Diving in Andamans is a unique lifetime experience. The coastal water surrounding these islands is the abode of one of the richest coral reef ecosystem is the world. The specialty is that, here the coral reefs and underwater formations are undamaged by human activity. The best season for diving is from December to April.

Mysteries of the Marine World

Many of the islands are surrounded by fringing reefs, often several hundred meters wide and separated from the shore by a lagoon of similar width. There are also more steeply sloping reef walls, and coral pinnacles or knolls. Divers can follow around steeply undulating hills of raven volcanic lava, which makes for some unusual diving. There are plenty of steeply sloping and shallow reefs suitable for snorkeling.

Large Pelagics are plentiful in these waters, as are a variety of sharks. Large schools of hammerhead often patrol the waters away from the reefs and Grey, Whitetip, Nurse and Leopard Sharks are found closer inshore. Silvertip and Ocean Whitetips also sometimes appear out of the deep blue beyond. Enormous manta Rays are also often seen.

Cinque Island

One of the best dive destinations in the island, it has clear emerald water with a visibility of upto 80 feet. The deep dive offers a terrific variety of marine life, including Black Coral, sightings of Sharks and is ideal for the experienced diver. more...

North Point: This site at Cinque Island is mostly highlighted by sponges and small corals and offers good diving because of the abundance and diversity of fish life.

Southeast Reef at Cinque Island is a good site for novices. The southeast part of the reef consists of hard and soft corals and these are very dense on the rocks down to about 16m (53ft.).

Fish Rock

Fish Rock near Passage Island offers an extremely colourful dive. The topography consists of rocky slopes, boulders and drop offs, featuring large fan of corals and plenty of sponges. Below 25m, the rocks are covered in small bushy soft corals in numerous hues. Hard corals are not so evident. Grey and Whitetip Reef Sharks are almost always in the vicinity as are Nurse Sharks. Among the rest of the marine life are Eagle Rays. Potato Cod, Large Coral Groupers, Fusiliers, Sweetlips, Turtles, Batfish, Bumphead, Parrotfish, Squirelfish, Curious and friendly Oriental Sweetlips, Surgeonfish, Yellow Tangs, Triggerfish, Tuna, Rainbow Runners and many species of Trevally.

Bala Reef

Spreads over 4-5-sq-km and is said to be one of the best sites in the Andamans for coral with vibrant colors.

Corruption Rock

Corruption Rock sticks out between Chidiyatapu and Rutland Island. The dive site is on the western side of the rock and is made up of big underwater boulders. The corals are not brilliant but the craggy undersea landscape of boulders is stunning.

It is a fantastic wonderland of gullies, channels, ridges and canyons. Look out for Giant Napoleons and Eagle Rays, Huge Snappers, Schooling Fusiliers, Banner and Unicorn Fish. Dolphins, Tuna and Reef Sharks have also been sighted here.

Rutland Island

The shallow waters near to the island have a good representation of smaller fish and coral, and a good place for training open water divers. There is a shipwreck site also present over here.

Snake Island off Corbyn's Cave Beach

This site offers awesome rock faces and spectacular dive landscape. Marine life includes Trigger Fish Grunts, Goatfish and Rays.

Havelock Island

This is located approximately 50-km from Port Blair by inter-island ferry. There is a wide range of largely unexplored dive sites rich in underwater marine life.

Mac Point: Mostly hardcorales and their inhabitants are found in Mac Point. Usually in good visibility, Dugangs have been spotted over here.

Aquarium: Aquarium is a fringing reef with lots of 'fish traffic'. Usually in good visibility, mostly hardcorales are found over here.

Barracuda City: Tons of fish, sometimes turtles, mostly hard and some soft corals. Rather suitable for experienced divers.

Turtle Bay: Turtle Bay is an easy pleasant dive site not exceeding 14m. Rays are found in the sand over here and with Luck Turtles.

Seduction Point: A huge rock with different kind of aquatic life. Napoleons can be seen over here in large numbers. The shallow part is full with Staghorn Corals and its inhabitants.

Lighthouse: Lighthouse is a huge dive site, suitable for any kind of dives. Huge varieties of soft and hard corals make this place perfect for night dives.

The Wall: The Wall is a huge submerged rock, which drops down to a maximum of 55m and is full with life. Huge forests of Soft Corals plus schools of Fish circling one, makes it always a memorable dive.

Pilot Reef: Pilot Reef near to Havelock is a huge block of prestine Hard Corals. At the bottom (maximum 24m) 'Canyons' are stretching out. Leopard and White Tip Sharks have been sighted over here.

Minerva Ledge: Minerva Hedge at Havelock is even bigger block of Hard Corals. Tons of fish, usually good visibility and the possibility of seeing sharks makes it one of the top dive sites.

Campbell Shoal off North Button Island.

The bottom of this site is covered in mainly Hard Corals, with sporadic sandy patches and hosts a multitude of reef animals. The marine life includes Whitetip Reef Sharks, Large Cod and Groupers, Coral Trout, Blue and Golden Banded Fusiliers, Giant Trevally and a host of colourful Reef Fish.

Mahatma Gandhi National Marine Park

Hundreds of colourful varieties of coral reef fishes can be seen in the park. Some of these are Clownfish, Butterfly Fish, Surgeon Fish, Anglel Fish, Parrot Fish, Bat Fish and Groupers. Whitetip Shark, Hammer Headed Shark, Manta Ray and Blue Fin Jack are also occasionally seen. More than 50 types of Corals are found in the fringing type of Coral Reefs in the park. Some important Coral varieties found here are Acropora, Pocillopora, Montipora, Leptoseris, Fungia, Portis, Tubipora and Gorgonians.

Tips for Divers:

Dive only in the areas opened/permitted for Scuba Diving by the A & N Administration. Do not dive with unqualified/unregistered dive operator for the same may be dangerous to your life. Avail the service of Scuba Dive instructors having certification of international professional organizations like PADE, CMAS, NAUI, BSAC or SSI for safe diving experience.

Details about approved Scuba Dive centers, list of areas/sites permitted by the administration for Scuba Diving and the terms and conditions for operating Scuba Dive can be obtained from the centre in Andamans.

The Recompression chamber facility is available at Clearance Diving Unit, Navy, Port Blair.
Do not stand or walk on the Coral Reefs. Do not break the live Coral or collect Dead Corals.
Do not enter the National Parks without permission.