Margherita’s Mischief, Neil Island

Answer: This Neil Island dive site is a huge, sandy bottom that is covered in a maze of boulders. The perfect location for open water divers owing to its easy depths and good visibility. Margherita’s Mischief rarely has a water current.

Answer: Dugongs often frequent this site and you can capture them on your camera. Hundreds of yellow snappers and soldierfish can be seen on the boulder patches. Pufferfish, angelfish, batfish, and dozens of blue spotted stingrays can be seen hidden in the sand.

Answer: This scuba dive site is just ten minutes away from the Neil Island jetty.

Answer: This scuba dive is around 22-52 feet deep.

Answer: Margherita’s Mischief is one of the 3 most popular reefs between Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep) and Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep). It is a long chain of rock mounds extending southward from the descent point. The sea grass on the sandy bottom of this dive site is loved by the dugongs, and thus you can spot them here. Under its rocks, you will find a number of moray eels, octopus, lobsters, shrimps, juvenile pipe fish, mantis shrimps, etc.

Answer: Every year, travellers get attracted to the pristine beauty and untouched sandy beaches of Andaman Island. It has some of the most scenic spots for travel and nature lovers. This archipelago is visited by people from all over the world to uncover and explore its jewels. The entire island is amazingly gorgeous but there is one place that nature lovers and beach bums never miss- Neil Island (renamed to Shaheed Dweep in 2018). It is located at a distance of 30 kilometres from the main islands of Andaman and is known for some of the most unique sights. If Andaman Island is a crown, then Neil Island is its most precious gem!

If you are looking for dreamlike natural surprises, then your search ends at Neil Island. Its thriving biodiversity, unexploited coral reefs, white sandy beaches, adventurous experiences, a notable population of birds and animal life, etc. are a few reasons why you should pick this island to spend a few days of your life here.

To reach Neil Island, first you have to reach Port Blair, the capital of Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Port Blair is well-connected via flights. Direct flights are available from Chennai, Kolkata, and Bangalore. And if you are flying from any other city like Delhi or Mumbai, then you will have a layover in Hyderabad or somewhere else. Once you reach Port Blair, you can opt for any of the following ways to reach Neil Island:

• Ferry to Neil Island- There are government ferries plying from Port Blair to Neil Island. Every day, two ferries leave in the morning.
• Ferry from Rangat- Daily ferry service is available from Rangat.
• Private Boat- There are two private boat service providers, Makruzz and Ocean Green. These have scheduled and private departures for Neil Island.

Answer: Some of the prettiest beaches in the Andaman Islands are located in Shaheed Dweep. The scenic beaches boast white sands and uninterrupted views of the clear blue skies. During monsoon, the sight changes entirely as the sky becomes way too dramatic. The most popular beaches of Neil Island are Sitapur Beach, Bharatpur Beach, Lakshmanpur Beach, and Sir Hugh Rose Island. You can book your stay nearby Lakshmanpur or Sitapur beach at a fancy resort.

Answer: The best time to visit Neil Island is from October to April when the weather is pleasurable. Most of the people preferring to come here plan their Andaman trip during this time. The summer season is likely to be avoided.

Answer: If you choose to for boat diving in the Andaman Islands, then it will cost you around Rs. 6500 for one dive. And if you decide to go for the boat dive speciality, then the charges would be nearly Rs. 10,000 for one dive.

Answer: Yes, absolutely. It might come as a surprise to you, but you don’t need to know how to swim to be able to scuba dive. Scuba diving is open to non-swimmers as well. However, you cannot get a PADI/SSI certification if you do not know how to swim as you are not eligible for the scuba certification training course. You can still opt for a recreational scuba package that will include a dive with an instructor.

Answer: Fortunately, there is only a lower age limit for scuba diving. Anyone upwards of the age of 10 is allowed to scuba dive. There is no upper age limit. If you are healthy and have strong respiratory abilities, you can scuba dive even if you are in your 70s.

Answer: Be prepared to be stared back at by brilliant sea turtles underwater on Neil Island. Since the water is clearer than Havelock Island (there are no mangroves on Neil Island), you have the opportunity to spot many water creatures at a relatively close depth. And water creatures there are many. You will be able to spot manta rays, sea snakes, much colourful tropical fish, and yes, the elusive dugongs if you go scuba diving on Neil Island.