LEOPARDS SHARKS!

Liveaboard trip 24/11 – 3/12/09

BURMA SAFARI

Mermaid I

This was the first Burma trip of the season, and we were all excited to see what we could find. It started off with no less than four Leopard Sharks at Koh Bon, leisurely swimming around, or just resting at the bottom. As we got up to Thailand’s most famous divesite, Richelieu Rock, we found the first of the Tigertail Seahorses of this safari, together with Ghost Pipefish, Zebra Morays and a young pair of Harlequin Shrimps.

Moving into Burma, we got really lucky with the smaller critters, starting at Three Islets – two rare Pineapplefish, several Ornate Ghost Pipefish, more Seahorses and some nice Nudibranchs.

Topping off with big Jenkin’s and Marble Rays, and a nightdive with three or four Bamboo Sharks, we headed north for Black Rock, an small outcrop in the middle of nowhere. Here, we saw an Eagle Ray, a big school of Jackfish, Tunas, Rainbow Runners and we were all stunned by the sight of hundreds and hundreds of blue Magnificent Anemones.

In the southern parts of the Mergui Archipelago, we found two white Frogfish, perfectly blending in with the white sponge they were sitting in. Here, we also pinned down our third pair of Harlequin Shrimps, busy, as they usually are, cutting a leg of a Seastar.

After some big Whitetip Reef Sharks, another Leopard Shark and big schools of fish, it was time for us to head back to Phuket.

PJ Widestrand

Tourleader and Video-Pro
Mermaid I

Liveaboard trips to Thailand, Burma, Bali - Komodo and Andaman Islands.