Stewart Island - Mergui Archipelago
Stewart Island, or Ba Wei, sits just northwest of Cavern Island and it’s one of those spots that really delivers on its name: a massive hole punched clean through a smaller islet off its southern tip. You can grab some seriously dramatic topside photos before you even hit the water. Drop down the steep walls on either side of that islet and you’ll find a network of big swim-throughs. We’ve drifted through them with schools of snapper and fusiliers so thick they almost block out the light. It's a fun dive, especially for photographers and those who enjoy a bit of cave exploration without the full commitment of a true cavern dive. Just keep an eye on the current when you’re planning your entry and exit.
- Location
- Mergui Archipelago, Myanmar, Southeast Asia
- Coordinates
- 10.300000, 98.050000
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 Stewart Island
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 Stewart Island
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