Frequently Asked Questions

Enriched Air Nitrox is a gas mixture that contains a higher percentage of oxygen than regular air, which allows divers to extend their bottom time and reduce the risk of decompression sickness. However, Enriched Air Nitrox is not suitable for all types of diving. It is recommended only for recreational diving within no-stop limits, as it may increase the risk of oxygen toxicity during decompression diving. Furthermore, Enriched Air Nitrox does not provide any additional benefits for deep diving. Therefore, it is essential to always dive within your training and experience level and to follow the recommended gas mixtures for the type of diving you plan to undertake.

Answer: Unfortunately, Barracuda City, while very beautiful, cannot be explored by divers who are new to scuba diving, especially, if they do not know how to swim. If you want to dive at Barracuda City, you’d have to first learn swimming if you do not how and then enrol on scuba diving training from the many diving centres at Andamans. You’d, of course, have to complete a specified number of dives before you can get an advanced-level scuba certification.

No, non-swimmers are not allowed to perform scuba diving on Rutland Island. Scuba diving is a water sport that requires a minimum level of swimming ability and divers must be capable of swimming a minimum of 200 meters without any help.

However, contradictory to most diving operators, some of them provide beginner scuba diving programs to individuals who are not proficient in swimming.

To renew your PADI Specialty Instructor certification, you must have an active teaching status and complete a Specialty Instructor Course or show proof of experience teaching that specialty. You must also have renewed your PADI Instructor certification within the past 12 months.

In Andaman, there are several PADI-certified dive shops that offer the PADI Enriched Air Diver Course, and the instructors who teach the course are PADI-certified professionals. These instructors have undergone extensive training and have the necessary knowledge and experience to teach enriched air diving techniques safely and effectively. They are also equipped with the necessary tools and equipment to teach the course, such as enriched air cylinders, dive computers, and dive tables. Some dive shops may also offer the course through PADI Enriched Air Specialty Instructors who have additional training and experience in teaching enriched air diving, providing students with the opportunity to learn from highly skilled and experienced professionals.

Answer: The best time to scuba dive at Barracuda City in Havelock Island is from November to March. The weather is pleasant around this time and there’s hardly any rain, which is the perfect weather for scuba diving. It is risky to scuba dive during the rainy season as the visibility underwater becomes very low and there are always chances of a storm. While you can scuba dive until June, the weather will become very hot and humid, the Andamans being a tropical region. There are always chances of sudden rain, even though the weather may start pleasant in the morning. As such, you’ll get many discounts around this time. Make sure you check the forecast and listen to the diving instructor when you go for a dive.

Answer: The price for an individual’s scuba diving session on Rutland Island is dependent on the scuba diving operator, the duration of the dive, and the dive site opted for. Usually, a single dive can be priced between INR 3,500 and INR 6,000. A multiple-dive package is more expensive and can cost from INR 10,000 to INR 20,000.

To become a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor, you must first complete the PADI Divemaster Course, followed by the PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC). The IDC consists of two parts - the Assistant Instructor course and the Open Water Scuba Instructor course.

The best time to hire a private boat for scuba diving in Havelock Island is between November to April. Try to avoid the monsoon season as the chances of your diving trip getting are high during these months.

Answer: Barracuda City is one of the less explored diving spots on Havelock Island since it is very deep and only expert divers can access it. This makes the diving spot less crowded and secluded; hence, you can enjoy a dive without many human interventions. The spot is known for its soft and hard corals and other vibrant marine life. It is common to spot many different types of turtles in Barracuda City. You may also come across many sting rays. Given its depth, it is considered a challenge for many scuba divers, who flock to Barracuda City from across the world to test their scuba diving skills.