WHALESHARK & MANTAS!

Liveaboard trip 10/03 – 21/03 2009

Andaman Islands Safari

Mermaid I

As the headline suggests, we saw BIG STUFF this trip! I’m pretty sure there were more diminutive creatures around, but we somehow focused on the above-two-meter varieties. Starting already the very first day, we got full-on action at Koh Bon, famous for its Manta Rays. And sure enough, the five-meter rays gave us a first-class show! Barrel-rolling, chicken-racing, parallel sommersaulting - you name it. We almost missed a massive Marble Ray laying at the bottom, busy as we were.

Continuing to Koh Tachai, we came across a peacefully resting, fully grown, male Leopard Shark. Paying no attention to us whatsoever, we got to spend quite some time with this beautiful animal.

Richelieu Rock, the most famous divesite in Thailand, was, as always, popular among the guests. A big school of Chevron Barracudas up-current of the rock, massive Marble Groupers in the deep and even a Manta Ray (however, this particular one, to be honest, in the distance...).

Up in Burma, we did some spectacular nightdives. Several Bamboo Sharks, Marble Rays, big Moray Eels, hunting Leopard Sharks and a free-swimming Octopus.

Black Rock, a divesite with a reputation for big action, didn’t disappoint us – we did four dives with five or six Mantas here! Plus a selection of sharks and other rays.

Mr. Big decided to put in an appearance at Three Islets. Completely surrounded by Cobias and Remoras, this majestic Whaleshark was really curious, and kept circling us time after time. Beeing pelagic and solitary roaming, I guess you could use a bit of company on occasion...

Again, we got lucky, and saw a Bow-mouth Guitarshark at Fanforest Pinnacle. At full size, three and a half meters, this bizarre-looking fish, came in close to have a look at us before returning back into the deeper, unfortunately off-limits, parts of the divesite.

Returning to Thailand, we had a virtual Shark Fiesta at Koh Bon’s PInnacle. At least six Leopard Sharks kept swimming around us for most of this scenic dive.

More sharks at North Point in the Similans, but also several Hawksbill Turtles, looking for their favourite snack, algea, among the staghorn corals up in the shallows.

We spent a relaxing afternoon at the beach, and could watch the sun go down over dramatic rock formations, before returning to the boat, where a barbeque dinner was waiting for us.

Going through videos and photos, as we steamed back to Phuket the following day, everybody realized just how lucky we’ve been on this Burma Safari!

PJ Widestrand

Video-Pro
Mermaid I

Liveaboard diving Thailand, Myanmar, Bali - Komodo and the Andaman Islands.