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THINGS TO DO · SCUBA DIVING
Scuba Diving in Andaman
Some of India’s clearest water and healthiest reefs sit off Havelock. Whether you’ve never breathed underwater or you’re a logged diver chasing pinnacles, here’s the honest guide.
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Where
Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) — Elephant Beach & offshore sites
Season
October–May · best visibility Nov–Apr
Duration
30–45 min underwater per dive
Price range
₹3,500–₹6,000 per dive
Who can do it
Age 10+ · non-swimmers welcome on intro dives
What It’s Like
Warm water, real coral, no acting required
The first thing that surprises people is how warm and calm it is. Water temperatures sit around 28°C most of the season, and on a good day you can see 15–25 metres ahead — enough to spot a turtle grazing before you’re anywhere near it. This isn’t a murky quarry dive; it’s clear tropical water over living reef.
If it’s your first time, an instructor is with you the entire dive — holding your BCD, managing your buoyancy, and signalling every step. You don’t need to know swimming for an intro dive, and you can stop and surface any time. If you’re certified, we’ll pair you with a dive centre that knows the offshore sites and reads the current honestly rather than pushing you somewhere unsafe to hit a schedule. We don’t run the dives ourselves — we book the licensed operators we trust, and we tell you which sites suit your level.
Good to know, honestly
No swimming needed for a Discover Scuba intro dive- Fly no sooner than 18–24 hours after your last dive
- Heart, ear or lung conditions? Tell us first — a medical form applies
- Sea conditions can move dives — we’d rather reschedule than risk it
WHERE YOU’LL DIVE
Havelock’s best dive sites
A mix of gentle coral gardens for first dives and deeper pinnacles for logged divers. Your dive centre picks the site to match your level and the day’s conditions.
Beginner
The Aquarium
A shallow, sheltered reef swarming with butterflyfish, snappers and clownfish. The classic first-dive site — calm, colourful and forgiving.
Depth ~8–12 m · reef
Beginner
Lighthouse
Havelock’s most-loved easy site, and the go-to for night dives. Lobsters, octopus and lionfish emerge after dark over an easy sandy-reef slope.
Depth ~12–16 m · day & night
Certified
Barracuda City
Named for the schooling barracuda that hover here. Soft corals, sea turtles and the occasional reef shark cruising the edges.
Depth ~18 m · reef
All levels
South Valley
A long coral ridge with easy navigation and dense fish life. Works as a relaxed certified dive or a confidence-builder after training.
Depth ~16–20 m · reef
Advanced
Johnny’s Gorge
The Andamans’ signature deep site — a fish highway of stingrays, groupers, snapper walls and passing sharks. Currents can run; experience required.
Depth ~25–30 m · pinnacle
Advanced
The Wall
A dramatic drop-off draped in gorgonian fans and soft coral, falling away into the blue. Big pelagic sightings for divers comfortable at depth.
Depth ~20–30 m · drop-off
PICK YOUR DIVE
Intro dive, certified dive or full PADI course?
Three honest routes into the water. Prices are per person and vary by site, boat vs shore, and how many dives you book — we confirm the exact figure before you commit.
Discover Scuba (Intro Dive)
₹3,500–₹4,500 / dive
- Certification needed: None
- You come out with: One guided dive, instructor holding on
- Typical depth: 8–12 m
- Time needed: Half a morning · ~30 min underwater
- Swimming required: No — instructor controls everything
- Best for: Total first-timers & nervous beginners
Certified Fun Dive
₹4,000–₹6,000 / dive
- Certification needed: Yes — any recognised agency
- You come out with: Logged dives at deeper sites
- Typical depth: 18–30 m
- Time needed: Half day per dive trip
- Swimming required: Basic water comfort
- Best for: Already-certified divers
PADI Open Water Course
₹22,000–₹26,000 / course
- Certification needed: None — you’ll earn it
- You come out with: A lifetime PADI licence to dive anywhere
- Typical depth: Up to 18 m (training dives)
- Time needed: 3–4 days
- Swimming required: Yes — swim & float test applies
- Best for: Anyone serious about diving long-term
PLAN IT PROPERLY
Turn diving into a full trip
Tour Package
Adventure & Scuba Package
Bundle guided dives with sea walking, snorkelling and a proper PADI centre across a 6N/7D Havelock-focused itinerary — ferries, stays and transfers handled.
Destination
Havelock (Swaraj Dweep)
The dive capital of the Andamans. See the beaches, ferry timings from Port Blair and the stays that pair best with your days on the reef.
GOOD TO KNOW
Scuba diving questions, answered
The honest answers we give on WhatsApp every day.
Do I need to know swimming to try scuba diving in Andaman?
For a Discover Scuba (intro) dive — no. An instructor stays right beside you for the whole dive, controls your buoyancy, and you simply breathe through the regulator. You can signal to surface at any point. Swimming ability does matter for a certified fun dive and is formally tested during the PADI Open Water course, which includes a swim and a float.
When is the best time for scuba diving in Andaman?
October to May is the diving season. November to April usually brings the calmest seas and the best underwater visibility — often 15–25 metres. During the June–September monsoon, offshore sites are frequently closed for safety and visibility drops, so we don’t recommend planning a dive trip then.
Where does the diving happen — Havelock or Port Blair?
The best reef and wall dives run from Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) — training and boat dives launch from Elephant Beach out to sites like Barracuda City, South Valley and Johnny’s Gorge. If you’re short on time in Port Blair, North Bay Island offers easy shallow intro dives. We’ll tell you which fits your itinerary and level.
Ready to dive Havelock’s reefs?
Tell us your dates and whether it’s your first dive or you’re already certified — we’ll build a custom itinerary with exact, itemised pricing. No obligation.
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