Burma liveaboards

[Robl]

Hi

Can anyone recommend a liveaboard that goes to the Burma Banks (Myanmar) area during December and January? Our last attempt ended in disaster due to the Asian tsunami and a very dodgy dive operator/boat combo. Thanks in advance.

[stevenl]

There are not that many boats going to Burma, but there still are quite a few options.

My recommendations:
Santana Discovery
Mermaid I, although I don't like the organisation too much lately;
Panunee,
Philkade,
Nautica.

Philkade is by far the best boat, the Discovery is the cheapest option, the Nautica IMO a good alternative. And there are more options of course.

[scuba_finn]

Hi, you could try Worldwide Dive and Sail | Liveaboard diving, scuba courses and sailing | Phuket Thailand - we went on a trip (boat is called Sampai Jumpa) to the Similan and Surin islands last December and they were about to run their first trip up to Burma (leaving from Thailand but they would help arrange visas etc). Really good bunch of people - the owner is a crazy Dutch guy called Frank, the other dive guides were great too, and the food was fabulous... not the most luxurious cabins (no en-suites) though.

I'm not sure if they're still running Burma trips but worth checking out... good luck!

[Pro Dive Europe]

Might want to think about the human rights issues, FCO advice on travelling there and the current regime and why there are no international operators there.

To quote a UK organisation. Burma is ruled by one of the most brutal military dictatorships in the world; a dictatorship charged by the United Nations with a “crime against humanity” for its systematic abuses of human rights, and condemned internationally for refusing to transfer power to the legally elected Government of the country – the party led by Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

The Burma Campaign UK Home Page

These views are the views of the author and not of Pro Dive International.

[Kalahari Diver]

I have to agree, Burma seems to the sort of place you should think very carefully about before spending money there.

David.

[John Gulliver]

Originally Posted by Kalahari Diver

I have to agree, Burma seems to the sort of place you should think very carefully about before spending money there.

David.

But do the liveaboards from Phuket that go to Similan, Surin and the so-called Burma Banks actually enter Burmese waters? I did one of these cruises about 10 years ago and seem to remember being told that we were never in Burmese waters. The trip was great, by the way. We saw lots of big silvertips at close range on the banks.

[stevenl]

But do the liveaboards from Phuket that go to Similan, Surin and the so-called Burma Banks actually enter Burmese waters? I did one of these cruises about 10 years ago and seem to remember being told that we were never in Burmese waters.

Yes, almost directly North of Richelieu Rock Burmese waters start. These days the liveaboard boats even have a Burmese 'guide' on board.

I have no problems with diving there, since no money is spent in Burma. What is bothering me though is the 150 US$ entrance fee everybody has to pay, because this goes directly to the regime there, only for allowing you to dive there.
The diving can be excellent and very disappointing, really a hit or miss matter.