India's Andaman Islands with Mark Strickland

Remote, under-explored and largely pristine, this extensive archipelago offers a rare glimpse of tropical islands and reefs in their natural state. There is almost no commercial fishing, resulting in unusually abundant fish populations, including Giant Grouper and Napoleon Wrasse—species that are rapidly disappearing in many other locales. Other highlights include Bumphead Parrotfish, Giant Mantas and Mobula Rays, sometimes in schools of 30 or more!

This region is also home to endemics like the electric-blue Andaman Damselfish, and the strikingly patterned Andaman Sweetlips. Another signature fish is the unusually colored Spine-cheek Anemonefish, whose vertical bars are bright yellow instead of the typical white or gray. There are also interesting invertebrates, including Wire-Coral Shrimp, colorful Trapeze Crabs, Bobtail Squid, and a good variety of nudibranchs and sea snails.

Among the Andamans’ best dive areas are Narcondam and Barren Islands, both of which are volcanic in origin. Widely separated from the rest of the island chain, these mountainous isles are surrounded by thousands of feet of clear, blue water, and provide some of the most spectacular scenery in the entire archipelago. Underwater, razor-back ridges are populated with massive barrel sponges, gorgonians and soft corals, while numerous caverns punctuate the shorelines.

The 34 meter S/Y Oriental Siren is built from the finest Asian teak and ironwood. She is a traditional twin mast junk, rigged with traditional style sails that are both functional and beautiful. Thus she has been custom-made with all the luxury facilities for the modern diver. She was built in Thailand in 2008 and shall continue to sail the waters of the Andaman Sea.

She welcomes up to 14 guests aboard each trip. This ensures abundant space for all guests. However, she has the facilities and ample room to host up to 16 guests on special charters.

There is a spacious air-conditioned saloon with cocktail bar, 32 inch flatscreen and computer server supporting the inter-cabin network. Enjoy an expansive leisure deck area and a covered outdoor dining area to relax in between dives.

The Yacht Boutique makes available to passengers Worldwide Dive and Sail merchandise, including polo shirts, hats, log books, t-shirts, shorts and can coolers just to name a few items.

Oriental Siren carries kayaks and fishing tackle onboard and massage service, waterskiing and wakeboarding are available at additional cost.

Worldwide Dive and Sail considers safety the preeminent issue aboard their yachts. The S/Y Oriental Siren has been designed and constructed based upon Lloyds Standards, the leading international body of maritime safety standards. The yacht is also equipped with the latest safety features including Life Rafts, Life Jackets, Fire Extinguishers, Smoke Alarms, Emergency Long Distance Radios, and Satellite Phones.

Oriental Siren has 7 large air-conditioned cabins each with their own personal computer, audio-visual entertainment system and ensuite bathrooms with hot water. All rooms are lavished with luxury extras including bathrobes, hair dryers, towels, individually controlled mood lighting and individual controls for your air-conditioning unit.

There is 1 master cabin at the bow. The remaining six cabins are twin or double.

Venture to the remote islands of the Andaman Sea, for some world class diving. There are a range of dive sites to appeal to all divers, from steep sloped reefs, to towering pinnacles and fantastic coral gardens. The Andaman Islands, although in Indian territorial waters, are closer to Thailand however being remote they are best dived by liveaboard. The sites here are suitable divers of all experience levels and snorkelers, offering a variety of marine life from the cryptic trapeze crab and bobtail squid to schooling barracuda and manta rays.

The lack of commercial fishing around the Andaman Islands results in unusually abundant fish populations including bumphead parrotfish, Napoleon wrasse, dogtooth tuna and barracuda. We also find species endemic to the area such as the Andaman sweetlips and damsel fish. Visiting Barren Island, unlike the name would suggest, rewards divers with pristine soft corals, and it is here we are most likely to see manta rays, whilst at the Passage it is common to see mobula rays and groupers. Despite recent concerns over coral bleaching, due to spikes in water temperature, many of the reefs of the Andaman Islands remain healthy and support diverse marine life.

S/Y Oriental Siren is accompanied by 2 high-powered Zodiacs, and Enriched Air Nitrox is available for a minimal charge for all certified Nirox divers. If you are not a certified Nitrox diver, instructors can certainly teach you the Enriched Air Specialty onboard.

Each cabin is fitted with an individual computer and multiple power sources to facilitate the needs of digital photography. The computer features high-end specifications and 20” high-definition flatscreens, which is integrated with the yachts network server in the saloon.

Camera workstations are dedicated to the preparation and maintenance of cameras including prep and storage areas. On the dive deck large rinsing tanks with fresh water are changed on a regular basis.

Mark Strickland’s life-long interest in the sea has included over 10,000 dives and careers as lifeguard, boat captain and scuba instructor. His passion for underwater photography has led him to many top dive locales, including Thailand, where he spent 17 years as Cruise Director on a series of live-aboards. An avid marine naturalist, Mark has discovered several nudibranch species. He is co-author and principle photographer for Lonely Planet’s award-winning book, “Diving and Snorkeling Thailand”, and his work appears in many magazines, books and displays around the world. Currently, Mark leads several dive trips each year to his favorite destinations, while working on a career-spanning large-format pictorial book. For a sampling of Mark’s work, visit www.markstrickland.com