Mergui Dive Sites
Northern Rocky
The Mergui Archipelago
Located 1 km to the west of MacLeod Island, this limestone rock resembles a ship's sail as you approach from the north. It is a rocky wall dive with jumbled boulders spreading outwards at deeper depths, down to around 35 metres. If you like the colour orange you'll love this dive site as orange fan corals and cup corals cover much of the wall. Gorgonian seafans are also numerous, crinoids clinging to them, and hawkfish residing on them.
Entry is normally on the exposed western side, close to the wall. The area at edge of the boulders at the bottom of the reef is home to bent-stick pipefish which can be found in the sand and rubble. They are often together in pairs and look, at first glance, just like the sea whips that they stay close to. Stingrays can also be found buried in the sand. Under the rocky ledges it's possible to see marble rays as well as nurse sharks.
Other Mergui fish life here includes blue-ringed angelfish, oriental sweetlips and parrotfish. In the shallow areas nudibranchs are found all over the rocks as are bearded scorpionfish.
Currents and surge can be strong at Northern Rocky and visibility can drop to no more than 5 metres at times here but when conditions are suitable this is also a very attractive night dive site as the orange cup corals open up. Crabs, shrimps and moray eels can be spotted all over the wall.
Western Rocky is 10 kilometres to the west of Northern Rocky.
• Myanmar tourist information
• Map of Mergui Archipelago
Northern Rocky Reef Basics: Wall and boulder formations
Depth: 5 - 35m
Visibility: 5 - 20m
Currents: Can be strong
Surface Conditions: Can be rough
Water Temperature: 25 - 28°C
Experience Level: Intermediate
Number of dive sites: 1
Diving Season: October to May
Distance: ~50 km west of Kawthaung (2½ hours)
Access: Mergui liveaboards from Phuket, Khao Lak and Ranong in Thailand
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