Pufferfish contain tetrodotoxin, a substance that makes them foul tasting and often lethal to fish. To humans, tetrodotoxin is deadly, up to 1,200 times more poisonous than cyanide. There is enough toxin in one pufferfish to kill 30 adult humans, and there is no known antidote.
Burma Itinerary C2: 5 Days / 6 Nights on board
This itinerary is the second half of the 9 day 10 nights Similan/Burma cruise. We offer this option for those divers who do not have the time to take part in the Similan section but wish to dive in Burma, or have dived Similan before and would rather spend their 4 days lounging on the beach. The trip departs from Ranong which is around 5 hours by car from Phuket. The best way to get there is to fly to Phuket where Aquamarine divers will then transfer you to the Port of Ranong.
On boarding SY Philkade and getting an orientation from the dive crew you will check out of Thailand and into Burma, followed by an overnight cruise up into the Mergui Archipelago. There follows 4 days of fantastic diving in the middle of nowhere! On the way south we will check back into Thailand and cruise south via Richelieu Rock, Ko Tachai and Ko Bon, an awesome way to end any dive trip!!
During the Burma trip you will dive sites such as Shark Cave, Black Rock, North Twin, Western Rocky, and St George's Rock. There is a great mix here of hard and soft coral reefs, pinnacles (both submerged and not), with several large and spacious cavern type swimthroughs. Though the marine life in previous years has suffered in Myanmar through unchecked fishing practices, this now seems to be under control if the 2007-08 season is anything to go by. There were large numbers of fish on all sites with Snapper, Surgeon Fish, Goat Fish, Barracuda, Batfish, and many more all well represented. The macro life is excellent here too with a large variety of Nudibranchs plus Sea Horses, Ghost Pipefish, Cowries, and Shrimp in every crack and crevice.
The shark numbers seem to be rising as well. Though many outdated books overstate the case, 2007-08 produced the goods with a couple of Whale Sharks, Manta Rays, White Tip Reef Sharks, Grey Reef Sharks, Nurse Sharks, and even a few Eagle and Manta Rays.
We encourage all our guests to visit land whenever possible between dives (either by tender or kayak), and though the travelling in the Mergui Archipelago does reduce these chances, we still try to time the trip so you can go ashore at least once if you wish. On checking out of Burma there may also be the chance to visit the port of Kaw Thaung for that authentic border town experience.
The final days diving in Thailand offers arguably three of the best dives from the Similan itinerary. With dives on Richelieu Rock, Ko Tachai Pinnacle and Ko Bon West Ridge you have the chance of Leopard Sharks, Manta Rays, Sea Horses, Great Barracuda, and large schools of vastly varied reef fish.
For more information on diving from SY Philkade and travelling to Thailand and Burma see our Travel Facts and FAQ section..
| Departure Day | ||||||
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| 12:00 PM | Pick up from the hotel or airport in Phuket and transfer by minibus to Port of Ranong | |||||
| 4:00 PM | Pick up from the hotel or airport in Ranong and transfer by minibus to Port of Ranong | |||||
| 6:00 PM | Port Clearance, Check out of immigration in Ranong (Thailand) and check in immigration in Kaw Thaung (Burma) | |||||
| 7:00 PM | Orientation, boat & crew introduction, dinner while making way north into the Mergui Archipelago | |||||
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| Arrival Day | ||||||
| 6:00 AM | Arrive Chalong Bay | |||||
| 8:30 AM | Transfer to the hotel/airport after Breakfast | |||||
Remark : All itineraries are subject to changes without notice based on the weather conditions.
To make an enquiry about this trip, contact SY Philkade.