Mergui Archipelago
Myanmar · Andaman Sea
The Mergui (Myeik) Archipelago is 800 islands in the Andaman Sea off southern Myanmar — barely explored, accessed only by liveaboard from Thailand, with reef shark aggregations, manta rays, and the occasional whale shark. The marine park feels untouched because it largely is.
How this reef is doing
ⓘ How we measure thisReef state
Remote, lightly dived. Cover holds up better than at the more trafficked sites further south.
Coral cover
Fish life
Heat
No unusual heat right now.
Fishing
Some fishing is allowed here, in marked zones.
Sources · MERMAID and partner coral surveys · NOAA Coral Reef Watch · Global Fishing Watch and reef gravity
What you will see
35 species across the dive sites here
Barrel Sponge
Seen year round
at Sail Rock
Bigeye trevally
Seen year round
at Western Rocky
Least concern
Black Coral
Seen year round
at Western Rocky
Black Coral Tree
Seen year round
at Sail Rock
Blackspotted Pufferfish
Seen year round
at Shark Cave
Least concern
Bluefin Trevally
Seen year round
at Three Islets
Least concern
Giant grouper
Seen year round
at Western Rocky
Giant Sea Fan
Seen year round
at Three Islets
Golden Trevally
Seen year round
at Three Islets
Least concern
Great barracuda
Seen year round
at Black Rock
Least concern
Grey reef shark
Seen year round
at Black Rock
Endangered
Hard Coral (Acropora)
Seen year round
at Shark Cave
Leopard Shark
Seen year round
at Western Rocky
Least concern
Longface Emperor
Seen year round
at Three Islets
Least concern
Nurse Shark
Seen year round
at Three Islets
Vulnerable
Round Batfish
Seen year round
at Three Islets
Least concern
Sea fan coral
Seen year round
at Western Rocky
Silvertip shark
Seen year round
at Black Rock
Vulnerable
Soft Coral
Seen year round
at Shark Cave
Southern Stingray
Seen year round
at North Twin Pinnacle
Near threatened
Spotted eagle ray
Seen year round
at Black Rock
Endangered
Table Coral
Seen year round
at North Twin Pinnacle
Endangered
Whitetip Reef Shark
Seen year round
at Shark Cave
Vulnerable
Wire Coral
Seen year round
at Three Islets
Black Tip Reef Shark
Seasonal visitor
at North Twin Pinnacle
Vulnerable
Bumphead parrotfish
Seasonal visitor
at Western Rocky
Vulnerable
Giant oceanic manta ray
Seasonal visitor
at Black Rock
Endangered
Guitar Shark
Seasonal visitor
at Shark Cave
Oceanic Whitetip Shark
Seasonal visitor
at Western Rocky
Critically endangered
Peacock Mantis Shrimp
Seasonal visitor
at Shark Cave
Scalloped hammerhead shark
Seasonal visitor
at Western Rocky
Critically endangered
Silky Shark
Seasonal visitor
at Western Rocky
Vulnerable
Whale shark
Seasonal visitor
at Black Rock
Endangered
Yellowface Angelfish
Seasonal visitor
at Shark Cave
Yellowtail Barracuda
Seasonal visitor
at North Twin Pinnacle
Least concern
Dive sites
Black Rock
giant oceanic manta ray · whale shark · silvertip shark · grey reef shark
Three Islets
nurse shark · giant sea fan · golden trevally · round batfish
Western Rocky
scalloped hammerhead shark · whale shark · grey reef shark · silvertip shark
Shark Cave
whitetip reef shark · nurse shark · guitar shark · blackspotted pufferfish
Sail Rock
silvertip shark · whitetip reef shark · whale shark · giant sea fan
Western Rocky
oceanic whitetip shark · silky shark · leopard shark · great barracuda
What divers say
We didn't see another dive boat for six days. That alone is becoming impossible elsewhere.
Good to know
Visa
Most trips check you out of Thailand and into Myanmar at sea — your operator handles paperwork.
Political situation
Check current advisories before booking. Conditions on the ground have been unstable.