to be consistently surprising, with everything from whale sharks cruising past isolated pinnacles to tiny nudibranchs tucked away in the cracks of deep walls. Currents can be lively, so it’s best for experienced divers comfortable with drift dives, but the payoff of schooling fish and big pelagics is usually worth it. It’s not just about the diving either; the sheer remoteness and untouched islands make surface intervals just as interesting.
Burma, Western Rocky
Western Rocky, way out in Myanmar’s Mergui Archipelago, feels like a proper adventure. You're diving a rocky islet that’s pocked with a swim-through, right through the middle of it. We love easing through that tunnel, keeping an eye out for nurse sharks and sometimes even bowmouth guitarfish snoozing on the sand. Outside, the currents can pick up, so it's best for intermediate divers who are comfortable moving with a bit of flow. We usually find plenty of octopus tucked into crevices and schools of snapper hanging around the deeper sections, making it a solid, interesting dive.
Candy Canyon
Candy Canyon, sitting right in the heart of the Mergui Archipelago, really lives up to its name. We’re talking soft corals in serious candy colours – vibrant oranges, yellows, pinks, and purples that just pop against the limestone canyons and pinnacles. It’s a bit of a critter hotspot, thanks to all those nooks and crannies. You’ll spend most of your dive scanning for nudibranchs, fancy shrimp, and feather stars tucked into every crevice. If you love a slow, observant dive, hunting for the small stuff, this place is definitely for you.
CHOAKAUTTAPORN 2
Choakauttaporn 2 is one of those sites we always enjoy revisiting, a real charmer of a wreck despite its shallow depth. It’s a fishing vessel, about twenty metres long, sitting upright on the seabed at a mere two metres. You can practically snorkel this one, but don't let the shallowness fool you; there’s plenty to explore. We love finning slowly around the wheelhouse, peering into the cargo holds, and imagining the final moments of this boat. The real magic here is how the wreck has become a home. Its steel plates are thick with barnacles, oysters, and small anemones. Look closely and you'll spot tiny gobies darting into crevices, and we’ve often seen schools of juvenile snapper congregating near the bow. Our favourite trick is to drift over it with the afternoon sun high above, the light dappling through the water and illuminating the rusty structure below. It's a relaxed dive, perfect for photographers wanting to practice wide-angle shots without the pressure of depth, or for anyone who appreciates the quiet beauty of history reclaimed by the sea. Just watch for the odd strong surge if there’s a swell running; it can make hovering a bit tricky.
Cockscomb Island
Cockscomb Island, just a couple of hours from Kawthaung, is a curious spot often chosen for a last, easy dive. We're talking about a limestone island with a lagoon tucked inside, accessible through several low openings in the rock. It's a shallow dive, maybe two to three meters deep, where you fin through these narrow passages into a sunlit natural pool. Inside, it's mostly rock walls and a calm, protected environment – more of a unique geological experience than a coral bonanza. Think schools of small fish flitting in and out of crevices and the cool feel of the rock. It's perfect for a relaxed finish to a trip, especially if you appreciate interesting topography.
Cock’s Comb Island
Cock’s Comb Island is one of those spots in Mergui that really makes you feel like you’re exploring. The island itself is famous for a salt-water lake inside, accessible only by swimming through a cave at low tide. We’ve found the diving around the entrance and the shallows inside the lagoon to be pretty interesting, with lots of nooks and crannies to poke into. You’ll often spot juvenile reef fish taking shelter, and we’ve seen small schools of snappers schooling near the rock walls. The depth here is a consistent 10 metres, so it’s a good easy dive for intermediate divers looking for something a bit different. Just make sure to time your entry with the tides, as it can get a bit surgey.
Coral Bank
Coral Bank isn’t chasing any records for depth or drama, but it delivers exactly what its name suggests: a lovely, healthy bank of coral. It’s a gentle introduction to Mergui, rarely pushing past 20 meters, which makes it ideal for newer divers getting their fins wet in the archipelago. You’ll drift over wide fields of hard corals, punctuated by soft coral clusters, always keeping an eye out for resident lionfish tucked into crevices and the occasional moray eel peeking out. It's a relaxed, easy dive, perfect for warming up or just enjoying a calm afternoon below the surface.
Crayfish Cave
Dropping down at Crayfish Cave, you'll find the entrance to a swim-through arch around 22 metres. It’s not a huge cave system, more of a deep archway, but it does get dark enough inside that we'd suggest bringing a torch to properly appreciate the colours. Look for the colourful sponges, lazy lobsters, and yes, plenty of crayfish tucked into the crevices. On the way out, you’ll likely meet a friendly school of striped snapper hanging around the exit, and the seafans wave gently in the current. It’s a straightforward dive, good for anyone comfortable in enclosed spaces, offering a nice change of pace from the outer reef.
East Corner
East Corner, in the Mergui Archipelago, offers a relaxed dive suitable for beginners. It's a shallow site, topping out at 17 metres, generally with mild currents. You'll likely spot a good variety of reef fish here, along with some colourful nudibranchs on the coral patches. It’s a decent spot to get comfortable in the water without too much fuss.
Mergui Archipelago Dive Centres
3 dive shops and operators in Mergui Archipelago
Ocean Wildlife in Mergui Archipelago
164 species recorded in Mergui Archipelago
Mergui Archipelago Daylight & Sunrise/Sunset
Sunrise and sunset times for Mergui Archipelago, calculated from coordinates
Today - Monday 24 August
Sunrise
06:21
Sunset
18:43
Daylight
12h 23m
Golden Hour
18:15
First light (dawn) at 05:59 · Last light (dusk) at 19:05
Monthly Averages
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 06:50 | 18:27 | 11h 37m |
| Feb | 06:49 | 18:38 | 11h 49m |
| Mar | 06:37 | 18:40 | 12h 4m |
| Apr | 06:19 | 18:39 | 12h 20m |
| May | 06:09 | 18:43 | 12h 34m |
| JunLongest | 06:09 | 18:51 | 12h 41m |
| Jul | 06:16 | 18:54 | 12h 39m |
| AugNow | 06:21 | 18:48 | 12h 27m |
| Sep | 06:19 | 18:30 | 12h 11m |
| Oct | 06:17 | 18:13 | 11h 55m |
| Nov | 06:24 | 18:04 | 11h 41m |
| DecShortest | 06:38 | 18:11 | 11h 33m |
Times are approximate local times based on longitude. Actual times may vary slightly depending on the exact timezone observed in Mergui Archipelago.
Where to Stay near Mergui Archipelago
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Marine Protected Areas near Mergui Archipelago
1 protected area near Mergui Archipelago - please respect local regulations when diving
Lampi Marine National Park
Getting to Mergui Archipelago
Ranong
Phuket
Krabi
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