Myanmar
Rising from its pariah status, the former state of Burma is an intriguing travel destination for intrepid travelers. Yangon (Rangoon) is the capital city and Mandalay is the cultural centre of the country. Both are packed with colonial architecture and Buddhist monuments and temples. But Bagan is one of the truly great historical wonders of South East Asia.
It is an ancient deserted city of some 5,000 pagodas and temples on the banks of the Irrawaddy River. The country also has large ethnic communities, huge forested lands, rivers and plains, and gigantic mountains. The Myeik (Mergui) Archipelago runs along the southern coastline and is a fascinating, remote and little-touched experience for scuba divers. It is also home to the Moken sea gypsies, who still practice a seafaring life here.
Recent Myanmar Articles
Diving with Cuttlefish – the Wisdom of a Cephalopod
It is normally a case of love at first sight. There you are gently gliding over the reef when you see before you a blob that is hovering atop the corals. As you get closer you begin to distinguish the rhythmic wafting of its frills, its pulsating skin and intelligent...
Diving with Titan Triggerfish – Terrible ‘Old Evil-eye’
You have probably seen them before and not doubt been warned of the dangers they pose when protecting their young but how much do you know about trigger fish? Find out more about this common reef inhabitant and understand why it has torn off a few ears over the years...
Diving with Seahorses – a Diver’s Best Friend
A seahorse examines a diver`s watch Seahorses are mesmerising and magical marine creatures. It’s like they materialised from a young child’s dream with their horse like head, a tail akin to a monkey, eyes that move independently of each other and skin colour that...
Diving with Nudibranchs – It’s Only a Slug, Right?
To those who have never dived, the idea of a small slug-like, bottom-dweller might seem like a boring prospect. However for divers, the picture is rather different. These little, riotously-coloured creatures bejewel the ocean floor, catching the eye like glinting...
Diving with Manta Rays: Graceful Gliders
We have done some of the world's best manta dives and know that the joy of diving with these creatures is difficult to overstate. They capture divers' imaginations since they move so gracefully and majestically through the water - whether frolicking in the surf, or...
Diving with Harlequin Ghost Pipefish: Masters of Disguise
Divers of all kinds just love these fish. Colourful and distinctive, small and delicate, motionless and elongate, they blend in so well with their surroundings that they are near-impossible to find and divers practically drool over sightings. Amazing camouflage of...
Diving with Frogfish: the Obdurate Anglerfish
A pair of frogfish with amazing colouration in Kapalai, Malaysia. Photo Courtesy: Ketrick Chin Open any coffee table book of underwater photography and you are almost certain to see a few pages dedicated to the majestic frogfish. One of the critter kings, anglerfish...
Diving with Whale Sharks: the Largest Fish in the World
If you have been there then you know. If you haven’t, then it is difficult to describe the feeling of sharing the water with this, the biggest fish in the sea. More like a whale than a shark, these fish are right at the top of most divers “To...
Diving with Clownfish: Finding Nemo and Finding Out All About Him
Scuba divers have long held the clownfish close to their heart but in recent times, thanks to animated movies such as Finding Nemo, suddenly this little character of the coral reef has entered the mainstream consciousness. What is it about the clown fish that...