Why Scuba Diving in Havelock Island is the Best in India?

Located just 70km north of Port Blair, the bustling capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is the world-renowned Havelock Island. This paradise, also known as Swaraj Dweep, is where words fail to capture its true beauty. 

Havelock Island's immaculate beaches and crystalline waters make it an ideal destination for scuba diving in Andaman & Nicobar, one of the most popular and recommended activities on the island. 

You need not search for reasons to go scuba diving in Havelock Island. Often regarded as the best place in India to go scuba diving, Havelock Island has it all when it comes to stunning underwater treasures.

The island offers many diving sites for beginners and experienced divers. The warm waters and gentle currents also make it an ideal destination for diving. A vast expanse of coral reefs surrounds the island, with diverse marine life, such as reef sharks, barracudas and turtles. 

Below, we’ve discussed some of the best sites for scuba diving in Havelock Island with other important information you should know before you hit the waters.

There are close to 20 dive sites in Havelock Island alone. Some of the best scuba diving spots in Swaraj Dweep Islands in Andaman and Nicobar Islands are:

1. Inchkeith Wreck

In 1955, the cargo vessel SS Inchkeith struck a rock and sank at the mouth of the inlet near Duncan Island. The visibility near the wreck is not the best, but this only adds mystery to the whole dive site. The Inchkeith Wreck is unique because it is home to diverse marine life, including giant groupers, barracudas, and even a resident school of batfish.

As you swim through the dark and murky waters, the rusted metal of the wreck comes into view. Schools of colourful fish dart in and out of the crevices. The Inchkeith Wreck is a haven for macro photographers, with its host of critters that thrive amidst the wreckage.

• Unique Underwater Attractions: Hard and soft corals, anemones, giant groupers, barracudas, scorpionfish, cleaner shrimp, sweetlips, snapper, rainbow wrasse, ghost pipefish, boxfish, puffer fish, surgeonfish, angelfish, bannerfish, triggerfish, parrotfish, trumpetfish, pipefish, clown fish, lionfish.
  
• Depth: 5m - 18m

2. Pilot Reef

Pilot Reef is a cluster of coral outcrops (cleaning station) located off the entrance to the shipping channel northeast of Havelock. The waters here are crystal-clear and brimming with vibrant marine life. 

Pilot Reef is a long strip of underwater canyon filled with a decent number of hard corals inhabited by some unique fish, including leopards and whitetip sharks. This place is recommended for divers of all levels, making it a popular scuba diving destination in Havelock Island.

• Unique Underwater Attractions: Corals, rock formations, butterflyfish, angelfish, bannerfish, garden eels, snappers, fusiliers, jewel fairy basslets, surgeonfish, anemones, zebra shark, white tip sharks.
  
• Depth: 10m - 22m

3. White House Rock

For those seeking a more challenging dive, White House Rock boasts a dramatic drop-off, where you can descend into the abyss and explore the mysterious depths below. The sheer size of the rock, rising from the bottom at 40 meters, makes for an awe-inspiring sight.

As you descend into the depths, you'll be greeted by a kaleidoscope of colours and abundant marine creatures. The vibrant coral formations create a stunning backdrop for your diving adventure, and the crystal-clear waters provide unparalleled visibility.

• Unique Underwater Attractions: Corals, barracudas, fusiliers, surgeonfish, fan corals, anemones, feather stars, dolphins, octopus, rock formations.
  
• Depth: 7m - 40m

4. Dixon’s Pinnacle

Dixon's Pinnacle, a renowned diving spot on Havelock Island in Andaman, stands out for its unique features. The site boasts three massive underwater pinnacles, vibrant corals, and bustling cleaning stations. These pinnacles, separated by sandy patches, offer a thrilling diving experience.

At Dixon's Pinnacle, the diversity of marine life is a sight to behold. From the intricate beauty of tiny life forms to the majestic presence of pelagic passersby, the thriving underwater world offers excellent photography opportunities. The currents here are mild, making it an ideal spot for diving enthusiasts of all levels.

• Unique Underwater Attractions: Rock formations, sponges, barracudas, batfish, trevallies, stingrays, Napolean wrasses, snappers, turtles, eels, rays, reef sharks, pinnacles, whale sharks, sea urchins, starfish.
• Depth: 7m - 34m 

5. Johnny’s Gorge

Johnny's Gorge is a unique scuba diving spot in Havelock Island, Andaman. The Gorge is a bed of low-lying rocky outcrops that emerge from the bottom at a depth of 26 metres. Surrounded by sand in every direction, these rocks have become an oasis for all kinds of water life. The Gorge is renowned among scuba diving enthusiasts for its abundant marine life, high visibility, and unique topography.

As you dive deeper into the Gorge, you'll see moray eels hiding in crevices, and you might even spot a few octopuses camouflaged against the rocks. The Gorge's unique topography also makes it an ideal spot for underwater photography, as plenty of interesting subjects can be captured on film.

• Unique Underwater Attractions: Rock formations, angelfish, anemonefish, mackerels, barracudas, trevallies, bump head parrotfish, surgeonfish, snappers, reef sharks, giant groupers, sweetlips, eels, octopus, large stingrays, mantas, eagle rays, white tip sharks, corals.
  
• Depth: 5m – 30m

6. Minerva Ledge

Minerva Ledge in Havelock Islands is a vast plateau of colourful corals and abundant marine life that stretches out into the blue, making it too large to take in on one dive. The strong currents at this site also allow for drift diving, adding an extra thrill to the experience.

One of the unique features of Minerva Ledge is the Minerva Bridge, a big block of hard corals in clear waters with sea dwellers, including sharks. While it is recommended for experienced divers, the site offers a pretty unique view of the underwater kingdom and the thrill that comes with it.

• Unique Underwater Attractions: Coral gardens, fusilier, surgeonfish, snappers, turtles, moray eel, giant grouper, tunas, barracudas, marbled stingrays, triggerfish, longfin bannerfish, angelfish, sharks.
• Depth: 3m – 18m

7. Jackson’s Bar

Jackson's Bar is a renowned scuba diving spot in Havelock, ideal for deep divers. The site is named after a British naval officer who discovered it during his voyages. The strong currents that flow over the site make it a challenging dive and attract a diverse range of marine life. Jackson's Bar is in the heart of the Andaman Sea, where large pelagic species can be found.

• Unique Underwater Attractions: Tunas, barracudas, groupers, manta rays, eagle rays, reef sharks.
  
• Depth: 5m – 32m

8. The Wall

As the name suggests, it is a wall that drops from 10 meters to 55 meters, where it tapers off onto the sands of the channel between Havelock and Peel Islands. This dive site is popular among divers of all levels but particularly challenging for beginners due to the strong currents.

Apart from the marine life, the wall is a sight to behold. The wall is covered with soft corals, sea fans, and whip corals, creating a stunning underwater photography backdrop. Divers can also explore the small caves and crevices that are home to a variety of marine creatures.

• Unique Underwater Attractions: Napolean wrasses, giant groupers, snappers, trevallies, soft corals, octopuses, scorpionfish, stonefish, jackfish, fusiliers, bannerfish, barracuda, lobster, anemonefish, lionfish, shrimps.
  
• Depth: 10m – 55m

9. Red Lighthouse

Red Light House is ideal for novices and underwater photography enthusiasts, offering an easy dive. The oval-shaped reef is home to a red lighthouse. It is a shallow dive suitable for beginners.

One of the unique features of the Red Lighthouse dive is the presence of many Kuhl's and Jenkin's stingrays resting on the sand during the day. A scooter wreck also presents a great photo opportunity for underwater photography enthusiasts.

• Unique Underwater Attractions: Fusiliers, snappers, sweetlips, ghost pipefish, crocodile fish, scorpionfish, stingrays, turtles, barracuda, octopus, boxfish, puffer fish, surgeonfish, angelfish, bannerfish, triggerfish, parrotfish, trumpetfish, pipefish, clown fish, grouper, lionfish.
  
• Depth: 3m – 15m

10. Nemo Reef

Scuba diving in Nemo Reef is an unforgettable experience for any diving enthusiast. The reef is named after the famous Disney clownfish, Nemo, and it is home to a wide variety of marine life that will leave any diver in awe. The crystal-clear waters of Nemo Reef provide a perfect environment for divers to explore the vibrant and colourful coral formations.

Nemo Reef is suitable for both beginners and experienced divers. The shallow coral gardens are perfect for those just starting, while the deeper reef areas offer more challenging dives for experienced divers.

• Unique Underwater Attractions: Clownfish, surgeonfish, boxfish, puffer fish, goatfish, triggerfish, crab, butterflyfish, parrotfish, sea urchin, sea cucumber, octopus, squid, turtles, sharks.
  
• Depth: 5m – 16m

11. Elephant Beach

Elephant Beach is named after the elephants that once roamed the nearby forests and could swim! The beach is home to an incredible list of marine life, mesmerizing corals and crystal-clear waters. Beginner scuba divers will enjoy scuba diving in Elephant Beach. The beach is also home to some rare and exotic species like the dugong, which is a type of sea cow.

• Unique Underwater Attractions: Corals, turtles, aquatic plants, clownfish, surgeonfish, dugongs, parrotfish, angelfish, blacktip reef sharks.
  
• Depth: 7m – 34m

12. Turtle Beach

As the name suggests, Turtle Bay is a haven for sea turtles. This dive site on Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep) offers an incredible opportunity to witness these majestic creatures in their natural habitat. The bay is home to a large population of green and hawksbill turtles, which can be seen swimming gracefully in the crystal-clear waters.

Apart from sea turtles, Turtle Bay is also home to a diverse range of marine life, including rays, barracudas, and various colourful fish. Scuba divers can also explore the sandy bottom of the bay, as the depth is also suitable for beginners.

• Unique Underwater Attractions: Star fish, stingrays, bump head parrotfish, scorpionfish, boxfish, surgeonfish, angelfish, bannerfish, triggerfish, trumpetfish, pipefish, clown fish, sweetlips, snappers, groupers, lionfish, green turtles, coral reef, butterflyfish, anemonefish, stingrays, staghorn corals, sergent mayor, trevallies, fusiliers.
  
• Depth: 7m – 30m

13. Aquarium

Scuba diving in the Aquarium on Havelock Island offers crystal clear waters and an unparalleled experience that is hard to find anywhere else. It is a shallow dive site suitable for beginners with unique topography resembling an aquarium.

• Unique Underwater Attractions: Corals, clownfish, giant trevally, blue fin trevally, coral trout, moorish idols, moray eels, scorpionfish, nudibranchs, stingrays, seahorse, fringe-lip flathead, hump head parrotfish
• Depth: 3m – 14m

Individual fun dives cost around ₹4,500 - ₹40,000, while courses range from ₹4,000 - ₹2,02,950. 

Depending on the operator you choose, the cost of scuba diving can vary. You might also have to pay additional charges such as park fees, transport, etc. Please check with your operator prior for a hassle-free experience.

October to June are the best months to go scuba diving in Havelock Island. There is clear visibility of up to 40 meters during these tropical summer months, while during the other months, Havelock Island experiences monsoon climate. Also, during this time, there are many attractions and places that you can visit in Andaman & Nicobar islands.

Before you go scuba diving in Havelock Island, be sure to carry these essential items:

• Sunblock and sunglasses
• Rehydrating salt and hydrating liquids
• Swimwear and towels
• Dry bag and first aid kit
• Valid ID is always handy. 

Scuba diving operators in the islands will provide you with scuba diving equipment. Please check your equipment before you're in the water to avoid malfunctions.

• Dive only in designated areas and always pay attention to the guidelines set down by your instructor.
• Those above the age of 12 years are allowed to scuba dive in Havelock Island.
  
• Respect your environment and don’t harm any of the marine life including corals.
• Avoid diving under the influence of substances, or if advised against by a medical practitioner.
  
• There should be a time gap of at least 24 hours between flying and going scuba diving.
• Non-certified divers can only go up to 12 meters in Andaman and must be accompanied by a certified diver.
  
• Avoid consuming alcohol or exercising immediately after scuba diving.

Besides scuba diving, Havelock Island is famous for its beautiful beaches and lush green forests. Radhanagar Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in Asia, is located on this island. The island is also home to a wide range of flora and fauna, including many rare and endangered species.

Scuba diving in Havelock Island, Andaman, is an unforgettable experience that every adventure enthusiast must have. The crystal-clear waters, vibrant marine life, and stunning coral reefs make it one of the best diving destinations in the world. With its warm and breathtaking scenery, you will have a memorable time.