Scuba Diving in Andaman Islands, India – My Expertise and Suggestions

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I bought my PADI Open Water Certification within the Andaman Islands, and right here is every little thing that occurred (the wonderful and the not so good), plus all the knowledge you should go scuba diving in Andaman Islands in India.

The Andaman Sea is a widely known scuba diving spot on the planet and probably the greatest scuba diving websites in India. After making an attempt a enjoyable dive in Vietnam one summer time, I used to be eager to be an authorized diver and do the PADI Open Water Certification to start with.

One other good friend, Aanchal, shortly agreed to hitch me on this diving journey, and we did some analysis on the place to do the scuba diving course within the Andaman Islands. We wished one thing not too costly and after exploring choices to dive in Thailand and Lakshadweep, we selected to study scuba diving in Havelock Andaman island.

And right here is the way it went!

Scuba diving within the Andaman Islands 

To start with, let’s share some fundamental details about the Andaman Islands and why individuals select to scuba dive right here. 

Andaman & Nicobar Islands are situated on the Bay of Bengal, whereas politically part of India, really feel something like that. In truth, the islands on the jap aspect of the archipelago are nearer to Thailand than to the Indian mainland.

There are in whole 572 Adanam Islands, every one in every of them with beautiful nature, from sandy seashores to turquoise water and luxurious inexperienced vegetation.

However why did Andaman Islands diving spots turn into well-known?

Colourful coral reefs, attention-grabbing underwater topography, shipwrecks, and various marine life are causes sufficient to face the lengthy journey journey to Havelock and different Andaman islands. 

One other constructive level is the number of Andaman Island diving spots, for learners to skilled divers.

Extra in regards to the Adaman dive websites, its marine life, when to go diving within the Andaman Islands, and different sensible data you could find in a while within the information. 

Now I wish to share my first-hand expertise, so you possibly can really feel if diving paradise is the kind of underwater expertise you might be on the lookout for.

My expertise scuba diving in Andaman Islands

Earlier than studying the way to dive or practising your already identified expertise, you should plan your journey to the Andaman islands. And this is perhaps your first problem. 

Relying on the place you come from and the way lengthy your touring journey can be, I’d say so as to add an additional day earlier than starting your diving course. Get a very good relaxation, see a little bit of the island, after which you might be able to dive. 

Reaching Havelock island

Havelock, aka Swaraj Dweep, is simply accessible by sea. You have to to fly to Veer Savarkar Worldwide Airport in Port Blair and from there take a public ferry or a personal boat.

It takes the nice a part of a day to achieve Havelock Island from Delhi, whether or not you’re taking the flight by way of Chennai or Calcutta.

Our flight by way of Calcutta made it in time to achieve the dock to take the 1:45 pm non-public catamaran. I had organized the transfers from the airport to the dock and the acquisition of ferry tickets by way of our diving college.

The not-so-rough journey from Port Blair to Havelock jetty took about 2 hours. It was raining as we stepped out of the catamaran. A easy pre-organized switch after which my good friend and I settled into our duplex cottage organized by the diving middle.

Our lodging was made from a neat front room and toilet on the bottom flooring and a bed room and a balcony on the primary flooring. Nice worth for cash! (extra about lodging on the Andaman Islands in a while)

There was nothing a lot to do this day. We had been comfortable to get in a relaxed state of mind, stroll across the seaside, eat at their restaurant, and get in mattress early.

Day 1- Scuba diving course in Andaman Islands

We had been to report at 8 am after breakfast to start out our Open Water Diving Certification Course.

Having learn all the speculation earlier within the week, we dived straight into the sensible half. We had been launched to one of many senior dive instructors on the middle and the primary activity was assembling the gear – BCD, cylinders, regulators, and whatnot.

Our teacher turned out to be a perfectionist. He made us assemble and disassemble the gear 4 instances earlier than he was totally glad.

Diving expertise observe

We had been to put on the gear and go to the seaside for our swim check – 10 minutes of float on the again and 200 meters of swim with out fins / 300 meters with fins.

After the swim and float check, we went to the shallow a part of a seaside for some expertise observe. This concerned taking the regulator underwater and placing it again within the mouth, purging the water from the regulator, switching between snorkel and regulator, clearing {a partially} flooded masks off the water, and many others.

Keep in mind that this routine is perhaps totally different relying on the diving course you might be doing and your diving ability ranges. 

We bought a brief break and had bananas and lunch on the boat.

I used to be actually drained by now. Lack of sleep, train that my physique was not used to, the knowledge overload, all put collectively exhausted me. Some relaxation and extra expertise observe within the water – experiencing ‘’out of air’’ when the teacher shuts the air provide, respiratory along with your buddy’s alternate air regulator.

First open-water dive in Andaman Islands

After which on to our first Open Water Dive to Nemo Reef – not too deep at about 9 meters.

I simply didn’t notice how drained I used to be earlier than the beginning of this. After a couple of minutes of shifting underwater my good friend and I had been battling being horizontal at a selected degree.

First-time divers ought to keep in mind to not fret an excessive amount of about buoyancy management. There was a dramatic enchancment for us within the subsequent 2 days.

The Andaman Sea is alive and the way wonderful it’s! In just some minutes, we noticed anemone/clownfish, pipefish, parrotfish, sea cucumber, bannerfish, and a scorpionfish (that had camouflaged itself on a rock, toxic).

Then the teacher discovered a secure spot on the sand, checked for creatures, requested us to kneel and do some expertise observe that we had been taught earlier within the shallow water. My teacher requested me to lose my air regulator, discover it, and put it again in my mouth.

I attempted as soon as in haste – bought the regulator from underneath my arm as an alternative of over it, and tried to take it out of my mouth once more. However whereas placing it again, I simply didn’t lock my lips over it, swallowed water, and panicked after I couldn’t purge the water and breathe air.

As a substitute of considering calmly about my alternate choices – respiratory from my alternate air supply, taking the alternate from my buddy/teacher, I broke the fundamental rule in scuba – stopped respiratory, gulped in water, panicked and kicked as much as get out.

My teacher tried to place the regulator in my mouth to do some harm management however I simply wished out. On surfacing, he requested the opposite divemaster to take me on the boat and went all the way down to proceed the dive with my good friend.

I used to be so dejected that night however simply wished a sizzling bathe, meals, and sleep to recover from with that catastrophe.

That’s why I informed you planning a very good night time/day of relaxation earlier than your dive expertise is a great choice.

Day 2 – Scuba diving in Andaman islands

Extra expertise observe and a second open water dive.

I used to be each dreading and looking out ahead to the following day. We reported at 7:30 am submit breakfast on the dive middle restaurant.

Our gear had already been assembled and brought to the dive boat. My good friend was requested to remain out on the boat and our teacher requested me to go for the Open Dive 1 with him and redo the ability observe session that was left incomplete the day earlier than.

And after a very good night time’s relaxation, it fortunately turned out to be simple. I eliminated my masks and put it again. I eliminated my regulator, saved respiratory out, retrieved it and put it again all fairly simply. I loved the remainder of the dive and bought an enormous smile from him after we surfaced.

We did plenty of new expertise observe on the second day of the course – manually inflating the BCD, ‘sipping’ air from a malfunctioning regulator, and many others. This was adopted by bananas and an extended relaxation within the boat, adopted by one other coaching dive.

We had been again on the Dive Middle by 1 pm. Greater than sufficient time to take a bathe and resolve to step out and discover the island.

Day 3 – Extra dives and our first tough expertise

Our third dive was on the Crimson Lighthouse website inside the harbor. We had been hoping to go outdoors the harbor to a dive website named The Wall, however the meteorological division didn’t give permission on account of a cyclone warning.

Open water dive 3

Crimson Lighthouse is a shallow website – max water depth of about 10 meters – and is gorgeous. Underwater visibility on the third day was a lot better than the previous 2 days, at about 10 meters or extra.

We placed on all our diving gear on the boat, did the fundamental security verify and bought off the boat utilizing the enormous stride exit.

As we descended, I appeared up on the college of colourful fish shifting throughout and felt the magic of diving come alive for me. We had been far more assured with managing our buoyancy as we speak.

One of many points of interest at this website aside from underwater life is a Kinetic Honda scooter. This stood intact on the ocean mattress, offering a house to some corals and tiny fish.

We additionally noticed big barrel sponges – some over 4 meters and an octopus resting on a rock with its tentacles all folded inside. The dive grasp made us do some expertise observe at this depth through the dive.

We surfaced up feeling fairly exhilarated with our first 60 minute dive! However underwater peace and quiet don’t give away the turbulence on the floor. It was drizzling after we got here up.

Open water dive 4 and a prolonged examination

An hour’s chit-chat later, the climate had steadily worsened. We determined to return in for the fourth and final coaching dive.

This was a very totally different expertise than the morning dive; visibility was barely 2/3 meters. I may nearly make out Manish and Aanchal’s shapes and determined to remain near them.

A key new ability that needed to be discovered was navigation fundamentals. We had been made to look right into a compass, exit in a single path for simply 10 kicks, and are available again to the identical level.

For some motive, whereas concentrating on the compass, I used to be respiratory out lower than all of the deep breaths moving into. Consequently, unknown to me, as an alternative of going horizontally, I saved shifting up and up.

In fact, after I got here up, I used to be approach above the dive teacher as an alternative of my place to begin! My good friend made the identical mistake. Many threats and scolding later (He wrote ‘U WILL FAIL’ on the slate he was carrying with him!), we did one other observe run and bought the dangle of it. Phew!

Speaking about underwater wonders, nothing besides a big sea fan was seen through the dive. And the water was actually uneven after we surfaced. However my good friend felt that coaching throughout this situation is an effective expertise to have underneath your belt. I couldn’t agree extra.

We went again to the dive middle, and after a sizzling bathe and lunch, sat down to present a prolonged examination. With this last hurdle out of the way in which, Aanchal and I bought our diver certifications!!

Day 4 –  Havelock, Andaman Islands Enjoyable Dives

The meteorological division repeated its cyclone warning and didn’t give the boat passengers permission to go outdoors the harbor. So our first dive as PADI-certified divers was once more on the Pilot Reef, this time with one other divemaster.

Dive at Pilot Reef

A leopard shark had been noticed at this website a day earlier and we had been hopeful. Our first a part of the dive went in trying to find this shark, however no luck.

The reef does have some good marine life to observe – large groupers, flute mouthed fish, juvenile moray, striped fusilier, lionfish, angelfish, sea cushion star and extra. All in all, an amazing dive.

Dive at Crimson Lighthouse

The second dive of the day was on the Crimson Lighthouse. The agenda of the dive aside from seeing all the opposite aquatic life was to particularly spot stingrays.

And what a thrill when our divemaster pointed to a Kuhl’s stingray. It’s an indescribable thrill to see a creature in its pure setting.

I noticed a lionfish hiding inside a rock crevice and one other stingray. I bought so excited and was flailing my fingers and toes to get my companions’ consideration. We additionally noticed large clams, emperor angelfish, lionfish, mustache triggerfish, porcupine fish, and groupers.

Regardless of not having the ability to go to the extra famed spots (listing beneath), we had been glad to expertise these dives as newly licensed divers. Quickly it was time to bid goodbye to the well-trained crew at Barefoot Dive Middle.

The two-hour journey again on the catamaran began out nice however quickly turned a wish-this-would-end-soon nightmare.

As soon as the catamaran bought out within the open tough sea, lots of people bought seasick. And despite the fact that I’m fairly okay on uneven waters, the odor of vomit from a number of areas within the closed, air-conditioned cabin made me gag.

Diving on a distant island just isn’t solely stunning underwater landscapes and quite a lot of fishes, however when the climate adjustments, issues get tough.

Lastly, we landed at Port Blair and checked into our room on the Fortune Bay Resort. We opened a bottle of wine and loved that with heavy greasy Indian meals!

Questions individuals ask me about diving in Andaman Islands:

When to go diving within the Andaman Islands?

One of many most important questions is about excellent climate. Properly, diving is definitely higher when visibility is excessive, which in flip relies on wind, ocean flooring, and climate circumstances to call just a few. 

Skilled Affiliation of Diving Instructors (PADI) says that the Andaman Islands diving season is from October/November to Might.

Throughout this era you possibly can count on virtually no rain, so the visibility of the water is sweet and the boat rides are extra comfy.

The water temperature is round 27º to 29ºC (80-84ºF).

It’s a very good time for learners who wish to strive enjoyable dives or uncover scuba diving within the calm waters.

The place to go diving at Andaman Islands?

Havelock Island and Neil Island (aka Shaheed Dweep) are essentially the most well-known islands and good locations for learners and skilled divers. They’ve many diving spots, and in case you are fortunate with the climate, you possibly can go to a lot of them in a few days/dives. 

These two islands supply good infrastructure with inns and diving facilities, and from right here you too can do day journeys to different diving locations.

However to present you an general thought of how diving is within the Andaman Islands in India, I researched all of the islands you possibly can dive, and the place to dive in every of them. Thank me later!

Greatest diving websites within the Andaman by island

Havelock Island Diving Websites

All my scuba diving classes occurred right here, the readability of the water, the marine biodiversity, and the colourful fishes made it the right dive spot. 

• Nemo Reef
• Barracuda Metropolis
• Seduction Level
• Aquarium
• Turtle Bay
• Mac Level
• Lighthouse
• The Wall
• Pilot Reef
• Minvera Ledge
• Johnny’s Gorge
• Whitehouse Rock
• Dicksons Pinnacle
• Jackson’s Bar
• Damaged Ledge
• S.S. Inchkett
• M4
• Crimson Pillar
• The Slope
• MV Mars
• Purple Haze

Neil Island Diving Websites

Underwater life is wealthy right here, however the water may not be so clear. It’s an island well-known for its inns and resorts, excellent if you wish to mix diving and rest. Neil Island widespread dive websites are:

• Busy Burro
• Rocky’s
• Margerita
• Junction
• Manta Level/Robin’s Bay
• Nursery/ One Bottle
• Bus Cease
• Aquarium/ Neil Backyard
• Lighthouse

North Bay Island

North Bay is situated close to Ross Island and Port Blair. It’s small in comparison with the opposite two islands we talked about, however the blue waters and the inhabitants of corals listed below are spectacular.

The island has a coral belt protected by the Andaman administration and due to that diving and water sports activities actions spots change typically. 

Diving often occurs past the shallow waters and understand that right here you possibly can face reasonable underwater currents. The nice factor is which you can spot totally different marine species. 

One factor to note, the prices of scuba diving programs or classes listed below are low in comparison with different Andaman islands. However don’t neglect so as to add the extra transportation prices whereas calculating the finances in your journey.

And, on the subject of selecting dive resorts, dive facilities, and instructors, value shouldn’t be your first concern. 

Port Blair

Por Blair is often our level of arrival on the Andaman Islands however should you don’t wish to journey additional, you possibly can dive right here.

Town is the capital of the Andaman Islands, so it presents quite a bit to do and see above and underwater. Diving costs in Port Blair should not on a budget aspect, however contemplating that you just don’t want so as to add the ferry journey to your prices, it is perhaps a very good choice.

It’s additionally a very good place in case you are brief on time and wish to do the 3-day diving course with out the additional day for touring. additional to the islands.

Port Blais diving websites are:

• Corbyn’s Cove Seashore
• Snake Islands
• Mahatma Gandhi Marine Nationwide Park.
• Corruption Rock
• Rutland Island
• Snake Island

Barren Island

Diving in Barren Island is a once-in-a-lifetime expertise. This stunning island is near vacationers as a result of it’s the house of an energetic volcano. Removed from virtually every little thing, it’s a paradise for divers due to its preserved and untouched nature. 

On an ideal diving expertise, you possibly can spot dolphins, white tip reef sharks, turtles, manta rays, silver backyard eels, barracuda, and colourful reefs. 

Diving in Barren Island consists of taking a 12-hour or so boat journey. It’s often deliberate as a day journey, the place you are able to do 3 dives in several spots close to the island. And due to the gap, you possibly can already think about it’s an amazing and costlier diving journey.

How to decide on the perfect dive middle or resort?

To start with, you should do your analysis. Learn what the colleges and dive operators supply, examine evaluations, ship emails along with your doubts, and examine costs to plan your journey bills. 

We did our diving course with Barefoot Dive Middle, and we’re very pleased with it. 

What sort of diving certification are you able to get?

Greater than getting your first diving certification, diving colleges within the Andaman Islands can supply totally different SSI and PADI packages. A lot of the diving facilities and resorts can assist you get your PADI Superior Open Water, some other superior diving programs, or PADI speciality programs akin to PADI Rescue.

Simply understand that relying on what course or scuba diving expertise you wish to have, it’s a must to plan your days on the islands accordingly.

How a lot does it value to dive within the Andaman Islands?

All of the subjects we coated above will impression the diving prices, so I can inform you precisely the costs or how a lot you count on to spend. 

Needless to say you possibly can plan a finances journey by sharing lodging, utilizing public ferries as an alternative of personal transfers, and likewise hold low in your meals bills.

However, in case you are not fearful about cash, you possibly can deal with your self very well on the islands. 

Do I have to be a very good swimmer?

One query that pals and acquaintances have repeatedly requested me after the course is whether or not I’m a powerful swimmer, whether or not I understand how to swim underwater and many others.

You need to know the way to swim for certain. Aside from being a world regulation for a dive course, it wouldn’t be sensible to dive with out figuring out the way to swim even when some unscrupulous dive middle had been to take you.

Most accidents apparently occur on the floor and you’ll panic within the sea should you didn’t know the way to swim. However you don’t must be an unbelievable swimmer, simply a median one.

I don’t swim underwater however the teacher did train us the way to dive underneath with a snorkel, contact the ocean mattress (at about 5 meters depth I believe), and are available up and clear the snorkel pipe off the water.

Anybody can dive within the Andaman Islands? 

Sadly not! It’s not solely about figuring out the way to swim, earlier than diving you should think about the age restrict and your medical circumstances.

The Andaman Islands Diving Guideline says that folks over 60 years previous, kids beneath 6, and pregnant ladies can’t dive. All the main points of the rules together with the utmost depth restrict for scuba diving, you will get with the scuba dive middle. 

Extra tips about Scuba Diving within the Andaman islands

To start with, throughout peak season (the perfect time for scuba diving), e book your lodging on Havelock or Neil Islands prematurely. It is usually true for Port Blair and all of the ferries or catamarans you have to to take. 

The place to remain and finest resorts for scuba diving in Andaman Islands

What to do within the Andaman Islands past diving?

Properly, after seeing unbelievable coral gardens and all kinds of fishes, keep just a little bit on the shore and benefit from the stunning seashores of the islands. 

Listed below are just a few unmissable seashores: 

• Radhanagar Seashore (Havelock)
• Elephant Seashore (Havelock)
• Kalapathar Seashore (Havelock)
• Bharatpur Seashore (Neil Island)
• Laxmanpur Seashore (Neil Island)

That’s a wrap! I hope I helped you perceive extra about the way to journey to the Andaman Islands for diving, and likewise impressed you to dwell this memorable expertise.

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Creator: Shweta Singhal

Shweta has at all times been enthusiastic about journey and immersing in new experiences. Having been to over 45 nations, she blogs at Zest In A Tote to deliver family-friendly itineraries and ideas, locations, and luxurious stays to her readers. Her perception in household journey needn’t be boring and one can do a mixture of native tradition & meals, journey actions and rest, all with household.