So far we are a group of 7 starting this trip from Hong Kong and we still have vacancy.
If you are interested feel free to contact me.
Video with some impressions of the dive trip and route
Tour operator
The Smiling Seahorse Burma Dive Boat
6 days, 5 nights dive cruise
Start
Sunday, January 29th 2017 from Ranong
(Please arrive before 12.00 pm (noon))
End
Friday, February 3rd, 2017
arriving in Ranong at about 6.00 pm (evening)
Cost (Dive Cruise only)
37,000 THB + 5% payment/bank charges = 38,850 THB
(Includes only dive cruise, not including flights, transport to Ranong, hotels, visas, diving fee or extras as mentioned below)
Included in cruise price
• on average 3 dives per day, 18 in total
• Accommodation and full board on the boat (Breakfast, Lunch, afternoon bites, Dinner, prepared by the Thai on board chef)
• Soft drinks, drinking water, filter coffee & tea
• Fresh fruits, yoghurt & snacks
• 12 Litre Aluminium Cylinders, Weights & Weight Belt for all dives
• PADI Professional Dive Guide
• Towel, shower gel
• Sea kayak and hammock
Not included in cruise price
• Burmese entry and diving Fees:
170 US$ per person
• Personal insurance
• Alcoholic drinks and cigarettes
• Equipment rental (500 THB / day)
• Dive Computer (300 THB / day) or camera
(400 THB / day) rental
• PADI Continuing Education Courses
• Nitrox (250 THB per tank or
3,400 THB for whole trip)
• Transfers to and from Ranong as well as accommodation in Ranong
Itinerary (Suggested for people departing from Hong Kong)
Friday, January 27th, 2017
Flight to Bangkok (BKK Suvarnabhumi Airport)
e.g. Cathay CX617
departing Hong Kong at 9.35 pm, arriving 11.35 pm
or Emirates EK385
departing Hong Kong at 9.15 pm, arriving 11.15 pm
Check-in to hotel in Bangkok
· Hotel TBC, likely somewhere in the city so there’s a chance we could still go out Friday night
Saturday, January 28th, 2017
Flight to Ranong (close to the Thai-Burmese border)
· Flight leaves from DMK (Bangkok Don Mueang airport)
· there is one (very early) morning flight and one evening flight
· Nok Air flight DD 7318 departing at 17:05, arriving in Ranong at 18:30 booked by three participants already
· Round-trip Bangkok DMK - Ranong may currently costs around 125 USD
Check-in to hotel in Ranong for one night
· Hotel TBC, likely close to the dive center shop where we meet the next day
Sunday, January 29th, 2017 (As provided by cruise operator)
Meeting at dive shop and start of the dive cruise
· We are meeting at the Dive Shop (The Smiling Seahorse: 170 Ruangrat Road, Ranong) at 12.00 pm on this day of departure and will arrange a transfer from the office to the boat at 2.00 pm.
· At the dive shop we will have time to try equipment before we go to our boat MV Thai Sea. Before departure comes the Thai immigration officer on board and will stamp us out of Thailand. Then the boat will take us to Kawthoung where we will get our visa for Burma and permit to visit the archipelago. Officer will come onboard to control that all the papers are in order. Then it's time for departure: We will do a little ceremony to launch the trip and present the crew at sunset before having dinner.
Monday, January 30th, 2017 (As provided by cruise operator)
· The first day of diving will be in an area rich in macro life visiting High Rock or rocky point where we can often spot rays and cobia as well as a lot of small stuff hiding in the coral. It's a good day to test your eyes! Here we can find all the special things like Pipefish, Pineapple Fish, Frogfish, Seahorses and many different species of Nudibranches.
· We will also show you one of the dive sites we recently discovered with a tunnel often inhabited by the soft giants nurse sharks and do the night dive around Spanish garden, which we named that way because of the many Spanish dancers residents.
Tuesday, January 31st, 2017 (As provided by cruise operator)
· We will spend the day around Shark Cave, with 3 dive sites to explore after second dive we will find a bounty beach where we can get some sand between our toes.
· If you're lucky: Manta Ray, Eagle Ray, Whale Shark, Grey Reef Shark, Nurse Shark and big blotched stingray…
· Even if you are unlucky with the big stuff: Ghost pipefish, harlequin shrimps, frogfish, seahorse and gorgeous coral everywhere.
· For the night dive, you can pick your favorite of these three dive sites and you are sure to have an awesome time. Shrimps are everywhere your eyes look and we often spot Spanish dancers and other big nudibranch here too.
Wednesday, February 1st, 2017 (As provided by cruise operator)
· Today we're diving around North Twin. Our furthest point on this cruise which usually offer the best visibility and the highest chance for pelagic. Chance to see Manta Ray, Eagle Ray, Whale Shark, Grey Reef Shark, Nurse Shark, Zebra Shark and giant Sea Fans...
Thursday, February 2nd, 2017 (As provided by cruise operator)
· The first dive will be around Sea Fan forest a gorgeous site with giant seafan like nowhere else on one side and purple vibrant soft coral on the overs. We have seen up to 4 whales sharks at the same time on this site so we might stay for another dive here if they are around or we will do the next 3 dives around Western Rocky which is also absolutely amazing.
· One of the highlights is a tunnel that goes all the way through the island inhabited by many lobsters.
· We have spotted here various shark species (Bowmouth Guitar Fish, Whale Shark, reef sharks) and often have resident Harlequin Shrimps, frogfish and Seahorses and a lot of shrimp and crab species are represented…
Friday, February 3rd, 2017 (As provided by cruise operator)
Last day of diving
· The first dive goes into a volcano where a group of black tip sharks likes to hang around and the other one or two will be in the same area rich in macro life. Here the question is not if you will see a seahorse. the question is how many? up to 10 per dive if you have good eyes as well as rare species such as shaded batfish, comet long fins or pineapple fish.
· After the last dive we will head back toward Kaw Thoung where there will be opportunity to explore the market or enjoy the smiling seahorse’s hospitality with a beer in the local pub.
· Once we got our passports back by the Burmese authorities, we will sail back to Thailand where we get a new visa. (30 days for G8 countries passport holders, 14 days for the others getting visa on arrival)
· We will come back to Ranong around 6.00 pm
Check-in to hotel in Ranong for one night
Saturday, February 4th, 2017
Flight back to Bangkok DMK
Nok Air flight DD7313 at 07.40 am, arriving Bangkok DMK 09.10 am
Spend the day in Bangkok and could go out together with the group at night.
Check-in to hotel in Bangkok, hotel TBC but again likely somewhere in the city.
Sunday, February 5th, 2017
Inbound flights
· e.g. Cathay Pacific CX700 to Hong Kong,
leaving Bangkok (BKK) at 08.25 am
· or Emirates EK 384 to Hong Kong,
leaving Bangkok (BKK) at 1.45 pm
If you are interested feel free to contact me.
Video with some impressions of the dive trip and route
Tour operator
The Smiling Seahorse Burma Dive Boat
6 days, 5 nights dive cruise
Start
Sunday, January 29th 2017 from Ranong
(Please arrive before 12.00 pm (noon))
End
Friday, February 3rd, 2017
arriving in Ranong at about 6.00 pm (evening)
Cost (Dive Cruise only)
37,000 THB + 5% payment/bank charges = 38,850 THB
(Includes only dive cruise, not including flights, transport to Ranong, hotels, visas, diving fee or extras as mentioned below)
Included in cruise price
• on average 3 dives per day, 18 in total
• Accommodation and full board on the boat (Breakfast, Lunch, afternoon bites, Dinner, prepared by the Thai on board chef)
• Soft drinks, drinking water, filter coffee & tea
• Fresh fruits, yoghurt & snacks
• 12 Litre Aluminium Cylinders, Weights & Weight Belt for all dives
• PADI Professional Dive Guide
• Towel, shower gel
• Sea kayak and hammock
Not included in cruise price
• Burmese entry and diving Fees:
170 US$ per person
• Personal insurance
• Alcoholic drinks and cigarettes
• Equipment rental (500 THB / day)
• Dive Computer (300 THB / day) or camera
(400 THB / day) rental
• PADI Continuing Education Courses
• Nitrox (250 THB per tank or
3,400 THB for whole trip)
• Transfers to and from Ranong as well as accommodation in Ranong
Itinerary (Suggested for people departing from Hong Kong)
Friday, January 27th, 2017
Flight to Bangkok (BKK Suvarnabhumi Airport)
e.g. Cathay CX617
departing Hong Kong at 9.35 pm, arriving 11.35 pm
or Emirates EK385
departing Hong Kong at 9.15 pm, arriving 11.15 pm
Check-in to hotel in Bangkok
· Hotel TBC, likely somewhere in the city so there’s a chance we could still go out Friday night
Saturday, January 28th, 2017
Flight to Ranong (close to the Thai-Burmese border)
· Flight leaves from DMK (Bangkok Don Mueang airport)
· there is one (very early) morning flight and one evening flight
· Nok Air flight DD 7318 departing at 17:05, arriving in Ranong at 18:30 booked by three participants already
· Round-trip Bangkok DMK - Ranong may currently costs around 125 USD
Check-in to hotel in Ranong for one night
· Hotel TBC, likely close to the dive center shop where we meet the next day
Sunday, January 29th, 2017 (As provided by cruise operator)
Meeting at dive shop and start of the dive cruise
· We are meeting at the Dive Shop (The Smiling Seahorse: 170 Ruangrat Road, Ranong) at 12.00 pm on this day of departure and will arrange a transfer from the office to the boat at 2.00 pm.
· At the dive shop we will have time to try equipment before we go to our boat MV Thai Sea. Before departure comes the Thai immigration officer on board and will stamp us out of Thailand. Then the boat will take us to Kawthoung where we will get our visa for Burma and permit to visit the archipelago. Officer will come onboard to control that all the papers are in order. Then it's time for departure: We will do a little ceremony to launch the trip and present the crew at sunset before having dinner.
Monday, January 30th, 2017 (As provided by cruise operator)
· The first day of diving will be in an area rich in macro life visiting High Rock or rocky point where we can often spot rays and cobia as well as a lot of small stuff hiding in the coral. It's a good day to test your eyes! Here we can find all the special things like Pipefish, Pineapple Fish, Frogfish, Seahorses and many different species of Nudibranches.
· We will also show you one of the dive sites we recently discovered with a tunnel often inhabited by the soft giants nurse sharks and do the night dive around Spanish garden, which we named that way because of the many Spanish dancers residents.
Tuesday, January 31st, 2017 (As provided by cruise operator)
· We will spend the day around Shark Cave, with 3 dive sites to explore after second dive we will find a bounty beach where we can get some sand between our toes.
· If you're lucky: Manta Ray, Eagle Ray, Whale Shark, Grey Reef Shark, Nurse Shark and big blotched stingray…
· Even if you are unlucky with the big stuff: Ghost pipefish, harlequin shrimps, frogfish, seahorse and gorgeous coral everywhere.
· For the night dive, you can pick your favorite of these three dive sites and you are sure to have an awesome time. Shrimps are everywhere your eyes look and we often spot Spanish dancers and other big nudibranch here too.
Wednesday, February 1st, 2017 (As provided by cruise operator)
· Today we're diving around North Twin. Our furthest point on this cruise which usually offer the best visibility and the highest chance for pelagic. Chance to see Manta Ray, Eagle Ray, Whale Shark, Grey Reef Shark, Nurse Shark, Zebra Shark and giant Sea Fans...
Thursday, February 2nd, 2017 (As provided by cruise operator)
· The first dive will be around Sea Fan forest a gorgeous site with giant seafan like nowhere else on one side and purple vibrant soft coral on the overs. We have seen up to 4 whales sharks at the same time on this site so we might stay for another dive here if they are around or we will do the next 3 dives around Western Rocky which is also absolutely amazing.
· One of the highlights is a tunnel that goes all the way through the island inhabited by many lobsters.
· We have spotted here various shark species (Bowmouth Guitar Fish, Whale Shark, reef sharks) and often have resident Harlequin Shrimps, frogfish and Seahorses and a lot of shrimp and crab species are represented…
Friday, February 3rd, 2017 (As provided by cruise operator)
Last day of diving
· The first dive goes into a volcano where a group of black tip sharks likes to hang around and the other one or two will be in the same area rich in macro life. Here the question is not if you will see a seahorse. the question is how many? up to 10 per dive if you have good eyes as well as rare species such as shaded batfish, comet long fins or pineapple fish.
· After the last dive we will head back toward Kaw Thoung where there will be opportunity to explore the market or enjoy the smiling seahorse’s hospitality with a beer in the local pub.
· Once we got our passports back by the Burmese authorities, we will sail back to Thailand where we get a new visa. (30 days for G8 countries passport holders, 14 days for the others getting visa on arrival)
· We will come back to Ranong around 6.00 pm
Check-in to hotel in Ranong for one night
Saturday, February 4th, 2017
Flight back to Bangkok DMK
Nok Air flight DD7313 at 07.40 am, arriving Bangkok DMK 09.10 am
Spend the day in Bangkok and could go out together with the group at night.
Check-in to hotel in Bangkok, hotel TBC but again likely somewhere in the city.
Sunday, February 5th, 2017
Inbound flights
· e.g. Cathay Pacific CX700 to Hong Kong,
leaving Bangkok (BKK) at 08.25 am
· or Emirates EK 384 to Hong Kong,
leaving Bangkok (BKK) at 1.45 pm
