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Scuba diving in Andaman is the best in India, and the good news is you do not need any experience to try it. If you have never breathed underwater before, a guided intro dive gets you onto a shallow reef with an instructor at your side. If you are already certified, the deeper sites off Havelock and Neil offer reef sharks, turtles, giant groupers, and coral walls in warm, clear water. This guide covers the dive sites, the beginner and certified paths, PADI course options, the season, real prices, and exactly what to bring.
We are a local operator based in Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair) and we book divers onto these reefs every week, so everything below is what we actually tell our travellers — not a brochure.
Why Andaman Is India’s Top Dive Destination
The waters around the Andaman Islands are warm (26–29°C), calm in season, and unusually clear — visibility often runs 15 to 30 metres. The reefs are healthy, the marine life is dense, and because the islands sit far out in the Bay of Bengal, the dive sites are far less crowded than better-known spots in South-East Asia. Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) is the main hub, with a cluster of world-class sites within a short boat ride, while Neil Island and North Bay near Port Blair round out the options.
The Best Scuba Diving Sites in Andaman
Here are the six sites divers ask about most, with what makes each one worth a slot on your trip.
Barracuda City
A relaxed reef site off Havelock, named for the schools of barracuda that patrol it. Gentle depths and good coral make it a favourite for newer certified divers and a common second dive for beginners moving beyond the shallow intro sites. Expect reef fish, rays, and the occasional turtle.
The Wall
Exactly what it sounds like — a dramatic underwater cliff off Havelock that drops into the blue, its face covered in soft corals, sea fans, and sponges. This is a certified-diver site with more depth and often some current, so it suits divers with a few logged dives who want that big-ocean feeling.
South Valley (Nemo Reef)
A sloping reef with hard and soft coral gardens and plenty of anemones — hence the “Nemo” nickname for its clownfish. It is a versatile site used for training dives, fun dives, and photography, with calm conditions most of the season.
Johnny’s Gorge
Widely rated the best dive site in the Andamans, and one of the best in India. It is a deeper, offshore site with a big-fish reputation — reef sharks, huge groupers, schooling snappers, eagle rays, and turtles all show up here. Because of the depth and the boat distance, it is reserved for experienced certified divers, usually with an Advanced certification.
The Aquarium
A shallow, sheltered site packed with colourful reef fish — the name says it all. The calm, shallow conditions make it ideal for training dives and for beginners on their first proper reef, as well as for snorkellers tagging along on the same boat.
Lighthouse
A short boat ride from Havelock jetty, Lighthouse is a flexible site that works for day dives and is one of the few set up for night diving. Shallow coral shelves drop to deeper sections, so instructors use it for everything from first dives to specialty training. After dark it comes alive with lobsters, crabs, and hunting fish.
Beginner vs Certified: Which Path Is Yours?
Never dived before? Start with a Discover Scuba dive
If you have zero experience, you do a “Discover Scuba Diving” (DSD) intro dive. After a short briefing and a few basics in shallow water, a qualified instructor takes you down to around 6–12 metres, staying with you the entire time. No certification, no swimming test for the basic experience, and no prior skill needed — just the willingness to breathe slowly and relax. It is the single most popular water activity in the Andamans for a reason.
Already certified? Book fun dives
If you hold an Open Water or higher certification, bring your card and logbook and go straight to fun dives. Certified divers reach the deeper, richer sites — The Wall, Johnny’s Gorge — that beginners cannot. Most dive centres will ask for a recent logged dive or run a quick check dive if it has been a while since you were last in the water.
PADI Course Options in Andaman
Havelock is a great, affordable place to actually get certified. The common PADI paths are:
- PADI Discover Scuba Diving: The one-off guided intro dive above. No certification, done in a few hours.
- PADI Scuba Diver: A shorter entry-level certification (about 2 days) that lets you dive to 12 m under a professional’s supervision — good if you are short on time.
- PADI Open Water Diver: The full entry-level licence (about 3–4 days), certifying you to dive to 18 m anywhere in the world with a buddy. This is the one most people come for.
- PADI Advanced Open Water: A 2-day course that takes you to 30 m and opens up deeper sites like Johnny’s Gorge, plus specialties like deep and navigation diving.
If getting certified is your goal, block out enough days — an Open Water course needs three to four clear days, so build the rest of your sightseeing around it rather than the other way round.
When to Dive: The Andaman Season
The diving season runs from October to May. This is when the sea is calm, the visibility is at its best, and boats reach the offshore sites reliably. Peak clarity is usually in the December to April window. During the June to September monsoon, many operators pause or limit diving because rough seas cut visibility and make boat trips unsafe. If diving is the centrepiece of your trip, plan it inside the October–May window.
How Much Does Scuba Diving in Andaman Cost?
Prices vary by site, depth, whether it is a shore or boat dive, and the season. As honest, current guide figures:
- Discover Scuba (intro dive): from around ₹3,500 for a shore-based dive; boat-based intro dives to better reefs run higher, roughly ₹4,500–₹6,000.
- Certified fun dive: ₹3,500–₹5,000 per dive, with discounts on multi-dive packages.
- PADI Scuba Diver course: roughly ₹15,000–₹20,000.
- PADI Open Water course: roughly ₹18,000–₹28,000, including certification and gear.
- PADI Advanced Open Water: roughly ₹16,000–₹24,000.
Be a little wary of very cheap “₹1,500 scuba” ads — those are almost always quick, shallow, heavily crowded shore dips with minimal instructor time. A properly guided dive with real bottom time and good equipment sits in the bands above. If you want scuba built into a full itinerary, look at our Andaman scuba diving package, which bundles dives with your stays and transfers.
Safety, Fitness & Who Should Not Dive
Scuba is safe when it is done properly, and that starts with a licensed operator and a certified instructor — never the cheapest random stall on the beach. A few honest fitness notes:
- You should be in reasonable general health. Serious heart conditions, uncontrolled asthma, epilepsy, or recent surgery may rule diving out — you will fill in a medical questionnaire, and if in doubt, get a doctor’s clearance first.
- Do not dive if you are pregnant, and do not dive after drinking alcohol.
- Never fly within 18–24 hours of your last dive — this is critical. Plan your dives for earlier in the trip, not the day before your flight home.
- Most intro dives have a minimum age of 10; full courses usually start at 10–12.
- You do not need to be a strong swimmer for an intro dive, but basic comfort in water helps. Full certification does include a swim assessment.
What to Bring
The dive centre provides all the technical gear — mask, fins, wetsuit, BCD, regulator, and tank. You just need to bring:
- Swimwear worn under your clothes, plus a towel and a change of clothes.
- Reef-safe sunscreen (apply well before you gear up), and a hat and sunglasses for surface time.
- Your certification card and logbook if you are already qualified.
- A dry bag or waterproof phone pouch for the boat, plus any prescription glasses (tell the centre if you need a prescription mask).
- Motion-sickness tablets if you are prone to seasickness on the boat ride out.
FAQ
Can I scuba dive in Andaman without knowing how to swim?
Yes, for a Discover Scuba intro dive. The instructor holds and guides you the whole time, so non-swimmers regularly do it. If you want a full PADI certification, though, you will need to pass a basic swim assessment. If you cannot swim at all, consider sea walking in Andaman instead — no swimming needed and no diving skill required.
What is the best time for scuba diving in Andaman?
October to May, with the clearest visibility from December to April. The monsoon months (June to September) often see diving paused or limited due to rough seas and poor visibility.
Where is the best scuba diving in Andaman?
Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep) is the main dive hub, with top sites like Johnny’s Gorge, The Wall, and Barracuda City. Neil Island and North Bay near Port Blair are also good, especially for beginners. See our Havelock guide for how to base your dive trip there.
Is snorkelling a good alternative if I don’t want to dive?
Absolutely. If diving feels like too much, snorkelling in Andaman at Elephant Beach or Jolly Buoy gets you over healthy coral and fish for a fraction of the cost, with just a mask and a life jacket.
Plan Your Andaman Dive Trip With Locals
Whether it is a single bucket-list intro dive or a full PADI certification, we will match you to the right sites and licensed dive partners and fit it neatly around your ferries, stays, and the rest of your trip. Take a look at our Andaman scuba diving package for what is included and starting prices, or just message us on WhatsApp with your dates for a free, no-obligation quote. A real person, based right here in the islands, usually replies within minutes.