Located off the East coast of India, the Andaman & Nicobar Islands are a group of around 570 islands in the Bay of Bengal. With its azure waters, white sand beaches, secluded islands, evergreen tropical rain forests, vibrant flora, and fauna, Andamans is among India’s most trending honeymoon destinations, and among the must-include places in India tour packages. Besides, it is also a paradise for travelers and scuba divers as the coastal belt of the Andaman Islands is the abode of one of the richest coral reef ecosystems in the world where you can enjoy watching and swimming with jellyfish, sea turtles, colorful marine life and dugongs. If you are a diving enthusiast looking for the best sites to scuba dive in the Andamans, here is our list of some of the ultimate diving destinations for you!
Havelock Island
With its exotic white sandy beaches, warm lagoons, rich coral reefs, and exciting nature, Havelock Island is one of the most scenic islands in India, and among the prettiest places to visit as part of Andaman tour packages. With an area of 113 sq. km, it is the largest among all the islands in Ritchie’s Archipelago and is one of the most populated islands in the Andaman group. This romantic paradise is home to the world’s best beaches, including Radhanagar Beach, Elephant Beach, and Kalapathar Beach. Also, Havelock is hands-down the most popular dive destination on the islands and is truly a haven for both new and experienced divers. Aquarium, Mac Point, Turtle Bay, Lighthouse, Seduction Point, Barracuda City, and Pilot Reef are the best places for scuba diving on Havelock Island. One can do both shore and boat dives here. The shore dives are generally more crowded and the boat dives are done at more secluded spots.
Neil Island
Sandwiched between Havelock Island and Ross Island, Neil Island is another beautiful, scenic, and serene island in Ritchie’s Archipelago of Andamans, ideal for divers looking for some peace. Spread over an area of 18.9 sq. km, Neil has everything that Havelock has, with the added advantage of being more secluded and still in pristine conditions. The rich biodiversity, unexploited coral reefs, the water currents, the safe depths, and its unparalleled laid-back charm make it the best among other underwater diving destinations in Andamans. The island has great dive sites for relaxed drift dives and divers of all levels can explore the marine life at this site. It is guaranteed that when diving on Neil Island, you will get high-visibility underwater and many bright corals and fishes which include a colorful array of reef fish, macro life, and some bigger animals like barracudas, sharks, and even the occasional manta, the highlight is the dugongs, which can even be seen on the house reef in front of Bharatpur Beach, among the top places to visit in Andamans.
North Bay Island
The list of best places for scuba diving in Andaman is not complete without the mention of the gorgeous North Bay Island, among the top places to visit in the Andamans. Known for its captivating landscape, the island’s shoreline offers crystal clear, blue waters throughout and has a rich population of corals, making it one of the best places for scuba diving in the Andamans, which introduces you to the lively world of the sea, and exudes a certain type of vibe that will fill your heart with peace and thrill at the same time. Besides, the island also offers other water sports activities like jet skiing, speed boat riding, snorkeling, and underwater sea walking. The diving prices here are low compared to other places in Andaman but the boat and transportation costs may pile up, so it’s better to pre-book and plan forward.
Port Blair
Port Blair, the capital city of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, is another best place for scuba diving in Andaman. From awe-inspiring scenic beauty and an adventurous diving experience to alluring coral reefs, this place has everything you need to refresh your mind and soul as part of your Andaman tour. As most tourists tend to stay in Port Blair, it is the best option for budget families. Carbyn’s Cove Beach offers a great place for underwater fun and adventure, while the live corals near Snake Island are well-preserved and abundant and the water is clear enough for a fine view of the underwater world. Other popular places to dive in at Port Blair are Corruption Rock and Rutland Island.
Barren Island
Barren Island is one of the most beautiful and the only active volcanic islands in India as well as in South Asia. If you are an adventure diving enthusiast, it is one of the most fabulous islands that one must visit during the Andaman packages. The island is known for its stunning natural beauty and lava rocks. Though landing on the shore is prohibited, one can travel around the island and indulge in scuba diving. Since the island is off limits to tourists for obvious reasons, the water surrounding it is completely untouched and harbors a wide variety of fishes and various other sea-dwellers, like silver garden eels, dolphins, turtles, white-tip reef sharks, coral gardens, giant manta rays, and dramatic basalt-formations. The crystal-clear waters also harbor barracuda fish, dogtooth tuna, and other magical marine life.