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 Mergui Archipelago
> Island in Mergui Archipelago |
Location:
There are so many islands lying between North Lat 5ÿ
38' to 11ÿ in Kawthaung district. Among them, some
islands have the beautiful sandbanks, clean water,
seacreatures and animals that catch the tourists’
eyes. They are as follow: -
1. Nyaung Wi archipelagoes (Palu Bada)
2. Bo Cho island (Punala)
3. Long island (Lampi)
4. Ko Fot island (Ku Bo)
5. Wali island (Wale)
6. Ganzar Gyi island (Kan Za Gyi)
7. Fila 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 Licence 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 seightseeing
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 archipelagoes ( 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 metres 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.
-
There
is a foot path on the first sandbank. If you
follow it about 20 minutes, you will get to the
sandbank in the northen part of the island where
you can see some Monetor Lizards and snakes.
-
Normally, the two-seater fibre 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.
-
There
are a lot of Coral reefs between the sandbank
and the stopover. So it is a good place for
snorkelling.
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 metres deep and
less Coral Reefs so, it is not very good for
snorkelling 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
ottors 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 evining.
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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 and Three islands are in the
west.Enter the passage either side of the small rock
island and south of the drying rock in mid-channel.
Anchor in 4 – 7 metres 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 Buddist temple
welcomes all; educational gifts of pencils, pens,
exercise pads and sweets are a favourite with the
children. Take your camers, 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 ticky from the
east, as there are several submerged rocks, not show
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)
-
It is
very good shalter for the bad weather.
A-mile-long-sandbank is in the southern island
and about 6 to 8 metres 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.
-
A
Salon (Sea Gypsies) village called Majhonkalet
is in the northen island where you may learn
their way of life and take picture.
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It is
about 8 metres 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) |
 |
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
-
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 metres 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.
-
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, Monetor Lizards, Snakes,
Mouse, Deers, Monkeys, Swines, Porcupine and
Armadilloes.
Birds:
Horn Bills, King Fishers, Kates 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
A 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 tike it so much because of the 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 ebb, 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
-
 It
is a residance for Salon, Sea Gypsies because
there are plenty of oyslers and Seacucumbers
about this island. When I went there with a
group of tourists in 2001, I saw a flock of Hon
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 Hon 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.
-
There
are some fresh water well in the south island so
some Salon stay there.As a shallow island I will
show you two stopovers that are 5 to 8 metres
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 Waali island. So, it is a very
good shalter like a lake although the bad
weather broke out. Some Salons live there. Fresh
water wells can be seen there.
-
The
stopovers are shown on the map and 10to12metres
deep. Can go along the mangrove creek and get to
a small mountain, 385metre height,also enjoy the
beauty of Lampi,Waali,Kanzargyi and Black
islands on it.
-
When
the tide ebb,a troop of monkeys, searching for
the crabs and oysters as well as many birds,
especially sea eagles can be seen there.
-
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 metres 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 very protected piece of water of ouystanding
beauty and is a good place to spot monkey, wild
pigs, hornbills, sea eagle and other creatures of
the Archipelago.
G. Wa Ale island.
-
 The
stopover is in the western Wa Ale which is 10 to
15 metres deep.It is blue water and full of
Coral Reefs,so it is the best place for
snorkelling.2. It is also a good place for
Surfing when the tide up,the waves come on the
shore.
-
As the
wild animals live there,the footprints of
animals can be seen on the white snad beach.
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The
nust intereating thing is that Sea Turtles lay
eggs on it.
-
Hikking through the foot path can arrest the
tourists.
Sandbank and water:
White sand and blue water.
Wild Life:
Cats, Monetor Lizards, Snakes, Monkeys, Swines,
Mouse Deers and Birds.
Coral Reefs:
Snokelling 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
Snokelling is very good. A lot of fish live
there, sometimes Sharks can be seen.
-
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–easten Ganzar Gyi
It is very good for adventure trip. There are some
Salons’s residences in the bay, some banana plams
and plum trees are behind them which is a safe place
to anchor in the open season.
-
It is
also a special place for snokelling because of
Coral Reefs. A mile-long beach is in the
northen, 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 metres deep.
-
A
half-mile-long beach, snokelling 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 metre
deep.
-
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, Monetor Lizards and Snakes.
Birds
Kates, Sea Eagles
Cave Archipelagoes
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Me
Carthy Island
It is a long Island, about 400 metres-long
sandbank is in the eastern Me Carthy Island, a
snokelling site that is 10 to 15 metres deep. A
small mount, diving site is in the Southen
Island.
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Steward Island
Only diving site not for a good shalter 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 Hourse 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 metres from the beach which is 8 to 10
metres deep. The beach is about one mile long and
has a mangrove river, can enter by fibre 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 honging Parrots,
Sondpipers, Cuckoos, Basras and Red wattled lopwings
lived there 20 years ago.
Coral Reefs
So many hard and saft corals to anchor in both sides
of the bay. A good snokelling 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 rockey
mountains. The best anchorage is, 15 metres deep,
one hundred metres from the sandbank. A frest 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 anchorges is about 8 to 10 metres
deep. A lot of Great Horn Bills go back their nests
at sunset.
D. Marble Island
-
It is
very unusual, U-shaped in the southern island.
The rockey mount stands visibly on it and a
small snadbank is on the right. The anchorage is
about 9 to 10 metres deep.
-
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.
-
The
birds are making the nests in the two caves
where the rocks look like banyan tree, elephant
and bottle can be seen.
-
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 years 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.
-
Three
villages are on Pintaung Island, the villagers’
main business is catching the prawns and export
them. Myanmar Japanease Joint Venture Peral farm
is also in the south-western Marble Island so it
is an important island for the business in Myeik
archipelagoes.
Bentick
Island
-
West Bay
A special place to go around by fibre kayat, the
anchorage is about 10 metres deep. Although the
beach is small, big shaddy trees are good for
B.B.Q.
East
Sula
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East Bay
The beaches are in the east and the rockey
mountains are in the west. It’s a deep sea and
Crystal water. The anchorage is about 30 to 36
metres deep. A snokelling 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
metres.
Prinsep
Island
-
It has
a 150 feet Tower Rock in the northen Prinsep so
it is an unusual island in Myeik archipelagoes.
The anchorage is 30 to 35 metres 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.
-
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 metres deep, a hundred metres
from the sandbanks.
-
It is
the best shalter during the monsoon. The
anchorage is 10 to 12 metres deep and 75 metres
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
Monetor. Lizards, Swines, and monkeys.
-
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
metres deep and a long sandbank in the north-western
bay. A good snokelling site because of white sand
and coral reef. No anamils 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 metres 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 metres from the Navigation
Light is Shallow see. Move the boat till horizonal
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
metres deep.
The diving sites in Kawthaung district
-
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
-
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
-
Western Rocky
-
Sea
Fans Pinnacle
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Boulder Rock
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Maccarthy Rock
-
Stewart Rock
-
Cavern
Rock
-
High
Rock
-
Rocky
It
-
Shark
Cave
-
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 seacrestures including sharks live in
it. So it is a popular dive site for the divers
Seacreatures
-
Manta
-
Lepard
Shark
-
Grey
reef Shark
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Nurse
Shark
-
Snapper
-
Barracuder
Water
Very clean and good.
Sea Fans Pinnacle
The Pinncle 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.
Seacreatures
-
Aa
abundance of Leopard Sharks
-
Big
eyes Trevally Fishes
-
Barracuder
-
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
-
Barracudas
-
Large
Snappers
-
Black
Spolled Stingrays
-
Scorpion Fishes
-
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 northen and southern Mc Carthy Rock, are
not very good for the green divers because of the
strong current.
Creatures under water
-
Scorpion Fish
-
Stone
Fish
-
Moray
eels
-
Shark
Water
Sometimes clean but sometimes not
Three Sisters (Covern 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.
Seacreatures
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
-
Tuna
-
Travally
-
Wahoo
-
Grey
reef sharks
-
Nurse
Sharks
-
Manta
Ray
-
Sea
Sharks
-
Stone
Fish
-
Sea
Horse
-
Currer
Fish
-
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 metres deep.
Seacreatures
Tuns, Wahoo, Lepard 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 metres deepest and the deep
area is 26 to 35 metres when you away from the dive
site.
Creatures
Leopard Shark, Bull Sharks, Grey reef Shark, Schools
of Snapper, Groupers fish, Eagle Rays.
Dive site in Myeik District
-
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.
-
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:
-
Black Rock
-
Submarine Rock
-
North East Little Torres
-
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, Monta Rays, Lobsters and
fishes.
Elether Island North West Bay
A good place for Noght Dive and 10 to 22 metres
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.
|
SYMBOLS |
|
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. |
|
Night
Anchorage Secure anchorages suitable for
overnight stop.Refer to the text for
seasonal clarification. |
Snorkeling
Areas where coral growth and fish life, are
at a depth suitable for snorkeling. Water
clarity is reasonable in good conditions. |
 Restaurant
Covers all kinds of local restaurants from
simple food stalls to international standard
hotels. |
Diving
Locations where coral, fish life, and
underwater topography create an interesting
dive site within easy reach of the
anchorage. |
|
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. |
 Fuel
supply Locations where diesel or gasoline
can be bought in small quantities and
carried in jerry cans-unless otherwise
indicated in text. |
 Telephone
A minimum standard telephone linked to the
Thai System. |
|
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