western rocky island

Burma Mergui Archipelago's southernmost dive site, Western Rocky offers you an overwhelming choice of wall diving, reef diving, pinnacles and an impressive pasage through the centre of the island.

A small barren island, perhaps 60m wide, the southern wall is split by a tunnel 5m below the surface. The passage entrance runs for 30m from a maximum depth of 24m and opens out through a small exit hole onto the north side's fringing reef at a depth of 21m. There is also a large archway to the west of the tunnel entrance, that provides an easy swim-through, and there are four small pinnacles to the east of the main island.

As you'd expect with tunnels and caves, Western Rocky is home to hundreds of Painted Spiny Lobsters and some playful Nurse Sharks. Cuttlefish and Bigreef Squid are common, and Giant Fuseliers sweep over the reef, made up of large Flower Corals and Yellow Featherstars. The wall is covered with soft Purple Tree Corals and is host to Bearded Scorpionfish, Spot-faced Moray Eels and White-eyed Morays.

North Rocky Island lies 10 km to the east of Werstern Rocky.

Western Rocky Reef Basics: Tunnels and Nurse Sharks
Depth: 5 - 35m
Visibility: 10 - 45m
Currents: Can be strong
Surface Conditions: Can be rough
Water Temperature: 25 - 28°C
Experience Level: Advanced
Diving Season: November to April
PADI Course Compatibility: Great for Underwater Videography and Enriched Air
Distance: ~55 km west of Kawthaung