With its clear waters and diverse ecosystems, the Andaman Islands are indeed a premier destination for scuba enthusiasts.
Nestled in the Bay of Bengal, they offer a spectacular scuba diving experience, attracting divers with their vibrant coral reefs and rich marine life.
Highlights include Havelock Island and the famed Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, offering sites like Elephant Beach and Radhanagar Beach. Divers can explore a variety of underwater landscapes, encountering everything from colorful fish to larger marine animals.
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5 Best Places for Scuba Diving in Andaman
If you’re keen to start scuba diving in the Andaman and want to scope out the dive sites that really pull in the scuba experts, here’s just five brilliant spots I encourage you check out.
North Bay Island
- Location: Situated to the north of Port Blair
- Perfect For: Suitable for all diving levels
- Likely to See: Manta Rays, sunfish, reef sharks, eagle rays, blue-spotted stingrays. Also mushroom corals, sea anemones, coral reefs and underwater gardens
- Temperature: 26°C (79°F) to 30°C (86°F)
- Visibility: 10 meters (33 feet) to 20 meters (66 feet)
- Depth: (33 feet) to 20 meters (66 feet)
North Bay is considered one of the best scuba diving sites in the Andaman Islands. It is a small island that boasts beautiful, crystal-clear waters and stunning, colourful corals.
If you get to visit the area, it’s best to go with the idea of only spending time in the underwater world! The island is so small that there’s not much else to see, so focus on the diving.
You’ll get the chance to spot all kinds of marvellous marine creatures – such as mushroom corals and sea anemones. I think it’s a great spot for diving beginners.
Havelock Island
- Location: situated to the northeast of Port Blair
- Perfect For: Suitable for all diving levels
- Likely to See: Sunfish, manta rays, white tip reef sharks, eagle rays, sea turtles, giant clams and underwater garden
- Temperature: 26°C (79°F) to 30°C (86°F)
- Visibility: 10 meters (33 feet) to 20 meters (66 feet)
- Depth: 30 meters (98 feet)
If you’re considering scuba diving in Andaman, then chances are that you have already heard of Havelock island. One of the best things about it is that it is suitable for both experienced divers and inexperienced divers.
It’s a low-current area with a stunning marine wonderland and many unexplored diving sites! You can easily access the white sandy beaches, where plenty of PADI-certified dive guides are ready to take you to this underwater paradise.
It’s home to plenty of diving highlights such as Tribe Gate, Nemo Reef and Juvis, all full of gorgeous schools of fish and wild reef.
Neil Island
- Location: situated to the south of Havelock Island and is approximately 40 kilometers northeast of Port Blair
- Perfect For: Suitable for all diving levels
- Likely to See: Clown fish, nemo island, reef sharks, sea turtles, scorpionfish and vibrant corals
- Temperature: 26°C (79°F) to 30°C (86°F)
- Visibility: 10 meters (33 feet) to 20 meters (66 feet)
- Depth: 15 meters (49 feet) to 30 meters (98 feet)
Neil Island is a great place to stay if you’re going with a group of diving enthusiasts or on a family trip, where a resort to suit everyone would be perfect.
When it comes to scuba diving experiences, Neil Island has a lot to offer. The marine life has been well preserved in the area, and the live corals on the shoreline make it a perfect spot for some fun dives.
However, it is worth noting that the water isn’t perfectly clear here, and since it’s not a large diving site and there is not as much demand in the area, the prices tend to be pretty high.
That said, you’re going to want to explore the Jetty Channel Marker, as it’s home to some stunning rays and angelfish. It’s one of the most varied boat dive spots, and you don’t have to be a super-experienced diver to see the wildlife up close.
Port Blair
- Location: east coast of South Andaman Island
- Perfect For: Suitable for all diving levels
- Likely to See: Manta rays, eagle rays, octopuses, cuttlefish, dolphins, porpoises, reef sharks and coral reefs
- Temperature: 26°C (79°F) to 30°C (86°F)
- Visibility: 10 meters (33 feet) to 20 meters (66 feet) or even more on clear days
- Depth: 15 meters (49 feet) to 30 meters (98 feet)
Port Blair is another great dive site, especially if you’re looking for a more affordable destination. It’s actually the capital of the island territory, too, meaning it’s a big tourist hub (and likely to be one of the first spots you head to if you’re on vacation here).
The live corals near Snake Island are particularly stunning but don’t worry – there are no actual snakes on the island! And, while it is great to see the underwater world out here, it lacks the range of marine life that you’d expect over at Neil Island.
Thankfully, that is more than made up for at the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park. It stretches over 15 different islands, with both Red Skin and Jolly Buoy open for you to explore. It boasts its own coral reef and does a fantastic job of protecting all kinds of exotic marine life.
Barren Island
- Location: situated in the Andaman Sea, approximately 135 kilometers (84 miles) northeast of Port Blair
- Perfect For: Advanced Water Diver
- Likely to See: Underwater volcanic locations, reef fish, barracuda, white tip reef sharks, hammerhead, occasionally whale sharks, manta rays and eagle rays
- Temperature: 26°C (79°F) to 30°C (86°F) throughout the year
- Visibility: 10 meters (33 feet) to 20 meters (66 feet)
- Depth: 15 meters (49 feet) to 30 meters (98 feet)
Barren Island is an incredible place to visit for both novice and certified scuba divers. Despite its name, you’ll find sites such as Purple Haze and Manta Point offer tons of growing coral and schools of needle fish and sea fans scattering across the waters.
The island is home to the only active volcano on the Indian subcontinent, so, as you can imagine, tourists can’t visit the island itself unless they have a permit from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Forest Department.
However, if you have moderate to advanced experience in the water, there’s tons to explore out here off-land.
The Andaman Islands Scuba Diving Experience
What else can you expect from scuba diving out around the Andaman Islands? Let’s take a quick look.
Best Scuba Diving Sites and Spots for Visibility
Some of the best scuba dive spots in the Andaman Islands include Seduction Point, Aquarium, Turtle Bay, Lighthouse, and Purple Haze. Lighthouse, in particular, is a great place to experience night diving as a certified diver.
I’d recommend Barren Island’s Purple Haze for its absolutely stunning coral growth, though it’s a bit of a tricky and technical dive for beginners. Take a look at that smoky, rugged island backdrop, though!
When's the Best Time of Year to Dive Across the Andaman Islands?
The best time of year to go scuba diving in the Andaman Islands is between November and May. This is when the water is at its calmest, making it far easier to explore the countless diving destinations! But don’t worry; you’ll still have plenty of playful ocean waves in certain areas.
Are There Any Liveaboards Based Around the Andaman Islands?
The Diva Andaman yacht stands out as the sole vessel offering scheduled join-in liveaboard trips to the Andaman Islands, making her annual visit each April.
Scuba diving boats depart daily, usually from Port Blair as the most popular destination, but they book up very quickly. So, it’s best to book as far in advance as possible.
There are other daily dive boats that leave from Havelock Island, some of which even provide scuba diving equipment, but, again, if that’s what you need, then it’s best to book as far in advance as possible.
Marine Life in the Andaman Islands
The rich marine life in the Andaman Islands is a huge attraction for scuba divers everywhere! While scuba diving in Andaman Islands, you’re more than likely to come across enchanting coral reefs (with both hard and soft corals), sea turtles, white tip reef sharks, manta rays, blue spotted stingrays, eagle rays, and all kinds of curious critters.
Established in 1983, the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park spans over 280 square kilometers, protecting over 50 islands of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, many of which are uninhabited. It’s home to more than 300 species of coral and countless marine species, offering a vital sanctuary for research, conservation, and eco-tourism, making it a critical area for biodiversity in the region.
Exploring the Andaman Islands with an experienced dive master is advisable to navigate its diverse underwater realms safely. They can expertly guide you through the vibrant marine ecosystems and educate on interacting respectfully with the delicate underwater environment.
More Best Dive Sites
The Andaman Islands are quite special, untouched by man and well protected. However, there are plenty of other dives sites across our planet that are just waiting to be explored. If you’re looking for more inspiration for your next big adventure, check out my range of best diving articles below!
