The Slope, Havelock Island

Answer: The Slope is one of the most popular scuba diving sites on Havelock Island. After Aquarium and Lighthouse, most people who want to try scuba diving go to the Slope. The Slope is better because there’s less rush and the fauna at the diving spot promises to be incredibly beautiful. Also, the Slope is close to the Wall; this means that the slightly strong current attracts a lot of exotic marine life. You are sure to come across massive shoals of colourful marine life at the Slope, Havelock Island.

Answer: The depth of the Slope diving spot starts at 5 metres and can be as deep as 20 metres. Most beginners and non-swimmers are taken to 10-15 metres deep. Advanced-level scuba divers have the option to go deeper. The current is also not that strong at 10 metres, so it would be easy for you to glide through the water effortlessly while you see some brilliant flora and fauna.

Answer: Yes, both beginners who know swimming and non-swimmers can scuba dive at the Slope. This is because the depth at the Slope is just 5 to 20 metres. Although the current is slightly strong, you wouldn’t have to experience it much because of the shallow depth. Experienced divers can, of course, go deeper into the dive. The visibility at the diving spot is also great.

Answer: The Slope is an amazing place to scuba dive thanks to the incredibly rich marine life that survives underwater. Since it is close to another diving spot, the Wall, which experiences strong currents and offers a deep dive, you’ll be able to explore much interesting and exotic fish at Slope as well. Barracudas and moray eels are very common at the Slope they like to swim close to the underwater ridges. What is most widely seen at the Slope is the variety of shrimps that swim in massive groups. You’ll be able to witness groups of ambon shrimps, cleaner shrimps, and even Durban dancing shrimps. Among the giants are scorpionfish, wrasses, giant clams, Buford’s crocodile flathead, and sea kraits. You’ll mostly see giant gorgonian corals among the many sloping ridges at the Slope, Havelock Island.

Answer: The cost of scuba diving at the Slope depends on what kind of package you take. While instructors and boat rides are common and required parts of all packages, you may decide to have a video and photo session of your scuba diving experience added to it. Generally, most scuba diving packages for beginners can be anything between INR 4500 to INR 7000 depending on what you add to your package and how much time you want to spend on your dive. Most dives last between 30-60 minutes. Beginners and non-swimmers are recommended 40-45 minutes per dive. If you want to learn scuba diving, your cost may vary depending on the number of days you want to spend on your training. The number of dives you will take also determines the cost. The starting price is usually INR 6500 but can go upwards to INR 20000. Experienced divers who may or may not need instructors can pay around INR 5000-7000 per dive at the Slope in Havelock Island.

Answer: The simple boat ride to the Slope diving spot from Havelock Island can take you 15 to 20 minutes. However, the only way to get to the Slope is via Havelock Island. Unfortunately, you cannot reach Havelock Island directly either. You have to take a ferry ride from the capital city of Andaman and Nicobar Island, Port Blair. The capital city has an international airport and you can fly down to the city directly from many major cities of India and some neighbouring countries. From Port Blair, you can take a public ferry from the jetty for just around INR 300 to 500. It can take you around 2-3 hours to reach Havelock from Port Blair since the island is 70 km away from the capital. But, since the view from the ferry is incredible, you will find the 3 hours pass by very quickly.

Answer: Havelock is a paradise of incredible scuba diving spots. The closest to Slope is the Wall, which was the first diving site to be discovered on Havelock Island. If you are a beginner, you can try Aquarium and Lighthouse apart from the Slope. You can also try White House Rock and Turtle Bay if you want to try scuba diving. More experienced divers can try Jackson’s Bar, Minerva’s Ledge, Mac Point, Seduction Point, Pilot Reef, South Button, etc.

Answer: While the Slope is most known for scuba diving, you can also try sea walking and snorkelling at Havelock. Sea walking is popular at Elephant beach. In sea walking, you’ll be walking on a shallower part of the sea bed with a guide. You can get a bird’s eye view of the marine life underwater if you opt to snorkel. Snorkelling does not require you to dive deep. You can float on the surface of the water and use your snorkelling device to explore underwater.

Answer: There are many places that you explore near the Slope since the diving site is on Havelock Island. You can dive the Nemo reef if you want to watch brilliantly coloured nemo fish swimming under the sea. The nemo reef is close to the Govindnagar beach which is a beautiful beach by itself. You can also go to the Radhanagar and Elephant beaches to enjoy many beach activities.

Answer: If you have a weak respiratory system or have any lung-related issues, it would be good for you to consult your doctor before going for a dive. This is because diving will require strong lung capacity for you to be able to regulate your breath underwater. Heart patients should also consult a doctor before booking their scuba diving appointment. Pregnant women are not allowed to scuba dive due to the dangers it may pose to their health.