Myeik or Mergui Archipelago, located in southernmost part of
Myanmar (Burma), comprises over 800 beautiful islands. Due to its
virtual isolation, the islands and surrounding seas are alive with an
amazing diversity of flora & fauna and very beautiful underwater scenes
and marine life.
The only human inhabitants in the area are sea gypsies, namely
Salon in Myanmar(Burma). They live on boats during dry season and remain
on land during rainy season. They still practice the same fishing and
boat building techniques used for generation.
Being affectionate to sea, much skilful in swimming and diving,
their ways of life and customs are so characteristic that traditional
festival will be launched intending to attract international tourists as
well as to operate marine eco-tourism around the islands in Myeik
(Burma) Archipelago.
Salone Festival is on 16th February, 2004 and it will be very
happy and glorious Myanmar(Burma) tourism event of 2004.
Mergui Archipelago
Just north of the Surin Islands, an imaginary line divides Thai waters from
Myanmar's Mergui Archipelago. Also known as the Myeik(Burma) Archipelago, this
immense area covers approximately 36,000 sp km (14,000 sq miles) and included
roughly 800 islands. Diving here is still in its infancy, as the entire region
has been off-limits to outsiders since the late 1940s. After several years of
negotiation by Phuket dive operators, the archipelago was opened for tourism in
1997, yet much of the area remains unexplored.
The islands are similar to their Thai counterparts, with rugged, high-profile
limestone and granite topography. One obvious difference, aside from the sheer
number of Myanmar(Burma) islands, is their unspoiled terrestrial scenery. Dense
brush and rainforest cover most areas above the high-tide line, while vast
stretches of mangroves and magnificent white-sand beaches are interspersed with
rocky headlands, tidal creeks and a few freshwater rivers. Though several of the
larger islands are home to small communities of Moken 'sea gypsies,' the vast
majority are uninhabited and largely untouched by humans.
Underwater, this region offers scenic reefs, fascinating topography and prolific
fish and invertebrate life. One of the main attractions for divers is the strong
possibility of seeing big animals, especially sharks and rays. More dependable,
however, is the tremendous variety of smaller fish and reef creatures, including
many unusual species, some of which are rarely encountered in Thai waters. Add
to this the allure of diving where few people have before and you've got all the
ingredients for a top-notch dive destination. Considering the vast number of
islands and reefs, many more dive sites are undoubtedly waiting to be
discovered.
The diving here has tremendous potential, yet serious environmental problems
threaten the reefs. Trawling and longline fishing have put heavy pressure on
fish populations and the marine habitat in general, but the biggest threat is
blast fishing with dynamite, which Myanmar(Burma) has done little to discourage.
You are likely to hear bombs go off at least once during a multi-day trip
anywhere in the archipelago. Virtually all Mergui sites show at least some
evidence of blast fishing, from craters of broken coral to piles of orange cup
corals and even huge chunks of rock that have been blasted off vertical walls.
Despite the environmental threats, the diving in the Mergui is still excellent.
Even at sites that are bombed regularly, soft corals, anemones and gorgonian
fans usually survive undamaged, as do nudibranchs, cuttlefish, octopuses and
other invertebrates. Fish that lack swim bladders (like sharks, rays and moray
eels) also seem unaffected, unless the explosion is very close. Also, since many
fish move from reef to reef, new fish seem to show up all the time.
In addition to dedicated drive trips, several companies offer eco-adventure
trips in Mergui Archipelago, combining sailing, snorkeling, diving,
beach-combing, island exploration and, in some cases, kayaking. It is too early
to say what this area's long-term prospects are, but hopefully, increasing
interest in ecotourism will provide enough incentive for the authorities to take
action and protect the reefs before it is too late.
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