The Smiling Seahorse - Mergui Archipelago
The Smiling Seahorse runs liveaboards exploring Myanmar's Mergui Archipelago. We've found their trips offer serious divers a chance to explore remote limestone formations and healthy soft corals rarely seen by others. Expect uncrowded sites and a focus on longer, more exploratory dives, suiting those comfortable with drift diving and variable conditions. It's a solid choice for experienced divers keen on genuine exploration.
- Location
- Mergui Archipelago, Myanmar, Southeast Asia
- Coordinates
- 9.963661, 98.634230
- Phone
- +66 86 011 0614
- Website
- https://www.thesmilingseahorse.com/
- Courses
- Learn to Dive, Continue diving education, Rescue diver, Professional Dive Courses, Specialty course, Photo coaching
- Address
- 170, Ruangrat Road Tambon khao nivet, Khao Niwet, Muang ranong, Ranong, 8500
- Price Range
- premium
Dive Sites Near The Smiling Seahorse
The Smiling Seahorse provides access to 15 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)
- Crayfish Cave - 22m+ (cave)
- East Corner - 17m
- Fan Forest Pinnacle - 26m (pinnacle)
- Freak Island
- Hackford Bank - 25m
Other Dive Centres in Mergui Archipelago
- Mergui Dive Adventure
- Similan Seven Sea Club - ["PADI"]
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
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 Marine Life
- 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
Recommended Packing List for Mergui Archipelago
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