The coastline
of Myanmar compared
to those of its
neighboring
countries, is still
undamaged
environmentally with
its coastal waters
and sea-bed
remaining as
beautiful as ever.
Tourists who have
the experience of
diving underwater
off the Mergui
islands speak of it
as the best of the
places they have
ever done diving in
worldwide.
That diving area in
the Myanmar waters
is accessible from
Ranaung, Thailand
just after 45
minutes by motorized
vessels.
Accommodation is
available at a hotel
on the Tha Htay Kyun
Island. Many
tourists make a day
trip or a longer
trip to the island
for pleasure diving.
The trip is
conducted by
motorized vessels
offering necessary
service on board.
This part
of Myanmar is rich
in natural land and
water resources. It
has the smallest
population in the
region. It is a
mountainous area
covered with
forests, the oldest
among forests of the
world, with various
species of animals
and rare birds
helping maintain the
world's ecological
system in the best
balanced way.
The
mountain ranges over
3000 feet high, run
from north-west to
south-east, some of
them sinking
underwater to appear
again out at sea as
islands. There are
more than 800
islands scattered
out there at sea,
with beauties Nature
has bestowed on
them.
Fresh
water is available.
There are hot
springs (spas), too.
All places there,
except those
forbidden for
security reasons,
can be visited. On
some islands there
is practically no
human habitation
except for a few
fishing boats taking
a rest. You can find
various species of
orchids there, with
birds flying about
freely.
Sea creatures
Calculation by
researchers
estimates that the
Myanmar coastal
waters can produce
between half a ton
and a ton of fishes
in every area of one
square kilometer
every year, which
means a total annual
catch could well be
from 550 tons to
1700 tons of fish.
There are
350 species of
whales in the world.
The Myanmar waters
have 4 of these
species in plenty. A
whale has an average
lifespan of 18
years. Whales have
low fertility rate,
and the gestation
period usually is
about two-year. The
Mergui islands are
home to various
species of whales
such as Whale shark,
Leopard shark, Nurse
Shark, Silvertip
shark, White tip
shark, Grey reef
shark, Bull shark
and Black tip shark.
You can
also find such fish
species as Manta
ray, Devil ray,
Eagle ray as well as
multi-colored fishes
and other forms of
marine life. In a
wire-mash floating
enclosure measuring
(50x25x5) meters
there are dolphins
captured and
collected from the
Myanmar waters. They
are being trained by
a group of foreign
experts.
Diving Site
The ideal
diving site is in
the area north of
the Kyun Philar
Island in the
Kawthaung district
where there are
underwater caves and
tunnels and
multi-colored
fishes.
Lampi Island
It lies in
the Boke-Pyin
Township, Kawthaung
district, Taninthayi
division, at the
southern tip of
Myanmar. The island
is designated as the
National Oceanic
Park. It is the
largest island, 30
miles long and 7
miles wide. It has
hot and damp climate
with an annual
average rainfall of
330 inches.
The main
island is covered
with evergreen and
tidal forests. It
has not less than 10
diving sites around
it.
You can go
diving or canoeing
or just go on an
excursion around.
Evening is the time
fruit bat watching.
Ideal diving
sites around
the Mergui
Islands
Auk
Kyun
Ni,
also
known
as
Western
Rocky,
42
miles
west
of
Kawthaung
and
15
miles
west
of
Zar
Dat
Kyee
Island
is
famous
for
its
being
an
ideal
site
for
diving.
Lying
far
from
the
large
islands
and
on
the
path
of
tidal
current,
it
gives
you
a
good
opportunity
to
see,
through
its
clear
water,
schools
of
fishes
big
and
small,
swimming
on
the
sea-bed.
The
site
has
a
big
mass
of
rock
sticking
out
about
60
feet
above
the
surface
of
the
sea.
About
a
little
over
50
feet
down
there
is a
natural
tunnel
formation.
There
is
also
a
100-foot-wide
formation
of
soft
coral
looking
like
a
field
of
flower
plants.
The
area
is
replete
with
fishes
of
various
species,
including
big
shirk.
Local
Products
Bird's
nest
Nesting
usually
occurs
during
the
period
between
January
and
June
on
and
along
the
sides
of
the
rock.
It
is
done
with
a
sticky
substance
from
the
male
bird's
mouth.
The
female
bird
lays
its
eggs
inside
the
nest.
Bird
nest
pickers
remove
the
nest
off
the
rock
during
the
mother
bird's
absence.
To
make
a
new
nest,
the
male
bird
has
to
strain
so
hard
that
traces
of
blood
often
appear
in
the
sticky
substance.
The Taninthayi
Division
produces
about
ten
thousand
vises
of
bird
nest
a
year.
A
standard
size
bird
nest
measures
about
2
inches
across
and
about
an
inch
deep.
There
is a
belief
that
bird
nest
can
purify
human
blood.
It
is
exported
to
Hong
Kong
where
it
fetches
a
good
price.
The Andaman Co. is currently engaged in a joint venture with the Myanmar Ministry of Mines in Pearl production near the Zar Dat Kyee Island. These activities can be studied for a fee.
The area has over a thousand streams and rivulets flowing into the South Sea as well as good currents favorable to pearl production. Pearl production activities extend over a period of nine months from September to June with a break for the rainy season.
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