Scuba Diving in Havelock Island

Havelock Island is one of the most visited scuba diving sites in India thanks to the numerous dive sites across the island. The dive sites come with many layers of depth thus making them perfect for scuba divers of any level – beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Two of the most famous scuba diving spots in Havelock are Lighthouse and Aquarium. Both these sites are of less depth and are great for recreational divers and beginners. Jackson Bar, Johnny’s Gorge, Minerva’s Delight, Junction, and K-Rock are perfect for seasoned divers. Of course, the scuba diving sites are not just limited to those mentioned above. Havelock has the highest number of diving sites in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and you can explore any number of them.

The cost of scuba diving in Havelock depends on your intention behind the dive. All scuba divers need special gears that enable them to glide underwater and breathe as well. Given all these factors, you might think that scuba diving is very expensive. However, on the contrary, it is very reasonably priced. If you are a beginner, who may or may not know how to swim, a single dive can cost you anything between INR 3500 to 7000. This package would also include an instructor, videos, photos, and a boat ride. If you know how to swim and want to do a single-day training course for scuba certification, it can cost you anything between INR 10,000 to 15,000. You can opt for a slightly longer course if you want more advanced level training. These courses would cover more than one dive and cost you anything between INR 10,000 to INR 30,000. Those who are intermediate or advanced level divers can go for dives as less as INR 3000 to INR 30,000 or above depending on the number of days and dives they opt for.

Havelock Island is a scuba diver's paradise. People from all across the world visit the island to dive from its many sites. Most tourists make it to Havelock from October through April. This is because there is less rain during this season thus making it easier to dive. Plus, it is not possible to scuba dive during a rain or storm. Many diving centres also allow people to dive until May barring the days on which it rains or the weather is bad. The island also gets a lot of crowds from October to February, as it is the holiday season. If you want to avoid the crowd, you can visit the Andaman Islands towards March or April.

It doesn’t matter whether you know how to swim or not; the diving centres at Havelock Island are always open for you. It is a common myth that non-swimmers cannot scuba dive. While being a swimmer does make it easier to dive, you can dive under the water even if you do not know how to swim. One thing to keep in mind is that while you can dive even if you are a non-swimmer, you cannot pursue a scuba certification course.

Unfortunately, there are no direct flights to Havelock Island as the island does not have an airport. But, worry not, as there are flights that directly land at the Veer Savarkar International Airport in Port Blair. Havelock is 70 km away from Port Blair, and the only way to reach the airport is via boat. You can take the ferry from the Phoenix Jetty which is run by the government. This is also the cheapest way to travel to Havelock. The ferries start early morning and then late afternoon and it takes around 2-3 hours to reach Havelock. You might think it’s a long time, but imagine being out there in the vast expanse of the sea. By the end of it, you’ll surely wish the ride could go on a little longer.

Anyone above the age of 10 can try scuba diving, but it depends on the diving centre with which you enrol if they would allow children to dive. As long as you have a strong respiratory system and are healthy, you can scuba dive irrespective of your age and gender.

Unfortunately, certain medical conditions may be considered risky for diving. Since scuba diving requires strong respiratory abilities, anyone with a severe respiratory system may find it difficult to dive. The same goes for heart patients. You can still consult with your doctor to see if you can still make that dive. Also, pregnant women are generally dissuaded from scuba diving.

Havelock is nothing short of heaven for water sports lovers. Diving enthusiasts can, of course, have options like scuba diving, sea walking, and snorkelling. If you are a bit scared of scuba diving, you should try snorkelling, which again, does not require you to know swimming. Those of you who want more action can try jet skiing and paragliding. If you are travelling in a group, you can also try the banana boat ride which promises to be a lot of fun.

One of the top things you should do in Havelock Island is to visit the iconic Rdhanagar Beach. This beach was ranked 7th in Asia by Time magazine in 2004 and is the most beautiful and clean beach you’ll ever see. There are many other beaches in Havelock like Vijaynagar beach and the popular Elephant beach. You can take a ride in a glass bottom boat to explore the marine life of the Andamans. Since Havelock has a rich mangrove forest, you should also take a quick and quiet ride through the mangrove alleys.

Havelock is one of the most tourist destinations in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The island is known for its eco-tourism. As such, there are many small and big hotels and resorts where you can stay while you are on Havelock Island. The best part is that Havelock has resorts that fit into anyone’s budget – big or small. Whether you choose to live in a luxurious place or an affordable place, the view promises to be stunning everywhere.

Have you ever watched the movie, Finding Nemo, and wanted to see a Nemo in real life? Well, at Havelock Island, you have that chance. You can swim with Nemos and explore a massive coral reef. Also, you don’t have to be lucky to spot a variety of colourful fish like parrot fish and butterfly fish. However, if you are lucky, you will be able to swim with manta rays and even sea turtles.

Answer: Havelock Island is home to rich marine life that includes wonderful creatures and colourful corals. Among all the places, the best place to experience scuba diving on the island is Elephant Beach. Some of the other places for trying your hand at scuba diving in Andamans are mentioned below:

• Red Skin Island
• North Bay Island
• South Button
• Kalipur
• Neil Island
• Henry Lawrence Island
• Tamarind Camp
• Jolly Buoy Island