Conditions referenceSeason, water and visibilityBest Dec–Apr · Strong current · 24–30°C (coldest Jan, warmest Apr)
- Current
- Strong
- Water temperature
- 24–30°C (coldest Jan, warmest Apr)
- Visibility
- 5–40m: Published range is 5–40m and it genuinely spans that.
- Experience
- Operators require Advanced Open Water and a minimum of about 30 logged dives, and expect comfort in current.
01 · Marine life
What you may see
Sightings are never guaranteed. The bars show typical likelihood by month.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | occasional |
| February | peak season |
| March | peak season |
| April | occasional |
| May | occasional |
| June | destination closed |
| July | destination closed |
| August | destination closed |
| September | destination closed |
| October | destination closed |
| November | rare |
| December | rare |
Black Rock is the site.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | rare |
| February | occasional |
| March | occasional |
| April | rare |
| May | rare |
| June | destination closed |
| July | destination closed |
| August | destination closed |
| September | destination closed |
| October | destination closed |
| November | rare |
| December | rare |
Mobula thurstoni is a supporting species for the Black Rock & the Twins ISRA.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | occasional |
| February | occasional |
| March | occasional |
| April | occasional |
| May | occasional |
| June | destination closed |
| July | destination closed |
| August | destination closed |
| September | destination closed |
| October | destination closed |
| November | occasional |
| December | occasional |
Seen in the blue at Shark Cave, Black Rock and the Banks.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | occasional |
| February | occasional |
| March | occasional |
| April | occasional |
| May | occasional |
| June | destination closed |
| July | destination closed |
| August | destination closed |
| September | destination closed |
| October | destination closed |
| November | occasional |
| December | occasional |
Indo-Pacific leopard shark, Stegostoma tigrinum, listed as a supporting species for the Black Rock & the Twins ISRA.
02 · Dive sites
Dive sites worth knowing
A starting point, not a ranking. Conditions decide what works on the day.
Black Rock
A single exposed limestone rock in open water, sloping to reef and sand.
5–40m · Strong current
Burma Banks
Only a few itineraries still include the Banks because of the distance and the fuel cost.
15–40m · Strong current
Fan Forest Pinnacle (Rocky Peaks)
A shallower pinnacle site that shows what Mergui does well when the big animals do not turn up.
5–25m · Strong current
See all 7 dive sites
03 · LogisticsGetting there and costsDemanding. Fly to HKT. Typical trip $$–$$$.
Route overview
Demanding
Liveaboard only, with a 10h open-ocean crossing to reach the diving.
Airport options
HKT
Phuket International Airport
Nearest international airport. Operators run shared road transfers of roughly 5–6 hours north to Ranong on embarkation day; Thai exit formalities are done at Ranong immigration.
UNN
Ranong Airport
Domestic Thai airport, served from Bangkok; about 30–40 minutes from Ranong port, the usual departure point for Mergui liveaboards.
KAW
Kawthaung Airport
Domestic Myanmar airport at the border town where liveaboards clear Myanmar immigration; almost never used by divers, who arrive by boat from Ranong.
Typical trip cost
$$–$$$
$2,000–4,000 to over $4,000
Per person, excluding international flights.
- Master Liveaboards lists Mergui 10-night trips at roughly $2,625–3,950 per person depending on season and cabin, excluding flights.
- Shorter 8-day itineraries from Ranong-based operators sit lower.
- There is no land-based or day-trip alternative.
Permit or park fee
What you pay
Roughly $300–350 per person in Myanmar entry and permit fees on a 10-night itinerary, plus a $50 Myanmar visa and a mandatory ~$50 Myanmar insurance policy, all payable in cash in pristine US bills. Published fee scales run $180 for 6 days to $280 for 9 days. These are paid to Myanmar government agencies and a state-owned insurer.
How it works
Most operators require a $50 Myanmar e-visa plus a mandatory Myanmar insurance policy of about $50; at least one operator states a visa is not needed for liveaboard-only trips, so confirm with your boat.