This was the last Burma liveaboard trip for the season, and it certainly started well, with excellent Manta action at Koh Bon! Three big individuals stayed with us for two full hours. Shame we won’t be back here until November…

Anyway, after a couple of very productive dives at Richelieu Rock, we headed for the Mergui Archipelago. First day was spent at Three Islets, the rocky outcrops just north of Great Swinton Island. Plenty of Seahorses, both Tigertails and Thorny, Harlequin Ghost Pipefish, Bent Stick Pipefish, Devil Scorpionfish and schooling Barracudas made for a spectacular day’s diving. And the nightdive here turned out to be the best of the trip, with Spanish Dancers, Sponge Crabs and hunting Moray Eels.

All the way up north, at Tower Rock, we encountered lots of Mobula Rays, with up to 20-25 of them together! And a massive Grey Reef Shark thrown in for good measure…

The usual big shools of Jackfish, Rainbow Runners, African Pompanos and Barracudas turned up at Black Rock, and we swam with these before spendng the afternoon at a beautiful beach a few hours away. No sunbeds, no vendors, no nothing!

At Fanforest Pinnacle, we saw three Leopard Sharks, two Seahorses and a glorious turquoise and red Devil Scorpionfish.

Nearby Western Rocky delivered mating Cuttlefish, blue-legged Hermit Crabs, nice Nudibranchs and a white Thorny Seahorse.

We managed to time the, sometimes wicked, currents at Moulin Rouge, and had a very relaxed dive with, probably, the best soft corals of the entire trip. Plus Bumphead Parrotfish, Marble Rays and nice Nudibranchs.

The season ended in style, with a fantastic dive at East of Eden in the Similan Islands. We found not one, but TWO of the extremely rare ”Bunny” nudibranchs (Thecacera), one of them laying eggs! And next to them was a black Frogfish, perfectly camouflaged, as it sat in its sponge. Also Giant Spearing Mantis Shrimps, Jawfish and two baby Whitetip Sharks under a table coral.

Lovely weather on the way back to Phuket, and everybody busy sharing photos from this Grand Finale of the Burma Season. But we’ll be back again in November for more great liveaboard diving in Thailand and Burma.