Lighthouse, Havelock Island

Answer: Lighthouse is a world-famous diving spot in the Andaman Islands that attracts scuba diving lovers from all over the world. The diving spot, not very far from the jetty, is a coral reef that circles a small lighthouse. Because of its shallow depth, this diving spot is best for people who want to take their first dive. Even if you do not know how to swim, you can dive at Lighthouse.

Answer: The diving depth of the Lighthouse is around 12 metres. Most divers go for an average dive of 8-10 metres. The shallow depth can be explored by divers of all experience levels. The visibility in Lighthouse is also amazing, which is great news given its vibrant coral reef.

Answer: Lighthouse is one of the best places to scuba dive in the Andaman Islands. The scuba diving spot is very popular among divers from across the world. This is because it is one of the few places in the Andaman Islands where you can dive at night. Doesn’t that sound brilliant? When you go down under, you’ll be able to explore a circular reef that is surrounded by sand. The reef in itself circles around a small lighthouse, which gives the spot its name. Unfortunately, only experienced scuba divers can dive at night. If you are a beginner, you can still dive Lighthouse in the morning.

Answer: Yes, you can definitely scuba dive even if you wear prescription glasses and have poor eyesight. It is a common misconception that people who wear glasses are not allowed to dive. The truth is that you cannot wear your prescription glasses when you dive. You’d have to wear contact lenses. You can get disposable contact lenses just for the dive if you do not wear them regularly. If you are uncomfortable wearing contact lenses, there might be yet another solution for you. Some diving centres also provide prescription scuba masks that can match your power. This way you wouldn’t have to wear contacts and will be able to see underwater. However, not all diving centres have prescription glasses; also the cost of your scuba diving package may go up due to this.

Answer: The cost of diving in Lighthouse may vary depending on what you want from the dive. If you are a novice who, like many others who go to dive in the Andaman Islands, just wants to try out scuba diving, you’d have to shell out around INR 4500 to INR 7000 for a dive. The amount may vary depending on how much time you want to spend underwater. Generally, most dives are for 30 to 60 minutes, although, beginners are usually taken underwater for not more than 45 minutes at a time. If you want to enrol in a scuba course, you may have to pay in the same range or more depending on the number of dives you want to take and the number of days you want to spend training.

Answer: Lighthouse is surrounded by a colourful coral reef on all sides and boasts of a very wide and rich marine life. There are many vibrant nudibranchs in Lighthouse along with Moorish idols and moray eels. Angelfish, puffer fish, eel, unicorn fish and other small reef fishes can be very easily spotted in the Lighthouse dive. If you are lucky, you may also be able to spot some Kuhls and jenkin stingrays. The sting rays would often be found resting on the sand by the reefs. Don’t forget to get a shot if you see one!

Answer: The Lighthouse scuba diving spot is actually close to both Havelock and Neil Island. Most people travel to Lighthouse from Havelock. Unfortunately, there are no direct flights to Havelock Island. The way to reach Havelock is by a ferry that runs from the capital to the Island. You can take a flight to the easily accessible international airport at Port Blair. Thereafter, the ferries to Havelock start from the Phoenix jetty. It might take you 2-3 hours to reach Havelock but the view from the ferry promises to be stunning.

Answer: Yes, there are, in fact, many scuba diving spots on Havelock Island. You can choose a diving spot depending on whether you are a beginner or an experienced scuba diver. Junction, Jackson’s Bar, Wall, and Johnny’s Gorge are some of the diving spots that are good for experienced divers. If you are a beginner, you can try I-95, V-16, Bob’s backyard, Aquarium, and Mac Point among others.

Answer: Like any other place in the Andaman Islands, Lighthouse also has a lot to offer in terms of water sports. Scuba diving is, of course, the king of water sports. But, if you are not into that, you can always try sea walking and snorkelling. In sea walking, you’ll be walking on a shallow part of the sea bed with an instructor. Snorkelling is just like scuba, but you do not have to deep dive while snorkelling. You can stay afloat just below the surface of the water and enjoy a panoramic view of the sea. If you need more adventure, try jet skiing and parasailing.

Answer: There are many places to explore near Lighthouse. Due to its proximity to both Havelock and Neil Islands, you can explore both these islands. You should visit Radhanagar, Elephant and Govind Nagar beaches. Radhanagar is one of the top beaches in the whole of Asia, and the Govind Nagar beach is close to the Nemo reef dive site. On Neil Island, you can watch the sunset from the Howrah or Natural bridge. Havelock is also known for its mangrove forests and the best way to explore the forest is by taking a kayak ride.