Scuba Diving Sites in Havelock Island

When it comes to water sports, scuba diving is considered the best and the most popular across the globe. In India, the most sought-after destination for exploring the underwater world is the gorgeous union territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The group of islands is famous for pristine and peaceful beaches along with mouth-watering seafood. However, diving is something that attracts a good chunk of tourists to the isles.

Home to a dense ecosystem of coral reefs and formations, the underwater coastal belts surrounding the Andaman Islands are perfect for scuba diving. Long stretches of reefs enclose most of the islands, and these are several hundred meters wide. Shallow waters separate them from the shore and thus, the sites here are ideal for beginners. Diving here is an experience that is rare to be found anywhere else.

 

Imagine you are under the water exploring the aquatic world and suddenly, vibrant fishes and other sea-dwellers decide to join you in the blue ocean. To further enhance your diving experience, there are untouched, alive corals that will spellbind you with their splendour. Thanks to the Andaman Administration that protects the corals and fishes on the island. The marine life here is quite rich and is sure to leave you in wonder and awe.

When you are in the Andaman Islands, don’t miss out on the finest scuba experience in Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep), which is considered the topmost location for diving in India. 

Factors affecting the scuba diving experience in Havelock Island

There are various factors that affect the perfect scuba diving experience such as: 

• Safety
• Water depth
• Water clarity
• Coral population
• Fish population
• Water current
• Weather

It is quite a difficult task to pick a dive site for your underwater adventure considering all these factors. That’s why we have compiled a list of the best dive sites in Havelock Island. 

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced diver, there is one location in Havelock Island that makes up for an amazing scuba diving experience. It’s Nemo Reef! Its rich aquatic life and abundant coral population offer an incredible experience that will leave you wanting more. Usually, the diver is enclosed with colourful fishes and corals. Your dive here is safe and stress-free as the water is clear and water currents low.

We, at Aqua Nomad, make sure that you have an unforgettable scuba diving experience in Havelock Island. Our PADI-certified experts will be there with you throughout the dive so that you can relax and have a wonderful time under the surface. There are a number of scuba diving packages available to choose from when you book your dive with us. 

We will also provide you pick-up and drop-off facility absolutely free of charge (except for guests staying at Taj Exotica Resort & Spa and Barefoot). So you don’t have to worry about additional travel expenses and time.

Top scuba diving sites in Havelock Island

Havelock Island is the hub of the most magnificent dive sites across the Andaman Islands. Based on the type of diving adventure you are looking for, one can choose to dive at any of these nine locations in Swaraj Dweep. 

Barracuda City

The best diving spot for newbies, Barracuda City in Havelock Island is home to coral belts with the ideal combination of both soft and hard coral populations. It has a rich ecosystem that houses abundant vibrant colourful fishes of different species. If you are lucky, then you can also spot wandering sea turtles near the corals. For an extraordinary and unforgettable experience, this dive site is your best bet.

Seduction Point

This dive site in Havelock Island is like a hilly underwater world that has a big underwater rock surrounded by rich aquatic life. You can witness a dense population of hard staghorn corals along with its inhabitants including Napoleons in the shallow waters. That’s why this spot is unique and ideal for divers, who are seeking something new.

Aquarium

At a distance of 3 kilometres from the popular Elephant Beach in Havelock Island, this dive site is a little offshore. It is good for beginners. A large group of colourful fishes can be spotted on the fringing reefs. The visibility of the water is quite clear here that is ideal to observe marine life in a relaxed way.

Turtle Bay

As evident from the name, an abundance of sea turtles can be seen at Turtle Bay. This dive site in Havelock Island also has a decent amount of coral population and Rays. You can spot them in the sand, which would be an extraordinary experience for those who want to see them in their natural habitat. The depth doesn’t exceed 14 meters here, which makes it perfect for inexperienced divers. 

Mac Point

You can reach this dive site by boat. It is rich in hard corals and small groups of fish. You can also spot Dugong, the capital animal of the Andamans, which is also known as a sea cow.

Lighthouse

This dive site is located near the shallow waters and boasts of splendid marine creatures as well as hard and soft corals. The water grows deeper and deeper as you move away from the seashore. It is a great site for night diving as well owing to its good clarity.

The Wall

A big underwater rock dropping down to 56 meters, The Wall offers a great underwater world for exploration. This dive site is covered with soft corals and rich aquatic life, it is a great dive site in Havelock Island. For an extraordinary diving experience in the Andaman Islands, choose to dive at this site.

Pilot Reef

A long strip of the underwater canyon that is around 24 meters deep, Pilot Reef houses hard corals and some unique fishes such as Leopard, Whitetip Sharks, etc. Due to a little bit of difficulty level, this dive site is only recommended for experienced divers. 

Minerva Ledge

This scuba dive site is a huge block of hard corals in clear waters. Sea dwellers here include sharks. Recommended for experienced scuba divers, Minerva Ledge is perfect for observing the underwater kingdom at its best.

Johnny’s Gorge

This site was named after Johnny, a local dive master, who discovered it. The topography of this dive site in the Andaman Islands comprises low-lying rocky outcrops at a depth of 98 feet. The sea bed is dotted by gorgonians and multicoloured soft corals. Bustling with life and activity, it is surrounded by sands from everywhere. A variety of small angelfish, anemone and surgeonfish take refuge at the rocks of Johnny’s Gorge. One can spot magnificent schools of mackerel, trevally, snapper, Andaman sweetlips, barracuda, giant groupers, batfish, tuna, queenfish, unicorn fish, and so much more here. And if you are lucky, friendly dolphins may also greet you. 

White House Rock

This dive site in the Andaman Islands is easy to access and has variable conditions. It is a circular reef that offers several vantage points. The depth ranges from 8 meters to 50 meters. The weather conditions and water currents here are ideal for scuba diving. There are hard as well soft corals such as gorgonian soft corals, fan corals, and branch-like whip corals in vibrant hues. One can easily spot large schools of tuna, trevally, and barracudas. You can always expect more here as the marine life here is simply awesome. That is why it is a sought-after diving site in the Andamans.

Dixon’s Pinnacle

Dixon’s Pinnacle comprise 3 giant rock pinnacles emerging from a dim bottom. A local instructor discovered it and the site was named after him. A happening place, it is popular for its rich and colourful marine life. Continuous frenetic activity can be seen at the top of the pinnacles as it is a cleaning station for giant groupers. One can spot clouds of barracuda waiting for their turn. White-tip reef sharks can also be seen there. Other inhabitants consist of large Napoleon wrasse, titan triggerfish, moray eels, shrimps, tunas, green turtles, red-toothed triggerfish, manta ray, trevally, lionfish, sting rays and batfish.

Jackson’s Bar

A horizontal rocky reef, Jackson’s Bar is good for spotting manta rays, eagle rays, and white-tip reef sharks. It is in the form of a shelf. Sloping down towards the sandy area from 20 meters, it reaches 30 meters to meet the bottom from where a big strip of rock protrudes. This dive site is home to plentiful barrel sponges and a variety of spectacular soft corals. The brother of legendary Johnny, Jackson, discovered this site. That’s how this site got its name. The area is mostly populated by large pelagic fish. This is because of the location of this site and the strong currents flowing over it.

Broken Ledge

Discovered in 2010, this dive site has relatively low depths and sheltered conditions. As a result, it is sought-after among scuba divers having different experience levels. It is made up of low-lying rocky outcrops resembling a broken ledge. It emerges from the bottom at nearly 24 meters. The ledge is surrounded by sand. The site is inhabited by a diverse variety of reef fish such as Moorish idols, lionfish, Napoleon wrasse, and shoals of snappers. Other in-house residents include turtles, schooling longfin bannerfish, and marbled groupers. One can also spot bigger fish like white tip reef sharks, marbled rays, manta rays, dogtooth, and yellowfin tunas here. 

Inchkeith Wreck

A wreck covered in scorpionfish, cleaner shrimp, and patches of soft corals, this diving site is quite popular among beginner divers in the Andaman Islands. SS Inchkeith was a cargo vessel that sank at the mouth of the inlet near Duncan Island in March 1955. It carried coal and timber, and struck a rock. It is a sought-after dive site and has low visibility. Thus, scuba divers feel an air of mystery around the wreck. One can see the huge propellor at the stern that sits upright in 60 feet of water. Great barracuda sometimes emerge from the shadows. 

Red Pillar

This dive site is a shallow reef that is part of the continuous fringing reef running along the north-eastern coast of Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep). If you want to witness the perfect balance of vibrant fish and soft & hard corals, then this is your one-stop destination. Clownfish, tiger fish, angelfish, along with so many other colourful fish can be spotted in its clear waters. The underwater world of Havelock Island is considered the best in the country, and that’s why it would be absolutely great if you could have your first dive here.

The Slope

One of the best shallow dive sites, The Slope in the Andaman Islands is very much popular. Its topography is quite interesting. It is like an amphitheatre with parallel sandy ridges that are placed like cascading rows of seats sloping downwards. The ridges are interspersed every now and then with corals. The Slope is a large dive site and to see it fully, you need to dive more than one time. However, you can see a lot even without covering the whole extent of it. One can spot echinoderms (sea stars, cushion stars, brittle stars, sea cucumbers), molluscs, crustaceans, damselfish, fusiliers, cardinalfish, etc.

Cost of scuba diving in Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep)

Below are the tables of scuba diving prices in Havelock Island:

Scuba Diving for Non-Swimmers

S.no.	Dive Type	Cost (in Rs.)
1.	Pool DSD Confined practice	2,000
2.	PADI Discover Scuba Diving Program (Boat)	6,500
3.	PADI Discover Scuba Diving Program (Shore)	4,500
4.	Guided Snorkelling	2,500
5.	Guided Snorkelling (Boat)	4,000

Scuba Diving for Beginner Swimmers 

S.no.	Dive Type	Cost (in Rs.)
1.	PADI Scuba Diver Course	20,000
2.	PADI Open Water Course	28,000
3.	PADI Open Water Course (Referral Diver)	16,000
4.	PADI Advanced Open Water Course	25,000
5.	PADI Emergency First Aid Responder Course	10,000
6.	PADI Rescue Course	22,000
7.	PADI Dive Master Course	70,000

Speciality Dive Courses for Divers & Professionals

S.no.	Dive Type	Cost (in Rs.)
1.	Wreck Dive Speciality	16,000
2.	Drift Dive Speciality	16,000
3.	Underwater Naturalist Speciality	14,000
4.	Underwater Navigation Speciality	14,000
5.	Underwater Photograph Speciality	19,000
6.	Peak Performance Buoyancy Speciality	14,000
7.	Night Dive Speciality	15,000
8.	Project AWARE Speciality (classroom session)	6,000
9.	Deep Dive Speciality	12,000
10.	Boat Dive Speciality	10,000
11.	O2 Provider Speciality (classroom session)	10,000