Updated May 3, 2022
This is the tenth in a series that introduces and describes the various dive services and sites for worldwide liveaboard dive safaris. This one focuses on Myanmar (otherwise known as Burma).
In addition to this series on liveaboards, the best worldwide dive resort locations and services are reviewed in their own series. To check them out, or others in this series, click on Liveaboards/Resorts on the menu at the top and choose a title from the list.
Have you been diving in Burma before? If so, I’d love to know about your experience. What dive shop or liveaboard did you use? Which dive spots are the best and what are the conditions there regarding the visibility, current, water temperature, sealife attractions, etc.? Please post your response in the comments section at the bottom and we’ll all learn something we can use.
Scuba Diving in Myanmar (Burma)
Undersea World
Recreational diving in the Andaman Sea north of Thailand in the waters of Myanmar (Burma) only opened to the world in 1997. Removed from the tourist crowds of Thailand and with little, if any, commercial fishing, this remote area is available to divers only through liveaboard safaris. This low volume of traffic has left us with thriving coral reefs and great quantities of large pelagics and macro life.
Dozens of dive sites provide a variety of underwater terrain with walls and caverns and situations largely more suitable for advanced divers.
Major fish attractions include whitetip and grey reef sharks, whale sharks, eagle and manta rays, barracuda, dogtooth tuna, batfish, trevallies, rainbow runners, and unicornfish. Octopus, cuttlefish, lobster, crabs, shrimp, ghost pipefish, frogfish, and nudibranchs are some of the smaller fascinating creatures you will likely encounter.
Seasons and Conditions
The season runs from October to May.
Water temperatures at Christmas time bottom out around 26-27 degrees C (78-81 degrees F) and are highest in May at 30 degrees C (86 degrees F).
There is a plankton bloom from February to May which decreases visibility some but attracts whale sharks and manta rays in numbers.
Myanmar Dive Boats
There are 6 great dive boats cruising the Myanmar sites, which for our purposes are divided into 3 areas:
- Burma South
- Burma Deep South
- Burma Mergui Archipelago
All of them also run safaris to some of the Thai sites just to the south.
The pricing is very reasonable and each boat has a unique character worth investigating.
Featuring
- Cruises 5 nights to Burma South and 7 nights to the Mergui Archipelago
- Burma South Itinerary: High Rock, Black Rock, North Twin Reef, North Twin Plato, South Twin, Rocky Peaks, Western Rocky
- Mergui Archipelago Itinerary: High Rock, Stewart Island, Tower Rock, Shark Cave, Black Rock, North Twin Plato, North Twin Reef, South Twin, Burma Banks, Rocky Peaks, Western Rocky
- Thai, Burmese, and international main meals
- Master cabin has a private bathroom
- Maximum of 10 guests only (1 DM, 1 instructor onboard)
- Grass’ sundeck, self-service bar
- 1 life raft, 1 5 HP dive dinghy
Top-Rated – MV Deep Andaman Queen
Featuring
- Visits Similans, Surin, Khao Lak, Burma
- One 7 day cruise per month that includes Burma South
- Itinerary to Burma South includes Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock, Bonsoon Wreck, High Rock, Shark Cave, Stewart Island, Black Rock, North Twin, South Twin, North Rock, and Western Rocky
- All cabins have ensuite bathrooms
- Thai, Asian and international cuisine
- Master cabin with a TV/DVD player
- Experienced English-speaking divemasters (4-5 divers per DM)
- Nitrox available for certified enriched air divers
- Underwater cameras available
- 1 Solas life raft (25 persons)
- 2 x 4 m 40 HP motorized hard-body dinghies
Staff Choice – SY Diva Andaman
Featuring
- Cruises Similans, Richelieu Rock, Burma
- One 6 day cruise per month to Burma South
- Burma South Itinerary: High Rock, Rocky Island, 3 Islets, Black Rock, Burma Banks, Fan Forest, Western Rocky.
- Cabins with private ensuite bathrooms, minibar, safety deposit boxes
- Thai and international cuisine
- Complimentary bottle of champagne
- Experienced English-speaking divemasters (4-5 divers per DM)
- Nitrox available for certified enriched air divers
- Sea kayaks, traditional Thai massage
- Dive deck with lockers, hot shower, toilet
- Large boat with wooden paneling throughout
- 1 life raft
- 2 x 30 HP Yamaha dinghies
Price Leader – MV Dolphin Queen
Featuring
- Visits Similan Islands, Richelieu Rock, and Burma
- Monthly 6 night trips to Burma South
- Burma South Itinerary: Rocky Island, Shark Cave, Black Rock, Rocky Peaks, North & South Twin Islands, North, and Western Rocky
- Experienced English-speaking divemasters (4-5 divers per DM)
- Nitrox fills for enriched air certified divers (if available)
- 2 Life rafts
- 40 HP Yamaha dinghy
- Thai main meal dishes and continental breakfast
- Thai massage available
- Communal bathrooms
Featuring
- Visits Burma, Similans, Koh Tachai, Koh Bon & Richelieu Rock
- 5 and 6-night trips to Burma South and Burma Deep South
- Burma Itineraries include: Secret Lagoon, Western Rocky, McLeod Island, North and South Twin, Shark Cave, Nga Man Island, High Rock, and Black Rock
- Nitrox available for enriched air certified divers
- Thai, Burmese, and international main meals
- VIP cabins have ensuite bathrooms
- Multi-lingual crew of 11
- 1 life raft
Myanmar Liveaboard Dive Boat Comparison Table
| MV Miss Moon | MV Deep Andaman Queen | SY Diva Andaman | MV Dolphin Queen | MV Sea World I | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  |
|
| Length | 18 m | 22 m | 35 m | 24 m | 22 m |
| Guests | 10 | 28 | 15 | 22 | 22 |
| Crew | 6 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 11 |
| Equipment | $16/day | $19/day | free (includes computer) | $41/day (includes computer) | $16/day |
| Nitrox | no | $8/tank or $19/day | $7/fill | $6/tank (if available) | $8/tank |
| Single R. | +100% | +90% | +50% | +80% | +50% |
| Price/Day | $180 | $166 | $277 | $105 | $149 |
| Burma South | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Mergui Arch. | yes | no | no | no | no |
| Thai Sites | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| MV Miss Moon | MV Deep Andaman Queen | SV Diva Andaman | MV Dolphin Queen | MV Sea World I |
Myanmar Diving Photography
With the pristine coral reefs, biodiversity including rays, turtles, sharks, macro critters, and reef tropicals, there are many excellent photo opportunities. For information and reviews of dive cameras, click here:
Scuba Diving Trip Insurance
A cushion for emergencies provides peace of mind when on vacation. I recommend this diving insurance as they have worldwide coverage and provide scuba divers a quality insurance and medical assistance service.
Feedback and Comments
I hope you found this post on Myanmar liveaboards interesting and useful. If you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments section. I’d love to know of any experience you have. If there is no comments section directly below, click here: >>comments<<
Your site is a scuba diver’s dream come true, and that is exactly how I felt when I found your site. You have listed so many awesome places to go, and each page gives so much detail, pictures and videos. It’s awesome, and it’s going to make it much easier for us to choose our next destination. Thank you so much for putting all of this valuable information in one place.
Hi Babsie,
Thanks for your kind comments. If you have any questions or would like any further information regarding liveaboards, diving equipment, or anything related to scuba diving, please get in touch.
Good luck in your diving.
Best regards,
Joe
My wife and I have been taking some diving classes and are super excited to get out in the water. For an adventure like this, is there a certain skill level required or can someone new do this? Also, is there an area or tour that would be best for newbies? The videos you included look absolutely amazing, and I am seriously jealous LOL. I can’t believe this area has only been open since 1997, that is pretty amazing. Thank you so much for putting this detailed review together. I can’t wait to hear back so we can start planning our trip.
Hi Steve,
Thanks a lot for your kind comments and questions.
These Burma tours are suitable for and will accept newly certified open water divers. Generally, though, they will follow the training organization guidelines and ask you to limit your depth to 18 meters (60 feet). If you have substantial experience shown in a logbook and/or an advanced certification, they will allow deeper more challenging dives.
There is a lot of great diving very suitable for relative beginners, so I wouldn’t hesitate to book a spot on a liveaboard. You’ll have a great time.
If you have any other questions about anything related to diving, please get in touch.
Best regards,
Joe