Liveaboard Diving

Myanmar FAQs

Travel

Coronavirus: Travel Restrictions

See our COVID-19 Travel Requirements page for the latest COVID-19 travel updates.

Passports & Visas

Itineraries that include Myanmar embark and disembark from a port in Thailand, so you will need entry clearance for both countries. Passport holders of most western countries are eligible for a Thailand visa upon arrival which permits a single stay of up to 30 days in Thailand. However, upon re-entry to Thailand from Myanmar guests will only be issued with a 15 day permit to remain in Thailand. Therefore, please ensure your onward departure from Thailand is no longer than 15 days after disembarkation.

 

Guests who need to apply for a visa prior to travelling to Thailand, or who will be staying in Thailand for more than 15 days after their Myanmar trip must ensure that they obtain a MULTIPLE ENTRY visa from their nearest Royal Thai Embassy or Thai Consulate otherwise will not be allowed back in to Thailand.

 

Guests are not required to obtain a visa for Myanmar prior to boarding; our Cruise Director and local agent will make the necessary arrangements on your behalf. Please bring 2 x photocopies of your passport ID page and 2 x passport sized photographs as these are needed for the Myanmar visa application. Please make sure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months after the duration of your stay in Thailand.

Pre-Travel Health & vaccinations

No inoculations or vaccinations are required unless you are coming from or passing through contaminated areas. However, we strongly advise that you check with your nearest travel clinic for up to date information and recommendations. https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/156/myanmar-burma#Vaccine_recommendations
Please make sure you use insect repellent and cover exposed skin to reduce the risk of Dengue Fever and other insect borne diseases.
If you are travelling with medication, please ensure to bring your physician’s prescription with you.

Advice on international flight

Guests joining Myanmar itineraries are strongly advised NOT to arrive in Phuket on the day of embarkation. Transfer time from Phuket to the Ranong Town for Thailand and Myanmar Immigration clearance prior to embarkation at 12:00 is between 5 – 5 ½ hrs. Please take this into consideration when arranging flights.

Please allow at least 2-3 hrs for international flight check-in and 1 ½-2hrs for domestic flights

Country Information

Time zone
UTC+6:30 in Myanmar and UTC +7 in Thailand – your cruise departs and returns to a Thai port.
Language & religion

Although Myanmar has no official religion, nearly nine-tenths of the population is Buddhist. Burmese is the official language spoken by about two thirds of the population

Currency

The local currency is the Myanmar Kyat (MMT). However, since our trips start and end in Thailand, you will not need any lMMT – which is very hard to get hold of. During your cruise, you may stop on local islands, but they will happily take USD.

Communications

Coverage is very limited in Mynamar and patchy.

Climate & weather

The climate is subtropical/tropical and has three seasons, a “cool winter from November to February, a hot summer season in March and April and a rainy season from May to October, dominated by the southwest monsoon. Water temperatures in the Similan Islands & Mergui Archipelago average around 28°C (80F), although sometimes you may experience thermoclines.

Health

Healthcare in Myanmar is ranked among one of the the lowest in the world. Both public and private hospitals are understaffed due to a national shortage of doctors and nurses and lack many of the basic facilities and equipment. We would recommend evacuation to Thailand for any medical problems.

Recompression chambers

There is no air ambulance service and in case of diving accident, the vessel will need to return to Thailand before the patient can be transferred to a Thai recompression chamber in Phuket.

During Your Trip

What thickness wetsuit is suitable?
The water temperature averages 28°C (80F) and most divers are comfortable with a 3mm wetsuit.
Electricity

The vessel is on 220V and has power outlets typical to Thailand which will accommodate Type A, C, E & F plugs. Please bring adaptors as there are non available on board.

Communications during your trip

There is no free Wifi available on board. If our guests needs internet access, we suggest they buy a Thai sim card with data package upon arrival in Thailand.
However, once you leave port, you will be out of range for the duration of the trip. We have a satelitte phone for emergencies.

Marine, Park and Port Fees

Marine Park and Port fees for Myanmar itineraries are dependent on the trip duration and cover the cost of Myanmar visas as well as port fees, local taxes and diving permits.

The applicable amount will be added to your invoice as an onboard payment at the time of booking your liveaboard.

PLEASE NOTE
Payment on board for Port & Visa fees must be in USD CASH only. The notes MUST BE NEW (fresh / crisp) – old, creased, or torn notes will no be accepted by the authorities. 

We CAN NOT accept payment for Myanmar Port & Visa fees in THB, GBP or EUR.

If you are arranging your own visa for Myanmar please let us know in advance. The amount payable on board will then be reduced by 30 USD.

Tipping guidelines

We believe that tipping is a matter of personal choice; Should you feel that our crew has made your holiday extra special, they will certainly appreciate a tip as a sign of your appreciation. An envelope will be provided by your cruise director at the end of your itinerary and all gratuities will be divided equally amongst all crew, including the captain and dive guides.

If you are unsure how much to tip, we suggest 5-10% of the liveaboard cost. Tips can only be accepted in cash.

On board payments

On board extras such as equipment rental, nitrox, drinks and other services can be paid for by card or in cash.

Cash payments for can be accepted in THB, USD, EUR, and GBP. Credit cards (Mastercard and Visa only) are accepted with a 3.5% surcharge.

PLEASE NOTE: Payment for Port & Visa fees must be made in CASH and in USD only.