Moken Bay - Mergui Archipelago
Moken Bay is a gentle introduction to the Mergui Archipelago, a pleasant reef dive that doesn't push the envelope. Dropping to a comfortable 18 metres, it's perfect for newer divers or those looking for a relaxed afternoon. We've seen cuttlefish here, often hovering curiously from the coral, and a decent scattering of anemonefish darting amongst their host anemones. It's a calm spot, typically with minimal current, allowing plenty of time to explore the coral patches at your own pace. A good place to get your fins wet in Myanmar.
- Location
- Mergui Archipelago, Myanmar, Southeast Asia
- Coordinates
- 9.406800, 97.867600
- Type
- reef
- Maximum Depth
- 18m
- Difficulty
- Beginner
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)
- Crayfish Cave - 22m+ (cave)
- East Corner - 17m
- Fan Forest Pinnacle - 26m (pinnacle)
- Freak Island
- Hackford Bank - 25m
Nearest Dive Centres to Moken Bay
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 Moken Bay
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