Amazing Underwater Life in Myanmar! In 2014 I traveled solo to dive the Mergui Archipelago, part of which is in Myanmar. For more on that adventure, check me out on Scubaverse at http://www.scubaverse.com/diving-the-mergui-archipelago/. There were some weather conditions that interupted the diving, but wherever one dives, there is always excitement and the thrill of discovery. I am currently planning another trip with The Smiling Seahorse on their brand new boat! Just waiting until coronavirus has a vaccine or when it is safe to travel. Here are photos of some of the amazing underwater life in Myanmar! [Read more…] about Do You Want to See Amazing Photos of Underwater Life in Myanmar?
Fab Photos Friday: Do you love Anemones?
Long fascinated by anemones, I take photos of them on almost every dive. Other photographers look at me like I’m crazy (probably am, I admit), but I think they are incredibly beautiful. Anemones are close relatives to corals and jellies. They have stinging polyps and spend most of their time hanging out on coral reefs waiting to take in the next prey. “Their bodies are composed of an adhesive pedal disc, or foot, a cylindrical body, and an array of tentacles surrounding a central mouth. The tentacles are triggered by the slightest touch, firing a harpoon-like filament into their victim and injecting a paralyzing neurotoxin. The helpless prey is then guided into the mouth by the tentacles.” (http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/sea-anemone/). I have seen them hitch rides on other creatures, and close up their body. You’ll often find crabs nearby, and anemone fish. There are over 1000 types of sea anemone, and obviously I have only seen a few, but take a look and see how lovely they are, and how deadly (but not to humans).
![05 coz creatures march 05 anemone mouth](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/05-coz-creatures-march-05-anemone-mouth-640x480.jpg)
![para 14 corkscrew anemone best](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/para-14-corkscrew-anemone-best-640x465.jpg)
![coz cp 12 sun anemone](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/coz-cp-12-sun-anemone-640x427.jpg)
![10 sc 10 para anemone mouth and cleaner fish](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/10-sc-10-para-anemone-mouth-and-cleaner-fish-640x427.jpg)
![10 sc 10 sr branching anemone goatfish](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/10-sc-10-sr-branching-anemone-goatfish-640x427.jpg)
![07 isla anemone](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/07-isla-anemone-640x423.jpg)
![coz 11 pnight anemone open - Copy (1)X](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/coz-11-pnight-anemone-open-Copy-1X-640x457.jpg)
![coz 10 jan fran knobby anemoneX](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/coz-10-jan-fran-knobby-anemoneX-640x467.jpg)
![coz 10 jan cardona branching anemone2](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/coz-10-jan-cardona-branching-anemone2-640x436.jpg)
![coz 13 sr h anemone](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/coz-13-sr-h-anemone-640x468.jpg)
![coz 13 sr hairy clinging crab and anemone](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/coz-13-sr-hairy-clinging-crab-and-anemone-640x458.jpg)
Magnificent Anemone in Thailand, Andaman Sea.
![Skunk Anemone Fish in Anemone, Thailand](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/pr-14-skunk-anemone-in-mag-anem-600x480.jpg)
![wr 14 caves humbug damsel in anemone](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/wr-14-caves-humbug-damsel-in-anemone-640x466.jpg)
![moz 12 ma clownfish best](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/moz-12-ma-clownfish-best-640x469.jpg)
![moz 12 giant id anemone and 3 spot humbugs juvenile](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/moz-12-giant-id-anemone-and-3-spot-humbugs-juvenile-640x469.jpg)
![Gorgeous anemone in Thailand.](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/rr-14-anemone-close-up-gorgeous-366x480.jpg)
![coz paradise night 09 hermit and anemones on board](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/coz-paradise-night-09-hermit-and-anemones-on-board-640x427.jpg)
Fabulous Photos Friday: Under the Andaman Sea
I know this trip to the Andaman Sea off Thailand and Myanmar was just a few months ago, but I LOVE the photos. I just….love them! I’m putting unusual sea life photos on this photo entry. Enjoy your trip under the sea!
![This is a colony of Feather Stars...so fascinating!](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/ff-14-feather-stars-348x480.jpg)
![A red feather star group](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/ff-14-red-feather-star-640x446.jpg)
![This sea urchin has a neon blue star pattern!](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/ff-14-id-this-sea-urchin-with-eye-640x465.jpg)
![nr 14 sea star need id](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/nr-14-sea-star-need-id-384x480.jpg)
![Leaf fish are almost impossible to find!](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/wr-14-leaf-fish-630x480.jpg)
![A Decorator Crab dresses up!](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/wr-14-caves-dec-crab-with-face-640x465.jpg)
![Taken by my dive master, this Peacock Mantis could shatter an aquarium. Really.](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/peacock-mantis-shrimp-640x480.jpg)
![An Anemone Crab under an Anemone!](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Koh-Tachai-jur-anemone-crab-365x480.jpg)
![Gorgeous Disc Anemone, quite small.](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/bs-14-disc-anemone-630x480.jpg)
![bs 14 blue legged boxer shrimp2](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/bs-14-blue-legged-boxer-shrimp2-630x480.jpg)
![A nudibranch. Small small small!](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/bs-14-nudi-branch-640x465.jpg)
![Here's another nudi!](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/bs-14-nudi-twin-magnificent-slug-640x465.jpg)
![Love those porcupinefish!!!! Pretty big one, 12-15 inches.](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/bs-14-porcupiney-face-close-640x465.jpg)
![Ramose Murex...a mollusk. I had never seen one before, love the shell!111](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/bs-14-ramose-murex-640x462.jpg)
Last 2 dives: Boonsung Wreck, Similan Islands!
![Kawthaung, Myanmar](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/burma-14-town-of-kawthaung-640x457.jpg)
The Similan Islands are in Thailand, in the Andaman Sea. Getting back into Thailand was not nearly as difficult as getting into Myanar was. I did get off the boat and wander around Kawthaung, Myanmar a bit, but they have NO emission standards, and it didn’t take long to get sick off of the fumes from the cars and motorbikes. Also, Myanmar is not filled with tourists, and the sight of my blonde hair (I think it was the hair) created a stir. Many stares, and a few people followed me around, which made me a little nervous. I was even asked for my passport! (I didn’t have it, it was still in the immigration office!) Not to mention that it was so hot and humid I couldn’t stand it. I was ready to get back on the boat in half an hour!
![Fish Fish and More Fish!](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/bs-14-schooling-fishes-360x480.jpg)
Our last two dives of the trip were on the Boonsung Wreck. What a beautiful site! The wreck is a mess…spread out all over the place, but the fish and creatures living there are amazing! I really enjoyed these dives. The “schools” or shoals of fish were so thick you had to wave them away to take photos! I confess that one of my very favorite things to do is to sneak into a shoal and become one of them. They quickly form themselves around you, and you instantly have new friends!
The wreck had so much life! Shrimps, fish, eels, nudibranches, crabs….the list goes on. It was truly beautiful. Enjoy these photos!
![Good morning Thailand!](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/th-14-good-morning-thailand-640x480.jpg)
![Shaded batfish](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/bs-14-shaded-batfish-640x465.jpg)
![Porcupinefish](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/bs-14-porcupiney-face-close-640x465.jpg)
![nudibranch](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/bs-14-nudi-twin-magnificent-slug-640x465.jpg)
![Nudi branch](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/bs-14-nudi-branch-640x465.jpg)
![Honeycomb eel](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/bs-14-honeycomb-mouth-348x480.jpg)
![Honeycomb Moray](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/bs-14-cleaning-time-640x464.jpg)
![Blue legged boxer shrimp](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/bs-14-blue-legged-boxer-shrimp2-640x465.jpg)
![Shoals!](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/bs-14-fish-640x465.jpg)
![Looking for Nudibranches!](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Boonsung-Wreck-tam1-640x480.jpg)
Diving Myanmar: Western Rocky!
![Ornate Spiny Lobster](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/wr-14-caves-ornate-lobster-closeup-640x465.jpg)
![A Stonefish! My first!](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/wr-14-caves-stonefish-closeup-640x465.jpg)
Western Rocky is a great dive site, 40 nautical miles from Kawthaung, Myanmar. It consists of 2 or 3 dives, the Eagles Nest and the Cave. We had 3 dives on the site, and they were all terrific. Except for my dive group (of course) everyone saw a juvenile Whale Shark! 14 feet or so! Tommi, one of the Finn twins, took a lovely photo of it. I wish I had seen it, of course, but it looks like I am still searching for a dive experience with whale sharks. Even without seeing the Whale Shark, Western Rocky is a great dive site! Here are some of my awesome finds:
![Banded coral shrimp](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/wr-14-caves-banded-coral-shrimp-640x465.jpg)
![Big Red Octopus! He was fantastic...not afraid of me at all.](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/wr-14-caves-big-red-best-640x465.jpg)
![Adorable baby boxfish, just taking shape! cute, cute, cute!](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/wr-14-caves-cube-boxfish-baby-close-up-on-face-640x465.jpg)
![Chevron Barracuda](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/wr-14-caves-chevron-barracuda1-640x465.jpg)
![Beautiful clam](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/wr-14-caves-clams-640x465.jpg)
![A decorator crab...see the face in upper right?](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/wr-14-caves-dec-crab-with-face-640x465.jpg)
![Teeny, tiny Durban Dancing Shrimps!](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/wr-14-caves-durban-dancers-640x465.jpg)
![Fimbriated Eel!](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/wr-14-caves-fim-moray-with-durban-dancers-and-banded-640x465.jpg)
![Scorpionfish eye](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/wr-14-caves-scorp-fish-eye-640x465.jpg)
![Zebra Moray Eel](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/wr-14-caves-zebra-moray-380x480.jpg)
![Gorgeous Tree Coral](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/wr-14-caves-tree-coral-640x465.jpg)
Fan Forest!
At last, a gorgeous dive site with somewhat decent visibility! We are now headed south because our ultimate destination, a dive site called Black Rock, is reportedly low visibility and strong current. So, heading south toward the Similan Islands and Thailand which means better visibility, which is fine by all of us!
Fan Forest! On toward Thailand!
- Anemone Crab!
![ff 14 bearded scorpionfish closeup](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/ff-14-bearded-scorpionfish-closeup-640x465.jpg)
![ff 14 cushion sea stqar of some kind](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/ff-14-cushion-sea-stqar-of-some-kind-640x462.jpg)
![ff 14 feather star body](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/ff-14-feather-star-body-640x465.jpg)
![ff 14 feather star feelers](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/ff-14-feather-star-feelers-640x465.jpg)
![ff 14 id this sea urchin with eye](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/ff-14-id-this-sea-urchin-with-eye-640x465.jpg)
![ff 14 red feather star](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/ff-14-red-feather-star-640x446.jpg)
![ff 14 serpent seastar](https://tamtravels.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/ff-14-serpent-seastar-640x465.jpg)