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 Mergui Archipelago
> Island in Mergui Archipelago |
Location:
There are so many islands lying between North Lat 98.38' E to 11N in Kawthaung district. Among them, some islands have the beautiful sandbanks, clean water, sea creatures and animals that catch the tourists’ eyes. They are as follow: -
1. Nyaung Wi (Palu Bada)
2. Bo Cho island (Punala)
3. National Marine Park or Long Island (Lampi)
4. Ko Fot island (Ku Bo)
5. Wa Ali island (Wale)
6. Ganzar Gyi island
(Kan Za Gyi)
7. Phila island (Gt
Swinton)
8. Big Cave island
(Cavern)
9. Ba Wei island
(Steward)
10. Bo Wi island (Mc Carthy)
How to get there from Kawthaung
1. In January 1997, Ministry of Hotel and Tourism issued the Tourist Transport Business License to three companies in Phukat, Thailand. Nowadays, there are 34 companies set up their business for the trips.
2. Those companies have arranged two types of the trip. The first trip is that four days in Thailand and five days in Myanmar, altogether nine days but you have to check in when you get to Myanmar. The second trip is that you go to Ranaung by boat then take by speed boat to Kawthaung (Myanmar) and apply for Visa. After that go sightseeing around the islands by yachts.
3. The local companies also arrange for the trips
and go sightseeing around the islands by motor
boats.
Security
We haven’t found any problem for the tourists for eight years. Some adventures visited the far-flung islands but they didn’t find any insurgent group. That’s why the archipelagoes in Kawthaung district are very save for the tourists and enjoy their holidays very happily.
About islands:
1. Nyaung Wi ( Palu Bada)
There are three major islands in Palu Bada. They are as follow –
(A) No . 115 island.
(B) Po Ni island
(C) Big Naung Wi island
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A. No . 115 island (Frost Island) |
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It is 39 miles from Kawthaung and a stopover for
any yacht which is about 15 meters deep. There
are three white-sandbanks in the eastern No. 115
island. It is a very save island for the bad
weather and has crystal water.
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There is a foot path on the first sandbank. If you follow it about 20 minutes, you will get to the sandbank in the northern part of the island where you can see some Monitor Lizards and snakes.
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Normally, the two-seater fiber kayaks are used for the yacht trip. There is a Swallow Birds’ cave that is 15-feet in height and 8-feet wide, It is twenty minutes by boat and can enter in it.
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There are a lot of Coral reefs between the sandbank and the stopover. So it is a good place for snorkeling
Sandbank
White sand and crystal water.
Coral and fishes
Hard coral and small colourful fishes.
Birds
Hom Bills, King fisher, Swallow, Bat, Kate and Sea
Eagle .
B. Po Ni island
It’s a very beautiful place and has three sandbanks
in the western island. It’s about 12 meters deep and
less Coral Reefs so, it is not very good for
snorkeling but good for fishing. There is a small
mount with Coral Reefs in the southern island. So
some tourists dive there. Some small caves are on
the island but no wild animal. In 1998, five sea
otters were seen there.
C. Nyaung Wi island (Palubada)
A
big island and Salon race (Sea Gypsy) live on it.
They are no permanent residence, so they usually
come back in the rainy season. The rest of the
times, they travel by boat. A one mile-long-beach, a
creek and many Mangrove trees beside it are in the
western Palubada. If you go by small boat along the
creek, you will see so many birds, monkeys, swines
and snakes there. Especially, a flock of Hom Bills
are flying in the evening.
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Bo Cho island ( PuNala) 10.41.00N 98.16.006E/4 mile from Lampi |
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After Nyaung Wi island is Big Bocho island which is
made up of Linshu, Gugyi. The village called Makyone
Galet can be accessed by a narrow passage. In
western part of Bo Cho island located three small
islands and each side are full of small rock .In the
south also scatters with the drying rock in
mid-channel. Anchor in 4 – 7 meters on a muddy
bottom. The current can run up to 3 knots at mid-
tide, so try plan around this for easier anchoring;
put out plenty of chain. Beat to anchor opposite the
small village on the north of Pu Nala. This village
is the only habitation in the area and is definitely
worth a visit. The local monk at the Buddhist temple
welcomes all; educational gifts of pencils, pens,
exercise pads and sweets are a favourite with the
children. Take your cameras, as these scenes may
astonish even the most experienced traveler.
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A.
PULAU LABIAUNG (Linshu island )(10.37.00N
98.14.50E 5 mile from Lampi) |
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It is a beautiful island for round shaped sandbank
in the eastern and pine trees on it but water is
clean enough for swimming. A fairly small island,
but notable for the beach on the eastern side. A
superb sandy spit is great for general beach visits
and swimming. Be warned that a strong current sets
just off the shore. Access to the beach is tacky
from the east, as there are several submerged rocks,
not showing on the charts for the area.
B.
Gugyi island
As shallow water and rocks, it is not very
interesting but used it a stopover.
C.
3-Islands
It is shallow water and rocks as well, not very
interesting, only a stopover.
D.
Bocho island (Punala)
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It is very good shelter for the bad weather.
A-mile-long-sandbank is in the southern island
and about 6 to 8 meters deep.
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There are two small islands in the east of Bocho
island where a troop of monkeys are searching
for the crabs when the ebb tide.
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A Salon (Sea Gypsies) village called Makyone
Galet is in the northern island where you may
learn their way of life and take picture.
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It is about 8 meters deep but make sure before anchoring because of the strong current.
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Many tourists have been taking great interest in that island for learning Sea Gypsies.
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Lampi The west coast of lampi (50 miles from
Kawthaung) |
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Lampi is the most popular island for the tourists in
Kawthaung archipelago. This island is rich of many
wild animals, Mangrove rivers, birds, clean water
and Coral Reefs. It will take three days in Lampi to
see in detail. There are nine different parts in it.
They are as follow-
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South Mangrove River
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Middle River
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No. 60 Island
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Crocodile River
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Ko Fot Island
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Salet Galet
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Wa Ale
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South Kan Zar Gyi Island
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North Kan Zar Gyi Island
A.
SOUTH MANGROVE RIVER
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The stopovers are about five to ten meters deep. Normally, wait there till the tide up. Then continue
upstream the river by fiber boat. According to the tourists, the roots of mangrove trees are the shelters for the fishes and prawns to breed and grow up, also protect from the strong wind. So, mangrove trees shouldn’t be deforested.
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If you upstream the mangrove river, you will see thousands of mangrove trees, birds, orchids, pythons sleeping in the tree, playful monkeys in the tree and other wild animals. When I went there with three tourists in 1999, I saw the foot prints of the elephants. The fishermen said, “there are two elephants on Lampi Island, never disturb anyone.” I saw them again in March, 2001 while I was taking a walk on the beach in Lampi.
Sandbank and Water
White sand and Long beach. Muddy water when tide up
and down. Normally, water is clean.
Wild Animals
As the island is big, there are so many wild animals
on it such as elephants, Monitor Lizards, Snakes,
Mouse, Deers, Monkeys, Swines, Porcupine and
Armadillos.
Birds:
Horn Bills, King Fishers, Kites and Sea Eagles.
B. Middle Mangrove River
 Has
two good stopovers. Can see many mangrove trees,
birds and wild animals if you follow the first
creek. The tourists really enjoy it because of
walking on the beach and taking the boats around the
island. According to the fishermen, the elephants
usually live near the middle river but never disturb
anyone. Sometimes the elephants swim and walk on the
sandbank.
C. No. 60 Island
Small round shaped and white sand, so the tourists
have lunch and take a rest there. After getting up
they do snorkeling because the water in the east is
full of Coral Reefs. Several fishes and lobster are
seen there. It’s a small island, no wild animals but
the tourists like it so much because of Crystal
Water.
D. Crocodile River
The old fishermen said, “there were a lot of
crocodiles there.” It’s about 3-miles long and many
mangrove trees beside the river. If you go there by
boat when the tide ebbs, monkeys searching for the
crabs are seen. It is the most interesting island
because of sleeping pythons in the tree, swimming
fishes, singing birds and blooming orchids
E. Kubo Island
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It is a residence for Salon, Sea Gypsies because
there are plenty of oysters and Sea cucumbers
around this island. When I went there with a
group of tourists in 2001, I saw a flock of Horn
Bills, about one hundred, came to it in the
evening .The nests of Hon Bills are there. So it
is the only island in Myeik archipelagoes where
many Horn Bills can be seen as well as can take
the most beautiful pictures there.
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At the there big trees on the north island, about 2000 fly foxes or fruit Bats were resting .I saw many fly foxes searching for the food at about 6:00 pm. It’s a very beautiful island especially a moonlit night; so many tourists enjoy it very much.
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There is some fresh water well in the south island so some Salon stay there. As a shallow island, two stopovers are 5 to 8 meters deep.
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F. Salet Galet (10.53.00N 98.05.00E)14 mile from Lampi |
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It is between lampi and Wa Ali Island. So, it is a very good shelter like a lake although the bad weather broke out. Some Salons live there. Fresh water wells can be seen there.
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The stopovers are shown on the map and 10 to12 meters deep. Can go along the mangrove creek and get to a small mountain, 385 meter height, also enjoy the beauty of Lampi, Wa Ali, Kanzargyi and Black islands on it.
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When the tide ebbs, a troop of monkeys, searching for the crabs and oysters as well as many birds, especially sea eagles can be seen there.
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As a peaceful place, Wild life and Crystal water, it becomes a tourist attraction.
The channel of water separating the island of Lampi and Wa-Ale Kyun is about 150 meters wide and about 2 miles long. On another side, the channel is banked with steep sloping rainforest and by fringing coral reef below. Anchorage is safe to sit out any storm. It is a much protected piece of water of outstanding beauty and is a good place to spot monkey, wild pigs, hornbills, sea eagle and other creatures of the Archipelago.
G. Wa Ale island.
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 The stopover is in the western Wa Ale which is 10 to 15 meters deep. It is blue water and full of Coral Reefs, so it is the best place for snorkeling. It is also a good place for Surfing when the tide up, the waves come on the shore.
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As the wild animals live there, the footprints of animals can be seen on the white sand beach.
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The most interesting thing is that Sea Turtles lay eggs on it.
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Hiking through the foot path can attract the tourists.
Sandbank and water:
White sand and blue water.
Wild Life:
Cats, Monitor Lizards, Snakes, Monkeys, Swines, Mouse Deers and Birds.
Coral Reefs:
Snorkeling and diving are available because of the hard and soft corals.
H. South-Western Ganzaw Gyi island:
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Clear water and have so many Coral Reefs that Snorkeling is very good. A lot of fish live there, sometimes Sharks can be seen.
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There is a huge tree in the western small white sand bank, a good please to rest in the easy chair under it.
I. North–eastern Ganzar Gyi
It is very good for adventure trip. There are some Salon’s residences in the bay, some banana palms and plum trees are behind them which is a safe place to anchor in the open season.
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It is also a special place for snorkeling because of Coral Reefs. A mile-long beach is in the northern, Gt Swinton. So, it is very beautiful. There is a diving site, on a mount, three miles from it. Some companies called it Shark Cave after the cave and sharks under water which is 8 to 10 meters deep.
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A half-mile-long beach, snorkeling place is in the South-western Gt. Swinton. A mount is in the southern Island.
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About a mile-long beach is in the North-eastern Island , has a lot of coral reefs and 9 to 12 meter deep.
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Boywe Island, a fresh-water-well, is located in the South of Gt. Swinton where the fishermen fetch water and take a bath.
Beach and Water
White sand and Crystal Water.
Coral
Hard Coral.
Wild Animals
Swines, Monitor Lizards and Snakes.
Birds
Hawk, Sea Eagles
Cave Archipelagoes
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Me Carthy Island
It is a long Island, about 400 meters-long sandbank is in the eastern Me Carthy Island, a snorkeling site that is 10 to 15 meters deep. A small mount, diving site is in the Southern Island.
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Steward Island
Only diving site not for a good shelter as well as the animals can be seen.
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Cavern Island
It is a beautiful island, some streams and waterfalls are on it. A beach is in the Southern Island, can go up and enjoy many beautiful islands.
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High Rock
A small island with a little mount in the Southern High Rock. So Many tourists love to dive there besides Sea Horse can be seen there.
Dommel Island
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A. Anakena Bay |
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It is a beautiful bay in Myeik archipelagoes and has an anchorage 200 meters from the beach which is 8 to 10 meters deep. The beach is about one mile long and has a mangrove river, can enter by fiber boat, is in the southern island. So many birds and some wild animals can be seen.
Animals
According to fishermen, many wild animals like Swines, Buffalos, Hon Bills, Green honking Parrots, Sandpipers, Cuckoos, Basras and Red rattled lopwings lived there 20 years ago.
Coral Reefs
So many hard and soft corals to anchor in both sides of the bay. A good snorkeling site and rich of so many fishes.
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B. Antarctica Bay (Avelin Hill) |
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Three sandbanks in the bay are parted by small rocky mountains. The best anchorage is, 15 meters deep, one hundred meters from the sandbank. A fresh water stream is flowing in the western island, for the fishermen to fetch the water. It is also a special place for watching the birds such as Chinese Ponds, Herons, King Fishers, Horn Bills and Asian brown flycatchers.
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C. Yannekee Bay |
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A very beautiful place, can be seen a wide sandbank when the tide ebbs. The anchorages is about 8 to 10 meters deep. A lot of Great Horn Bills go back their nests at sunset.
D. Marble Island
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It is very unusual, U-shaped in the southern island. The Rocky Mount stands visibly on it and a small sand band is on the right. The anchorage is about 9 to 10 meters deep.
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If you go in by fiber boat, the nest cave is on your right about there two men live in the small huts. They show the way to the cave and explain about bird nest.
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The birds are making the nests in the two caves where the rocks look like banyan tree, elephant and bottle can be seen.
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A big flat stone is between the entrance of the cave and sandbank. The native people believe that ladies can’t step on it. Three years year ago, a girl from their village stood on and took picture, passed away two days later.
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Many tourists enjoy it very much for the beautiful cave, interesting facts and attractive island.
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Three villages are on Pintaung Island, the villagers’ main business is catching the prawns and export them. Myanmar Japanese Joint Venture Pearl farm is also in the south-western Marble Island so it is an important island for the business in Myeik archipelagoes.
Bentick Island
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West Bay
A special place to go around by fiber kayat, the anchorage is about 10 meters deep. Although the beach is small, big shady trees are good for B.B.Q.
East Sula
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East Bay
The beaches are in the east and the rocky mountains are in the west. It’s a deep sea and Crystal water. The anchorage is about 30 to 36 meters deep. A snorkeling site and some birds can be seen there.
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Fletcher
It is a special place for Night dive, soft and hard corals and a lot of fishes are there, also has beach in the Southern Fletcher so can stay overnight there. The anchorage is 15 to 20 meters.
Prinsep Island
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It has a 150 feet Tower Rock in the northern Prinsep so it is an unusual island in Myeik archipelagoes. The anchorage is 30 to 35 meters deep and between two islands, also have Diving site there. The villagers are farmers, gardeners and fishermen. They use water buffaloes when they plough.
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The mangrove trees and a herd of swines can be seen in the easten Peinspe island. A waterfall is in the end of the mangrove forest.
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A Salon village, 100 people live there. That’s why a nice place to learn about the tradition and culture of those people.
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A special place to take refuge for the monsoon. There are three small sandbanks and the anchorage is 15 meters deep, a hundred meters from the sandbanks.
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It is the best shelter during the monsoon. The anchorage is 10 to 12 meters deep and 75 meters from the sandbank. A small fishermen village is in the southern sandbank. Can go the mangrove river by fiber kayat and see some animals like Monitor. Lizards, Swines, and monkeys.
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The pearl farm is in the southern island. A joint Venture in Myanmar and Australia company operate it and can visit there.
Thaninthayi Island
A stopover to get to Myeik. An anchorage is 15 meters deep and a long sandbank in the north-western bay. A good snorkeling site because of white sand and coral reef. No animals except birds there.
Approach to Mergui (Myeik) Port
On the way to Myeik port, head for between King Island and Iron passage, especially for the big ships. It is a safe way but be careful of the strong currents and strong eddies. After those islands go straight to Navigation Light (F1-8m). The nearer to the light, shallower the sea is. So, for the big ships have to wait till the tide goes up. It is about 5 meters deep about the light. After that light, manage to find a Navigation Light at the pot in Myeik but hard to find it. If so, use the binoculars and look for the pagoda at the top of mountain first, the light is down near that pagoda. Be careful! Around 150 meters from the Navigation Light is Shallow see. Move the boat till horizontal line with a standing Buddha image on your right, then turn the boat to Pahtaw Pahtat Pagoda. The best stopover is the opposite of the reclining Buddha image on the Pahtaw Island where the beauty of Myeik port and Buddha Image can be seen. It is about 12-15 meters deep.
The diving sites in Kawthaung district
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According to the foreign divers, the diving sites in Myeik archipelagoes are as beautiful as other famous international diving sites because of the hard corals and Sea Fans. Nowadays, the good reputation of the Mergui Archipelago and diving sites are more and more popular
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I would like to mention the popular dive sites in Kawthaung and Mergui Archipelagoes. The dive sites on the map are mentioned just about under water.
Dive Sites
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Western Rocky
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Sea Fans Pinnacle
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Boulder Rock
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Mc Carthy Rock
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Stewart Rock
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Cavern Rock
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High Rock
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Rocky Island
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Shark Cave
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South Twin
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North Twin
Westren Rocky
“Western Rocky stands at number 4 in the world,” said dive master. The entrance of the cave is in the south and many sea creatures including sharks live in it. So it is a popular dive site for the divers Sea creatures
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Manta
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Leopard Shark
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Grey reef Shark
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Nurse Shark
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Snapper
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Barracuder
Water
Very clean and good.
Sea Fans Pinnacle
The Pinnacle dive site is located five miles to the north of the Western Rocky. It is a huge rocky under water and has a mass of sea fan in the east but it is very deep and stone in the north and south.
Sea creatures
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An abundance of Leopard Sharks
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Big eyes Trevally Fishes
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Barracuder
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Whitetip reef shanks
Boulder Rock
The corals are in the north-eastern island and the best location for the drive is in the east and west.
Creatures
Nurse shanks, Eagle Rays, Barracudas and Grey reef shanks.
Water
Blue water. Dive site ratio is 6/10.
Steward Rock
There are many different spot corals of various colours on the wall which is 18-meters deep, in the western drive site. Some soft corals and sea fans are among the boulders that are 26-meters deep and three swin-throughs are still there where the divers can take a swim.
The creatures under water
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Barracudas
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Large Snappers
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Black Spotted Stingrays
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Scorpion Fishes
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Moray eels
Water
Sometimes clean but sometimes not.
Mc Carthy Rock
Boulder and soft Corals are in the western dive site, More boulders and soft corals sea fan can be seen in the northern and southern Mc Carthy Rock, are not very good for the green divers because of the strong current.
Creatures under water
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Scorpion Fish
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Stone Fish
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Moray eels
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Shark
Water
Sometimes clean but sometimes not
Three Sisters (Cavern Island)
A lot of reefs are in the west and the boulder are in the south.
Creatures
Scorpion fish, Sting Rays, Snappers, Moray eels.
Water
Sometimes it is blue colour but sometimes muddy.
High Rock
A tiny island with a lot of Sea fans around it. You can see Sea Horse whenever you dive there.
Creatures
Sea Horses, Snappers, Grouppers and Lion fish.
Rocky Island
It is a shallow dive site but the divers enjoy it very much for riches of sea fans, hard corals and soft corals like a Corals Garden.
Sea creatures
Barracudas, Rays, Ghost pipe fish, Star fish.
Shark Cave
As the clean water, hard corals and soft corals, it is the best dive site in Myeik archipelago. A cave is under water where so many kinds of fishes especially Nurse Sharks can be seen permanently.
Creatures There
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Tuna
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Travally
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Wahoo
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Grey reef sharks
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Nurse Sharks
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Manta Ray
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Sea Sharks
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Stone Fish
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Sea Horse
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Currer Fish
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Squid
Lobster
South East Point (South Twin)
It is a boulder dive site where very soft sea fans can be seen among the boulder, very clean blue water, see though 25 meters deep.
Sea creatures
Tunas, Wahoo, Leopard Shark, Moray eels, Small fishes and especially Lion fish can be seen.
Twin Cheeks (North Twin)
A plateaux dive site. A lot of fishes, sea fans and sharks are in the northern dive sites where the shallow part is 9 to 12 meters deepest and the deep area is 26 to 35 meters where
it is a bit far from the dive site.
Creatures
Leopard Shark, Bull Sharks, Grey reef Shark, Schools of Snapper, Groupers fish, Eagle Rays.
Dive site in Myeik District
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Not many dive sites in Myeik archipelago, only good for the adventure trip. As the green water, the divers are not very interested in that area.
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As rich of Marine life, hard corals, Soft corals, sea fans and blue water some dive sites are very popular among the divers. They are as follows:
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Black Rock
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Submarine Rock
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North East Little Torres
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Flether Point
Black Rock
The rock wall is in the east and Sea fans and Corals are in the north and east. A lot of Manta Rays were seen there in 1997-98. Nowadays, so many different sharks and few Manta Rays are still there.
Marine Life
Different kinds of Sharks, Manta Rays, Lobsters and fishes.
Flether Island North West Bay
A good place for Night Dive and 10 to 22 meters deep, has many corals and sea fans but no shark.
Middle Little Torres Submarine Rock
When you see it at first sight as if a submarine is floating. It has different Rock Reefs from the other dive sites and can be seen Rays, fishes and sharks.
North East Little Torres
The best dive site in Myeik district. A lot of corals are in the western island like a garden. During the open season, Manta Rays, Devil Rays and Eagle Rays are around there
Marine Life
Sharks, Rays, Lobsters and Turtles.
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SYMBOLS |
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Day Anchorage Locations where anchoring is feasible but where the vessel should not be left unattended. Not usually recommended for overnight stop. |
 Provisions Indicated populated areas ashore where shops or markets can supply a minimum standard of provisioning.
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Night Anchorage Secure anchorages suitable for overnight stop. Refer to the text for seasonal clarification.
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Snorkeling Areas where coral growth and fish life, are at a depth suitable for snorkeling. Water clarity is reasonable in good conditions
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 Restaurant Covers all kinds of local restaurants from simple food stalls to international standard hotels.
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Diving Locations where coral, fish life, and underwater topography create an interesting dive site within easy reach of
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Water Supply Indicates the availability of well water, fresh water streams and occasionally tap water. If on a jetty or a marina it is mentioned in the text. |
 Transport Access ashore to tuk-tuks, or local buses.
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 Fuel supply Locations where diesel or gasoline can be bought in small quantities and carried in jerry cans-unless otherwise indicated in text.
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 Telephone A minimum standard telephone linked to the Thai System. |
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Habitation Any form of dwelling or village. Does not imply shop or restaurants. |
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What to see there (Islands in Mergui Archipelago).pdf