Scuba Diving in the Andaman Islands: What to Expect

India's Best Diving Destination

The Andaman Islands offer some of the best diving in South Asia, rivaling the Maldives and Thailand at a fraction of the cost. With visibility up to 30 meters and water temperatures of 26-29°C year-round, it's a diver's paradise.

Top Dive Sites

1. Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep)

The Wall: A dramatic underwater cliff dropping from 5m to 40m, covered in soft corals and home to large pelagic fish.

Aquarium: Perfect for beginners — shallow (8-12m), calm currents, and teeming with colorful reef fish.

2. Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep)

Margherita's Mischief: Named after a friendly turtle that frequents the site. Excellent macro life.

3. Barren Island

India's only active volcano! Advanced divers can explore lava formations underwater surrounded by mantas and sharks.

For First-Time Divers

No certification needed for a Discover Scuba Diving (DSD) experience:

• 30-minute theory and pool session
• 1-2 ocean dives to 12m maximum depth
• Full equipment provided
• Cost: ₹4,500-6,000 per dive
• Minimum age: 10 years old

Getting PADI Certified

Havelock has several PADI 5-star dive centers offering Open Water courses:

• Duration: 3-4 days
• Cost: ₹28,000-35,000 (includes equipment, materials, 4 ocean dives)
• Certifies you to dive independently up to 18m worldwide

Best Time to Dive

• October - May: Best visibility (15-30m), calm seas
• December - April: Peak season, book dive shops in advance
• June - September: Monsoon — most dive shops close

Marine Life You'll See

Sea turtles, manta rays, reef sharks, Napoleon wrasse, barracuda, moray eels, clownfish, sea horses, and over 500 species of colorful reef fish.