Sai Mai in the Ismuth of Kra

Kawthaung in Myanmar

Every body who has been touring in Burmese waters will keep an unique an indescribable amazing diving experience in his life. Many sorts of marine wildlife could be seen and a lot of giant fish, like the Whale Shark or Manta Ray with its wings which sometimes have a wing-span of more than 5 meters. Here I don't place my UW-photos they are posted in other albums already like http://www.ipernity.co…  (read more)
Natural scenes at the sky

Natural scenes at the sky

08 Nov 2005 1 1 670
The spectacle at the sky changed every minute.
More scenes at the sky and the horizon

More scenes at the sky and the horizon

07 Nov 2005 2 1 779
A long range of clouds at the skyline looked like the coast line from the main land.
One more picture from the amazing scene

One more picture from the amazing scene

07 Nov 2005 2 556
There were only about five minutes to enjoy the natural performance like here is shown. The photo only approximately transmits the feeling we had.
Thunderstorm coming at the horizon

Thunderstorm coming at the horizon

12 Oct 2003 1 698
When weather change in minutes the sea gets rough and turbulent. The surface of the water changes from calm into two meter high white-crested waves.
Dolphins play

Dolphins play

12 Oct 2003 474
The play of dolphins often seen from the Boats deck. Here it seems that the dolphins are showing their last performance to us before we reached Kawthaung.
Small island on the way back to Kawthaung

Small island on the way back to Kawthaung

10 Oct 2003 1 824
Three pinnacles

Three pinnacles

08 Oct 2003 1 591
The home for reams of fish sorts.
Ideal diving place at the pinnacle

Ideal diving place at the pinnacle

22 Mar 2004 2 615
This pinnacle already was the diving place for many other dives before. (I posted UW-photos in other albums, please browse in http://www.ipernity.com/doc/wolfgang-pfriemer/album/56821 )
Simple fishing vessel in Burmese waters

Simple fishing vessel in Burmese waters

07 Nov 2005 2 1909
There aren't many fishing boats out in Burmese waters. We saw very much the presents of Chinese observers who control the Andaman sea from Burmese territories. Some fishers fish with dynamite, a extremely bad habit with dreadful consequences. The necessary fuzes for their bombs they get delivered by Thai producers! No one of this people who violate the rules of ecologizing fishing care about the good future for their next generations.
The junk at the mooring

The junk at the mooring

11 Oct 2003 481
Thailands mainland seen in the background.
The junk called June Hong Chian Lee

The junk called June Hong Chian Lee

11 Oct 2003 3 897
It was my diving boat for two tours from Phuket, Patong and Tap Lamu to the Similan Islands. The junk was the stage prop for a movie titled "Stranded" (2002) from Charles Beeson (Director).
Waiting to be picked up

Waiting to be picked up

10 Oct 2003 629
We divers wait at the surface until the Sai Mai boat comes to pick us up out of the water. It seems quite easy but its sometimes exhausting boarding the boats platform under the condition of beating by 1 meter waves.
Nueng our longtime faithful crew member

Nueng our longtime faithful crew member

14 Oct 2003 378
Nueng primarily was the boats boy in the crew and got later the captain of the Sai Mai. Now he has more than 20 years experience on Thai waters.
Mod and the young liaison officer

Mod and the young liaison officer

10 Nov 2005 484
Mod, the guy on the right side, was our accompanying Burmese officer for two time before but then released by the Government authorities. (we believe that the Burmese authority didn't like the friendly relationship between Mod and us. So the supervisors ordered an other liaison officer to attend us.) Mod was then working as a crew member for many other tours with the Sai Mai in Myanmar. (By the way: the new liaison officer was also doing his job in a very good way for us. The simple peoples characters are always much different than the image of this criminal Burmese junta!)
Mod angled a giant fish out the ocean

Mod angled a giant fish out the ocean

24 Mar 2004 1 487
We always follow a strict rule to never catch fish for pleasure like in the awful 'off-shore fishing' sport. We only catch the fish for eating! Every part of the fish is prepared for a dish, even the head, which is popular particularly among Asians.
Thahtay Kyun Island

Thahtay Kyun Island

10 Nov 2005 750
Thahtay Kyun Island, also known as Son Island, is a small Burmese island within the Mergui Archipelago in the Andaman Sea. The island is directly adjacent to Ranong on Thai territory, a city in the south of Thailand and to Kawthaung. This island has been given by the Burmese Government on a long term concession to a Thailand based VES Group for development as a tourism and a gambling den for thousands of addicted Thai money squanderer. (In Thailand gambling is illegal, so thousands of Thai citizens escape out every day for gambling and to loose their money.) Andaman Club is a five star casino cum golf resort now operating on the island. The owner of the casino, Thai businessmen made a deal with the Myanmar authorities to get the island on long term lease, built a excellent beach resort with a casino and make a lot of money.
Kampong Ulu near Kawthaung

Kampong Ulu near Kawthaung

10 Nov 2005 1693
Kampong Ulu is a small fishing village close by Kawthaung but with a poor business life due the strict regulations by Burmese authorities for fishing in Burmese waters. The livelihood of the local families who were depended by the fishing since many generations got a break down with almost no alternatives.
Go into the Isthmus of Kra to Kawthaung

Go into the Isthmus of Kra to Kawthaung

10 Nov 2005 571
In the evening light the town and the hill with the Three Mile Pagoda.
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