Crayfish Cave - Mergui Archipelago
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.
- Location
- Mergui Archipelago, Myanmar, Southeast Asia
- Coordinates
- 9.000000, 97.750000
- Type
- cave
- Maximum Depth
- 22m+
Best Time to Dive in Mergui Archipelago
The warmest water temperatures in Mergui Archipelago occur in May, averaging 30.8°C. The coolest conditions are in January at 28.5°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 28.5°C
- February: 28.9°C
- March: 29.6°C
- April: 30.7°C
- May: 30.8°C
- June: 29.9°C
- July: 29.5°C
- August: 29.2°C
- September: 28.9°C
- October: 29.0°C
- November: 29.2°C
- December: 28.7°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Mergui Archipelago
- Ao Sapparot (Pineapple Bay) - 20m (reef)
- Aow Pakard/Pakkad - 18m
- Aow Suthep - 17m
- Burma Diving: Explore the Mergui Archipelago
- Burma, Western Rocky - 24m
- Candy Canyon
- CHOAKAUTTAPORN 2 - 2m (wreck)
- Cockscomb Island
- Cock’s Comb Island - 10m
- Coral Bank - 20m (reef)
- East Corner - 17m
- Fan Forest Pinnacle - 26m (pinnacle)
- Freak Island
- Hackford Bank - 25m
- High Rock
Nearest Dive Centres to Crayfish Cave
Marine Life in Mergui Archipelago
Home to 173 recorded species including 106 reef fish, 49 hard corals, 8 seagrass & algae, 3 sharks & rays, 2 other, 2 octopus & squid.
Notable Species
- Staghorn coral (Acropora kosurini) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora indonesia) - Hard Corals
- seagrass (Halophila ovalis) - Seagrass & Algae
- cymodocea (Cymodocea rotundata) - Seagrass & Algae
- Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) - Sharks & Rays
- Moluccan cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus moluccensis) - Reef Fish
- Staghorn coral (Acropora secale) - Hard Corals
- halodule (Halodule uninervis) - Seagrass & Algae
- Clown Tang (Naso lituratus) - Reef Fish
- Bicolor Blenny (Ecsenius bicolor) - Reef Fish
- Herringbone butterflyfish (Chaetodon triangulum) - Reef Fish
- Species code: Ea (Enhalus acoroides) - Seagrass & Algae
- Dusky Parrotfish (Scarus niger) - Reef Fish
- Staghorn coral (Acropora listeri) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora valida) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora austera) - Hard Corals
- Dusky Wrasse (Halichoeres marginatus) - Reef Fish
- Lesser star coral (Cyphastrea microphthalma) - Hard Corals
- Wrasse (Thalassoma lunare) - Reef Fish
- Galathea Gizzard Shad (Nematalosa galatheae) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Crayfish Cave
Based on average water temperature of 29.4°C, currents 7 cm/s.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 29°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories