DIVE ADVICE TRAVEL

A Note from Dom

Divers never tire of Thailand's multiple attractions, particularly those around the Similan & Surin Islands and

Richelieu Rock, but further afield you can also dive the alluring Burma Banks and the Andaman Islands, which are actually Indian islands, and accessed through Port Blair, India..

Thailand is known for magnificent hard & soft corals lure exquisitely-colored fish into their gardens on the protected side of the islands. Then, in the strong currents on the open-water side, particularly at Richelieu Rock, the diving is vastly different. These waters host a long list of big fish including barracudas, jacks, tuna and trevally and are graced by visits from migrating Whale Sharks and Manta Rays in the spring months. The Burma Banks & the Mergui Archipelago also offer quite unusual underwater landscapes with exciting diving.

And should you wish to venture further afield in the Andaman Sea, the Burma Banks, Mergui Archipelago and the Andaman Islands offer exciting diving to add to your repertoire in this region.

Liveaboard diving here is the best way to go for serious divers, and I'm happy to say that there are three boats I can recommend highly - the Siren, the Mermaid I and the Mermaid II. You'll find information on these boats by clicking here.

But first, I'd like to add that the magic of the undersea world here is matched by the gracious beauty of the Thai culture & history. Having had the incredibly good fortune of spending 10 amazing weeks touring much of Thailand, exploring land and sea, and I highly recommend that your trip to Thailand include more than diving if you can possibly take the extra time.

It's another world, a world well-worth experiencing, and one I would, with pleasure, help you to access.

Cheers, Dom

Thailand, Andamans and Burma Overview

In THAILAND, the hot spots for divers are the Similan and Surin Islands, Richelieu Rock & Elephant Head.

The Similan Islands, nine granite islands, covered in dense jungle and ringed by sandy bays are located some 80-100 kilometres off the island of Phuket, Thailand. The Similans offer a sumptuous variety of diving for experienced divers in the strong currents of the eastern shores, but for all divers and even snorkelers on the western sides. You'll find enormous granite boulders, descending down to 40 meters with swim-throughs, caves and tunnels, making the diving more challenging.

The serious adrenaline rush comes on the western slopes in the strong currents created by the waters meeting these massive rocks. Diving is challenging but rewarding, offering more swim-throughs and plenty of colorful reef fish, including sharks, and sting rays amongst the larger categories, but also eels and a variety of critters, such as Ghost Pipefish, frogfish and ribbon eels Even on this side of the islands you’ll find sponges and gorgonians that will take you breath away.

Adding to the excitement, you'll find that at the right time of the year you're in one of top locations for Whale Sharks and Manta Rays. Richelieu Rock, which is covered in soft corals, hosts a vast array of fish: Moorish Idols, Bearded Scorpion fish, Titan Triggerfish and Lionfish, crabs and nudibranchs to name just a few.

And as major food supply is not abundant in this sea, it's quite natural that the pelagics would find their way here to fill their bellies. You'll run into jacks and tuna and trevallies, rainbow runners, great barracuda, plus the delight of the mating cuttlefish in addition to Wale Sharks and Manta Rays.

Elephant Head is another favorite site with more boulders, swim-throughs with caverns, arches and grottoes to explore. Soft corals & hard corals abound, schools of Yellowtail Snappers and Yellowtail Fusiliers, Imperial and Emperor Angelfish, Leopard Sharks.

THE BURMA BANKS & MERGUI ARCHIPELAG0 are largely know for shark encounters. The islands themselves are pretty well uninhabited and untouristed.

The four banks, Silvertip, Rainbow Reef, Roe and Big Banks, have raging currents which have cut ethereal oral underwater formations sporting incredibly large table corals. A large tunnel runs right through Western Rocky Island, which houses sleeping Nurse Sharks and countless crayfish. In addition to the Nurse Sharks, you almost certain to see Bull Sharks, Grey Reef Sharks, Black tips and White tips.

More of the same at Black Rock but adding to the wonder are scores of Manta Rays, Marbled Rays, Jenkins’ Rays and the rare Mangrove Ray, schooling Mobula Rays and Spotted Eagle Rays.

ANDAMAN SEA

The Andaman Islands cover an area of just over 8,000 sq km, and with 500 islands, islets and rocky outcrops in the archipelago (just 26 islands are currently inhabited).

Many of the islands in the Andaman area are surrounded by reefs which can be several hundred metres wide and separated from the shore by a lagoon of similar width. There are also steeply sloping reef walls & coral pinnacles or knolls. Divers can cruise around hills of black volcanic lava and find large pelagics: sharks, large schools of hammerheads, Grey, White tip, Nurse and Leopard sharks, Silvertips and Oceanic White-tips are sometimes seen.

You'll be fascinated by the cleaning stations where giant barracuda wait for their teeth to be cleaned. Enormous manta rays, bumphead parrotfish and napoleon wrasse are also often seen, sometimes by the dozens.

Siren . . . Mermaid I . . . Mermaid II

Siren

The SY Siren is 34 meters and takes 16 guests to ensure plenty of space for everyone. However, she has facilities and ample room to host up to 18 guests on special charters.

She travels to several select dive locations - depending on the time of year - Komodo, Thailand, Burma Banks, Malaysia, and the Andaman Islands.

She and her sister boats, which are virtually identical in appearance, are traditional Indonesian ‘gaff-rigged Phinisi’ schooners, handcrafted from ironwood and teak and are custom-made with all luxury facilities for the modern diver. To top it all off, they have been specially outfitted with the modern underwater photographer and videographer in mind.

All cabins can be twin or double and have extras including bathrobes, hair dryers, towels, individually controlled mood lighting and individual controls for your air-conditioning.

Each cabin is fitted with an individual computer and multiple power sources to facilitate the needs of digital photography. The computer features high-end specifications and 20” high-definition flat screen, which is integrated with the yacht's network server in the saloon Workstations for the preparation and maintenance of cameras including prep and storage areas.

For more details, see our dedicated Siren page by clicking here >>>

Mermaid I

M/V Mermaid I is specializing this year in Burma Banks & Andaman Islands itineraries, with visits to Bali & Komodo, in June through October.

She's a comfortable 28 metre steel motor yacht, with accommodation for 15 guests in 1 Master State Room (king bed), 1 Single and 4 Deluxe Cabins (double or twin beds) and 2 Budget Cabins (double/twin beds) below deck.

The top deck cabins have en-suite bathrooms, refrigerators and panoramic sea view windows. The cabins below are also en-suite with refrigerator. All cabins have TVs so you can review your pictures, DVD access, bathrobes & toiletries.

There is a wide stern dive platform with two exit ladders and fresh water showers. 4 camera rinse tanks and large camera table will please all photographers. Delicious Thai and western meals are served and the new barbeques are also a great hit!

Two outside decks give everyone plenty of space to relax between dive. EANX NITROX is available on every cruise.

Mermaid II

M/V Mermaid II specializes in Thailand itineraries and follows her sister ship to Indonesia, Bali & Komodo in the June - October period.

Mermaid II is a 32 metre steel motor yacht and one of the most comfortable dive boats in Thailand. She easily accommodates 16 guests in 8 deluxe cabins and 2 guests in a budget cabin below deck.

Like her sister ship, all deluxe cabins are on the main deck with large panoramic sea view windows. Each cabin has a double bed and single bed (max pax 2 per cabin), air conditioning, private en-suite bathrooms.

The cabin below deck has twin bunks, air conditioning and share bathroom with 1 other cabin.

She has a wide stern dive platform with two exit ladders and fresh water showers. The dive deck is huge with plenty of room to gear up, individual boxes for your dive gear, camera table and loads of rinse tanks.

The dining room is located on the main deck where delicious buffet style Thai and western meals are served. The saloon is large and spacious with lounge suites and big windows, bar fridge, tea and coffee facilities, TV/DVD, music center, library and a full selection of marine life books.

Again, two outside decks provide all the comforts you desire between dives. EANX NITROX is available on every cruise.