Frequently Asked Questions

Answer: Your poor eyesight will not be a deterrent to your scuba diving dreams if you take proper precautions. Prescription glasses cannot be worn underwater as they would hinder you from wearing the scuba mask. What you can do instead is to wear contact lenses. This is the easiest and cheapest way to ensure that you can see underwater. The other option is to wear prescription scuba masks that match your power, but that depends on the availability of prescription scuba masks at your diving centre.

Answer: To enrol in freediver course, you need to be at least 12 years old (for minors, parental or guardian consent is required). You should also be able to swim at least 200 meters non-stop without fins or 300 meters with fins and be in good physical and mental health. Before you do your course, your diving centre will make you sign a statement of understanding, a statement of medical history, and a liability release form. Your instructor may also require you to perform a swim test or medical clearance before the course to ensure that you meet the physical requirements.

The PADI Wreck Diver certification card you receive upon completing the course in Andamans is internationally recognized and allows you to explore and dive wrecks in open water environments around the world. This certification signifies that you have the necessary knowledge and skills to plan and execute safe and responsible wreck dives, including proper techniques for navigating through tight spaces and avoiding potential hazards. It is a valuable certification for any diver looking to expand their diving experience and explore the fascinating world of underwater shipwrecks.

Answer: The Aquarium is one of the most famous diving sites in Havelock. Most of the scuba diving tourists going to Havelock flock to the Aquarium. The diving site gets its name from the fact that it has sloping reefs and varied colourful fishes that make it look like an Aquarium. Moray eels, Moorish idols, and scorpionfish are very common around this spot. You will also see many amazingly hued nudibranchs gliding through on the sandy sea bed. That’s not all. Angelfish, snappers, coral groupers and even octopuses and shrimps, you can see it all at Aquarium.

Answer: The course typically takes two days to complete, with one day dedicated to knowledge development and confined water sessions and the other day dedicated to open water sessions. However, the duration may vary depending on the instructor and the group size, as well as weather and sea conditions.

The equipment required for the PADI Wreck Diver course is similar to what you would need for any scuba diving course, with a few additional items specific to wreck diving. You will need a mask, fins, regulator, buoyancy control device, dive computer, and wetsuit. In addition to these, you will also need a dive light to see inside the wreck, and a wreck reel or line to safely explore the wreck and mark your path. These extra items are important for safely navigating through the potentially hazardous environment of a shipwreck. It is important to ensure that all equipment is well-maintained and in good working condition before beginning the course.

Answer: The Aquarium is located on the southwest side of Havelock Island. Since Havelock is a small island, you won’t have a lot of difficulties finding such a famous diving site as the Aquarium. You can access Havelock Island only via Port Blair. You can take a flight to Port Blair’s Veer Savarkar International Airport and take a ferry from the Phoenix Bay jetty. There are no flights to Havelock, so you’d have to take a ferry from Port Blair. Havelock is around 70 km away from Port Blair and it takes around 2-3 hours to reach the island.

Answer: The first day of the course usually starts with knowledge development sessions, during which you will learn the basic principles of freediving, including breathing techniques, equalisation, and safety protocols. You may also watch videos, read materials, and take quizzes on the PADI e-learning website. After the knowledge development, you will move to the confined water sessions, which are conducted in a shallow and controlled environment, such as a pool or a calm bay. In these sessions, you will practice skills such as duck diving, finning, and equalising, as well as safety procedures, such as buddy procedures and rescue techniques. The second day usually consists of open water sessions, during which you will apply your skills and knowledge in a natural marine environment, such as a reef or a drop-off. The depth and duration of the dives will depend on your comfort level and skill progression, but will generally not exceed 16 meters (52 feet) for the course.

Your PADI Wreck Diver course instructor in Andamans will be a highly qualified and experienced scuba diving professional. They will be a certified PADI instructor who has undergone extensive training and met strict standards set by PADI to teach the Wreck Diver course. PADI instructors are required to have a minimum of 100 logged dives and undergo rigorous training to ensure the highest level of safety and quality instruction. Your instructor will provide you with the necessary knowledge, skills, and guidance to safely explore and navigate through shipwrecks while ensuring that you have an enjoyable and memorable diving experience.

Answer: The Aquarium is located in Havelock and the island is a paradise full of beautiful sights. Of all the best places in Havelock, the beaches are the best. You can visit the famous Radhanagar and Elephant beaches. Enjoy the pristine white shore and relax and watch the sunset on the horizon. If you want to explore more beaches, you have options like Govind Nagar beach, Vijaynagar beach and Kalapathar beach. Havelock is also known for its mangrove forests. Enjoy a quiet kayaking trip down the mangrove alleys and explore the rich biodiversity of the island. You can also visit Inglis Island on a ferry from Havelock.