Liveaboard Diving
Myanmar FAQs
Travel
Guests joining Myanmar itineraries are advised to fly into Phuket and arrive at least one day before embarkation.
Transfer from Phuket to Ranong, and vice versa, takes 5-5 ½ hrs; Please take this into consideration when arranging inbound and outbound flights.
You should also allow at least 2½-3 hrs for international flight check-in and 1½-2 hrs for domestic flights.
To enable enough time for Immigration clearance in Ranong before embarkation at 12:00, transfers from Phuket pick-up from two locations only (close to the airport) at 05:00 and 05:30 in the morning.
We do not recommend flying into Ranong, unless you will be arriving at least one day before embarkation. There is only one flight per day and arrival time is too late for pre-embarkation formalities.
Itineraries that include Myanmar embark and disembark from a port in Thailand, so you will need entry clearance for both countries. Passport holders of most Western countries are eligible for a Thailand visa upon arrival which permits a single stay of up to 30 days in Thailand. However, upon re-entry to Thailand from Myanmar guests will only be issued with a 15 day permit to remain in Thailand. Therefore, please ensure your onward departure from Thailand is no longer than 15 days after disembarkation.
Guests who need to apply for a visa prior to travelling to Thailand, or who will be staying in Thailand for more than 15 days after their Myanmar trip must ensure that they obtain a MULTIPLE ENTRY visa from their nearest Royal Thai Embassy or Thai Consulate otherwise will not be allowed back into Thailand.
Guests are not required to obtain a visa for Myanmar before they arrive; our Operations Team and local agent will make the necessary arrangements on your behalf and add the 50 USD visa fee to your onboard bill.
You will need to provide a clear, colour photocopy of your passport ID (bio-data) page, a recent passport size colour photograph (4.6 cm x 3.8 cm), your home address and departure flight details as these are needed for the Myanmar visa application. Please make sure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months after the duration of your stay in Thailand.
No inoculations or vaccinations are required unless you are coming from or passing through contaminated areas. However, we strongly advise that you check with your nearest travel clinic for up to date information and recommendations. https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/156/myanmar-burma#Vaccine_recommendations
Please make sure you use insect repellent and cover exposed skin to reduce the risk of Dengue Fever and other insect borne diseases.
If you are travelling with medication, please ensure to bring your physician’s prescription with you.
Country Information
Diving around Mergui Archipelago and Burma Banks offers amazing topography and abundant marine life. Due to the exposed nature and depths of many of the dive sites, the diving is generally only suitable for divers with Advanced Open Water certification and experience in currents.
Much like Thailand, the climate around Southern Myanmar and the Mergui Archipelago is subtropical/tropical and has three seasons, determined by the northeast and southwest monsoon periods.
November to February is the cool ‘winter’ season followed by a progressively hotter summer period from March through May and a rainy season from June to October.
The best time for cruising and diving around the Mergui Archipelago is from December to April when the seas are usually calmest and visibility is at its best.
During this period, daytime temperatures average around 33-34°C (91-93°F), with significantly cooler nighttime temperatures of around 24-25°C (75-77°F).
Water temperatures in the Mergui Archipelago average around 28°C (80F), although sometimes you may experience thermoclines.
Although Myanmar has no official religion, nearly nine-tenths of the population is Buddhist. Burmese is the official language spoken by about two thirds of the population, although most also speak English.
The local currency is the Myanmar Kyat (MMT). However, since our itineraries start and end in Thailand and you will be spending most of your time onboard the liveaboard vessel, you will not need any MMT – which is very hard to get hold of. On the islands that we may visit during the cruise, they will happily take USD or Thai Baht.
Healthcare in Myanmar is ranked among one of the the lowest in the world. Both public and private hospitals are understaffed due to a national shortage of doctors and nurses and lack many of the basic facilities and equipment. We would recommend evacuation to Thailand for any medical problems.
Coverage is very limited and patchy in Mynamar.
A Thai SIM card will have reception while the vessel is close to Ranong or Kawthaung but, beyond that, there is no mobile network coverage at all, even with a Myanmar SIM.
There is no air ambulance service and, in case of a diving accident, the vessel will need to return to Thailand before the patient can be transferred to a Thai recompression chamber in Phuket.
Insurance which covers such eventualities is mandatory.
During Your Trip
A single 11 Litre (80 cuft) aluminium cylinder with air fills, weights and weight belt is provided free of charge.
We can provide rental equipment for those who need it for an extra charge which includes:
- 3mm shorty wetsuit
- BCD – not weight-integrated
- Regulators – complete with alternate air source and depth/pressure gauge console
- Mask and snorkel
- Fins – full foot or open heel and boots depending on availability
- Underwater torch/flashlight
- Dive computer*
- 13 Litre (100 cu ft) cylinders by special request and depending on availability
*The use of a dive computer is compulsory on Thailand Master.
Please pre-book rental equipment and cylinders at the time of confirming your liveaboard holiday, as they are subject to availability.
There is no free Wifi available on board. If our guests needs internet access, we suggest they buy a Thai sim card with data package upon arrival in Thailand. However, once you leave the port in Myanmar, you will be out of range for the duration of the trip. We have a satelitte phone for emergencies.
The vessel is on 220V and has power outlets typical to Thailand which will accommodate Type A, C, E & F plugs. Please bring adaptors as there are non available on board.
Meals are provided on a full board basis including a light breakfast, full breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks with unlimited drinking water, tea, coffee, fruit juices and soft drinks.
Our chefs will prepare a sumptuous selection of international and locally inspired dishes, which are served buffet-style in the outdoor dining area. We can cater to most dietary requirements with advance notice, although there may be some limitations.
Local beer (lager) and red or white wine are available onboard for an additional fee but there are no spirits. However, guests are welcome to bring a bottle of their favourite tipple should they wish to do so.
Smoking is permitted in the designated, outdoor areas only.
Cannabis is not allowed on board.
On our Myanmar itineraries, we usually organise two land visits on each trip. Guests have the opportunity to visit a Moken community on one of the islands and we arrange a beach visit and barbeque (weather permitting) for the last night of the trip.
Marine Park and Port fees for Myanmar itineraries are dependent on the trip duration and cover port and Mergui Archipelago entrance fees. The applicable amount will be added to your invoice as an onboard payment at the time of booking your liveaboard.
PLEASE NOTE: The fees do not include the Myanmar visa cost, which is an additional 50 USD.
On board extras such as equipment rental, nitrox, drinks and other services can be paid for by card or in cash.
Cash payments for can be accepted in THB, USD, EUR, AUD and GBP. Credit cards (Mastercard and Visa only) are accepted with a 3.5% surcharge.
We believe that tipping is a matter of personal choice; Should you feel that our crew has made your holiday extra special, they will certainly appreciate a tip as a sign of your appreciation. An envelope will be provided by your cruise director at the end of your itinerary and all gratuities will be divided equally amongst all crew, including the captain and dive guides.
If you are unsure how much to tip, we suggest 5-10% of the liveaboard cost. Tips can only be accepted in cash.
