Shore Dive (Discover Scuba Dive, PADI Program) in Havelock Island

Activity Summary:

• Underwater scuba dive for 45 min.
• Participant scuba dive Certificate.
• Personal instructor. The instructor and participant ratio is 1:1
• Complementary photography and videography.
• Participants should be 12 yrs and above and physically and mentally fit enough to dive.
• Swimming not required. Dive site – Nemo Reef, Depth – 12 meters.
• Total Duration of the Activity - 2.0 Hours
• Free pickup drop up to 3 km from Havelock Island Beach Resort.

Things to Know Before Activity

• The best time for scuba diving:- 05:00 am - 2:30 pm
• Participants should be 12 yrs and above and physically and mentally fit enough to Dive.
• Swimming is not required (as it’s a beginners Dive).
• Individuals of age 50 years and above, should carry their medical fitness certificate from a Doctor, that they can do Scuba Diving.

This isn’t about being an expert or having some wild ocean dream. Shore diving at Havelock Island is probably the simplest way to try scuba without worrying about anything technical. If you’ve never worn scuba gear, never swum a lap, or don’t even like putting your face underwater, this is still something you can do. You walk into calm water from the beach, with someone right next to you the whole time. That’s it. No swimming tests. No complicated training. This dive isn’t meant to be thrilling. It’s not about going deep or fast or chasing anything. It’s about staying calm and moving slowly. That’s the entire point. You’re not rushed. You’re not left on your own. You’re not expected to be confident right away. The location—Nemo Reef—was chosen because it is suitable for people who have never done this before. The water stays shallow. The reef sits close. There’s no strong current pulling at you. No boats buzzing around. No pressure to perform.

It’s a one-on-one setup. You get help with every step, and they stay with you throughout. No one sends you off alone. No one expects you to be skilled or brave. You just follow their lead. You breathe, you float, and eventually, you find yourself underwater. And that’s the part most people talk about afterward. Not the mask, not the regulator, not the photo. It’s that moment when everything above the surface goes quiet.

How the Dive Unfolds, From Start to Finish?

Be there at the dive center or the location from which you wanted to be picked up. No long forms, no big wait. You meet your instructor, who talks you through what the next hour or so will look like. The whole thing is kept simple. They show you the gear: your regulator, your mask, your fins, and your BCD. Then you try it on, figure out how it feels, and ask questions if you’ve got any.
Then there’s a briefing. Not a boring class, just a 15-20 minute explanation on dry land where they show you a few hand signals, explain how to clear your mask if water gets in, and how to stay relaxed while breathing. After that, you gear up and walk slowly into the water. You’re not thrown in. You’re not left alone. The instructor is right there, holding onto you or staying inches away, depending on how comfortable you are.

The first bit happens in waist-deep water. You practice breathing through the regulator while standing. Then you kneel underwater, still close to the shore, and just sit there breathing. They check that you’re calm. Then you move slightly deeper. And eventually, if you’re okay with it, you go to around 5 or 6 meters depth. That’s it. Most of the dive stays in that zone.
You’re not expected to swim or kick around. The instructor manages all of that. You just let them guide you while you look around. They hold your BCD or your tank from behind and do the work of keeping you level and moving you gently over the reef. There’s no test. No performance. Just floating and breathing and watching.

The clock under the sea will slow down when you start exploring the reefs and the marine world. This 45-session event will be long enough to provide all the thrills and fun you're expecting. You won’t come up feeling like you blinked and it was over. It feels longer because the environment is so different. When you come out, most people say the same thing—it was calmer than they expected.

What You’ll See While Shore Diving at Nemo Reef?

Nemo Reef isn’t a big or flashy dive spot. It’s shallow, quiet, and works well for beginners who’ve never done anything like this. You walk in from the shore, not jump from a boat. The instructors give you time to settle into it, and no one hurries you. The reef is alive if you pay attention—small fish, patches of coral, sand shifting around. Nothing dramatic, just real and simple. You’re underwater, you’re breathing through a tank, and that’s the part that sticks. Not the pictures, not how deep you went—just the fact that you did it without being rushed or made to perform. You’ll likely see:

• Clownfish ducking in and out of anemones
• Schools of little blue and yellow fish
• Parrotfish nibbling on bits of coral
• Sometimes a lionfish or a camouflaged stonefish sits motionless
• Soft coral patches and sea fans swaying with the current

There’s no need to identify any of it unless you want to. You’re not being quizzed. You’re not on a wildlife tour. You’re just there, watching small fish do their thing while the reef goes about its quiet business. No sudden movements. No background noise. If your instructor sees something worth pointing out, they’ll stop and signal you. Otherwise, you move slowly, maybe hover near a patch of coral for a while, then float a little farther. The best part is how it all feels completely different from anything on land. Even if the fish weren’t there, just being suspended like that, weightless, is worth it.

Who Should Try This Discover Scuba Dive, PADI Program?

This shore dive is suitable for people with no experience. You don’t need to know how to swim. You don’t need to be in shape. You just need to be able to breathe calmly and listen to your instructor. Here’s who can participate:

• Anyone 12 years and older
• People without serious heart or lung problems
• Those who aren’t pregnant
• Anyone who can understand basic instructions in English or Hindi

Before the dive, there’s a basic health form you have to fill out. If you’ve had asthma, heart trouble, or surgery recently, you’ll need a doctor’s note. Same goes if you’re over 50—it’s just to make sure there’s nothing risky. That’s all. Also, just be honest if you’re nervous. Most people are. Even people who seem excited usually get a bit panicky when the regulator first enters. That’s normal. The instructor won’t push you. They’ll go at your pace. It’s not about being brave. It’s about getting used to something new with help.

Planning Your Dive: Best Time to Do the Shore Dive in Havelock

If you plan to go snorkelling, the most suitable time will be from November to April. That’s when the water behaves. Sea’s calmer, visibility’s decent, sun’s out, fewer chances of rain messing things up. The rest of the year? You can still dive, but it’s hit or miss. Some days are fine. Some days the wind picks up or it rains, and you can’t see much underwater. You can still go, and they’ll still run the dives, but it’s not as nice. If you want the water to be as calm as possible, you must go in the early morning. If you are not a morning person, then try to wake up for the best snorkelling in the still sea, because 6 to 10 is the ideal time for snorkelling in a sea without any harsh waves. After that, the wind picks up sometimes, and it gets a bit rough. Also, the reef’s a little more active earlier in the day. And once you’re done, you’ve got the rest of the day open.

If you’re there between December and March, don’t wait till the last minute to book. That’s when everyone’s there—tourists, holiday crowds, whatever. Dives get full. Especially if it’s a weekend or some holiday. Just call them a day before or two, lock in your spot, that’s it. And don’t rely on the weather apps—they’re wrong half the time here. If you’re unsure, ask the dive guys. They’re local, they’ll know what the sea’s doing. If it’s looking rough, they’ll tell you. If it’s diveable, you go. Simple.

• A towel
• Extra clothes for after the dive
• Any medical documents, if needed

Avoid eating a heavy meal right before your dive. And make sure you aren’t flying out the same day—wait at least 12 hours before flying after scuba diving.

Why is Shore Dive in Havelock Island Ideal for Beginners?

There is a calm beneath the surface—something that’s difficult to fully grasp until you’ve experienced it. Though the surface remains just above, it begins to feel like a separate world altogether. During those 45 minutes underwater, everything's pace shifts. External noise completely disappears. There are no voices, traffic, or distractions. The constant rhythm of your breathing is paired with the gentle movement of marine life surrounding you.

This is often what people carry with them long after the dive. Not the equipment, nor the photos, nor the fish—but the feeling of being fully present in an unfamiliar environment. A place they never thought they would enter, and yet, somehow, felt completely at peace in. This shore dive in Havelock isn’t meant to make you a diver. It’s designed to give you a glimpse of what’s below without asking you to become something you’re not. You’re not being tested. You’re not being judged. You might do it again. You might not. Either way, it’s worth doing at least once.