Diving with MV Faah Yai in
Burma/Merguai Archipelago in 2002/04:
an Instant Reader Report

 Caribbean, Thailand (same trip, different location), N. California, Gulf of
Mexico 

Dive Conditions

No limits other than being back on the boat by an agreed time.  

Wonderful small fish and critter life.  There were large schools but often
hindered by poor visibility.  The only complaint is the very small camera
table.  I did most of my setup in the Galley.   

Overall Rating

I left for this trip pretty well informed so there were few surprises.  I
chose to fly into Phuket and take a van to the departing point of Ranong,
Thailand.  This trip is included in the charter price but I would likely
fly directly into Ranong next time.  The departing dock and the entry point
into Burma are sort of depressingly run down but when you awake the morning
after departure, you'll be in a mostly untouched paradise among seemingly
endless uninhabited islands.

The MV Faah Yai is a functional boat with good Thai food and A/C in the
rooms that, at times, only barely works (mine was apparently the only room
with this problem).  With only 10 passengers, it's not crowded and the dive
operation is efficient.  It's not a luxury boat ala Aggressor, but if I
booked another Burma liveaboard, I'd likely choose this one.

I'll let others rate the diving as this was my first trip to Indo-Pacific
waters.  I'll just say that it impressed me enough to immediately start
thinking about a second trip.  

Visit my website for a full writeup and photos:
http://www.jaytreat.com/Diving/Thailand_02/Report.htm

-J 

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