The Andaman Islands, India

Situated 1400 km from mainland India and 1000 km from Thailand, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are one of the most remote spots on the planet! The original inhabitants are various aboriginal tribes who exist more-or-less out of the mainstream. There are some tribes who have had no contact whatsoever with the rest of the world. Of nearly 600 islands, only 9 are open to foreign tourists, and all of these are in the Andamans.

HISTORY OF THE ANDAMAN ISLANDS...

The islands exist in India’s popular consciousness mainly because they were used as a penal colony by the British rulers to imprison rebels and freedom fighters, in addition to hardened criminals. Most of the inhabitants of these islands are in fact migrants from the mainland, some of them descended from the prisoners.

During World War II, the Andamans were the only part of India briefly occupied by the Japanese. While notionally handed over to Subhash Chandra Bose’s Free India, in practice the Japanese held the reins of power. The territory was run brutally — suspected resistance members were tortured and executed, and when food started to run out towards the end of the war, people were deported to uninhabited islands to fend for themselves as best they could.

DISCOVER THE INCREDIBLE SIGHTS, SOUNDS AND SMELLS OF INDIA DURING YOUR ANDAMAN ISLANDS DIVING INTERNSHIP

Start your dive career on the stunning beaches of the Andaman Islands, India

Scuba Diving the Andaman Islands, India

THE REEFS TEEM WITH FISH AND A KALEIDOSCOPE OF COLOURS IN STUNNING CORAL GARDENS. THE ANDAMANS IS ONE OF THOSE FEW REMAINING DREAM DIVE DESTINATIONS - The Andaman Islands have remained a remote, relatively unspoilt part of the globe. Strong government protection laws have kept the Andamans as a relatively pristine diving environment and one that is still seemingly undiscovered. Much of the Andamans is untouched and unseen. A Japanese flotilla sunk in the Second World War still lies somewhere in the waters of Andamans undisturbed.

DIVE SITES IN THE ANDAMANS...

SOUTH BUTTON: 6m to 25m - All levels: This is one of our popular places to dive, however the farthest away but full of fish and coral (soup), also the best place to snorkel, it has something for everyone with a Manta Ray or even the odd little Devil Ray passing by, it’s a great place to see Barracuda watching the Big Eyed Trevally below, Batfish as well as Crocodile Fish, Moray Eels, turtles, Angelfish, Blue Fin Trevally and Nudibranch, these are all on a large list of things that can be seen here, even above the water the sea is alive with Sweepers being chased from below as well as the White Bellied Sea Eagle from above.

THE WALL: 10m to 30m - All levels: A small wall 50 meters long that drops in to the shipping channel near the jetty on Havelock, this is the best local site and is visited by a very large Napoleon Wrasse called Pierre, who’s very friendly to divers. The top of the wall is very colorful with purple, red and yellow soft corals, alone the wall has many beautiful fans with Puffer Fish and Lionfish peering out at you and Nudibranchs trying to race around the wall. We see many octopuses and Scorpion Fish here and even Anglerfish are seen tucked into holes. On the sandy parts Kulhs Rays are spotted with or without their tails.

DIXONS PINNACLE: 18m to 30m - Advanced: Three large pinnacles are surrounded with excitement from all the active feeding frenzy from the pelagics, Barracuda, Giant Trevally, Giant Groupers, Tuna and Mackerel. Beautiful Big Barrel Sponges perch on the edges of the larger pinnacle that is covered with Glass Fish that make it hard at times to look out at the schools of Batfish floating in the currents and then suddenly a shadow appears from the deep, it’s a Manta Ray cruising by to take a look at the commotion. There are many colors here with lots of juvenile Emperor Angelfish and shy Red-Toothed Triggerfish looking for holes to hide from the glares from the Napoleon Wrasse circling the reef.

JOHNNY’S GORGE: 20m to 30m - Advanced: Just 3 minutes from Minerva ledge also visited by dolphin is the famous Johnny’s gorge, divers fight to dive here, its not a big reef but most diver don’t notice the beautiful colored coral because they are surround by a kaleidoscope of swirling Barracuda, giant friendly Grouper, Unicorn Fish and Snappers, not to forget one of the few place to see shark on a regular basis and groups of Eagle Rays often drop in to add to the experience.

LIGHTHOUSE: 6m to 20m - All levels: A sloped reef about 30 minutes away from the dive shop , the coral tends to be better in the shallows with lots of Fusiliers, Lionfish, octopus and if divers are lucky a big gang of Humpback Parrotfish. This site is a great place to do night dives; we see lots of macro life as well as very small Lionfish, sleeping Parrotfish in their bubbles and of course lobsters.

ELEPHANT BEACH: 6m to 25m - All levels: A popular reef for snorkeling and dive training, it’s the only dive site where you can walk straight of the beach. It has a large open sand area with several rocks and coral patches with lots of small macro life, like Pipefish, many different shrimps and porcelain crabs. We’ve also seen young Eagle Rays, Scorpionfish lazing around in the sand. The reef itself has colorful hard coral including Staghorn as well as Feather/Basket/Sea Stars, juvenile Harlequin Sweetlips, Groupers and many more common reef fish busy on their daily routine.

MV MARS: 7m to 15m - All levels: This small wooden local cargo ship went down during a storm 2006, it sits upright and has become a new home to many fish which inhabited the near by reef ten meters away. It a short dive around the wreck, then on to the reef and finish back at the wreck, visibility tends to be not so good but great when it appears through the gloom.

NEIL’S COVE: 12m to 18m - All levels: This site is a extension of another very similar dive site called the aquarium, both gentle slope out to sea with the reef running from a beautiful cove almost Elephant Beach, mainly hard coral and hosts a large array of fish, Stingrays are often spotted in the sand as well as big schools of Blue Stripped Snappers. It’s a great place to find Humpback Parrotfish crunching away at the coral.

7TH HEAVEN: 6m to 12m - All levels: Just 300 meters off Number Seven Beach is a small coral patch that is a great place to see many anemones with several different Damselfish including the famous Nemo (Clown Fish). Also Ornate Ghost Pipefish have been spotted around the mooring line and keep looking out on to the sand so as not to miss the passing stingrays, On rare occasions its possible a Dugong might even pass on his way to graze in his garden.

MINERVA LEDGE: 10m to 18m - All levels: A large plateau of colorful coral, you need more than one dive to cover this place, with abundance of life, we never really know what we see from one dive to the next, With a gentle current (sometimes strong) you could pass by Napoleon Wrasse, Eagle Rays, White Tip Sharks, an uncommon Tiger Shark was recently seen by another dive shop but this is Minerva ledge. Even on the quiet days there’s lots to see.

PILOT REEF: 8m to 20m - All levels: The closest dive site to the dive centre, a large reef sister to Minerva ledge. This site has lots of small Reef Fish with Napoleon Wrasse, occasional young Manta Ray and Leopard Shark have been spotted at times alone with big Stingrays, turtles, Scorpionfish, sea snakes and Trevally.

The above sites are just a few of the most visited during the dive season, some of the other sites are: Ghost Reef, i-95, Mystery Mountains, Duncan’s Wreck, Jacobs Table, Guddo’s Garden, and Jackson’s Bar.

Diving around the Andaman’s is limited to mainly Havelock and we’ve barely scratched the surface, new dive sites are being discovered all the time and we find new fish previously not seen before in the Andaman islands every season, it’s a great place to dive, so join us and our team of professional staff in discovering the treasures hidden beneath the sea.

SPECIAL DIVE SITE TRIPS TO BARREN ISLAND!

Visit the only active volcano in South Asia as a day trip!

Barren Island, one of the most easterly of the Andaman Islands is the only active volcano in South Asia and lies 135 km northeast of Port Blair. The first recorded eruption of the volcano dates back to 1787. The volcano still continues to spew smoke and ash.

True to its name, it is a barren area uninhabited by humans, though it has a small population of goats, birds, bats like flying foxes and a few rodent species such as rats known to survive the harsh conditions.

There is a deep endless wall on one side that’s teeming with life, a stunning coral garden to be lost in, vast expanses of black volcanic rocks and sand, colour contrasts that will leave you lost for words and clearly marked tracks or lava channels.

This site offers splendid diving and the chance to see both reef fish and the larger ones as well. Turtles, white tip, black tip and oceanic white tip sharks and Manta rays can be seen in addition to a large school of barracuda, giant sized jacks, kingfish and tuna.

Diving the Andaman Islands India is a wonderful experience of world-class diving!

Scuba Lov Dive Center – New Facilities on Havelock Island

Located beside the popular Full Moon Café on Havelock Island, Scuba Lov Dive Center invites you to experience world-class diving with a fresh new look and upgraded facilities. With a passion for the ocean and a commitment to high-quality training, Scuba Lov has expanded its center to provide an even smoother, more enjoyable experience for divers of all levels.

Our newly renovated dive center offers a spacious reception and equipment area designed for efficiency and comfort. Every detail reflects our focus on professional dive training and guest convenience. The new setup features a modern air-conditioned classroom equipped with audio-visual tools for PADI courses, ensuring a relaxed and engaging learning environment. For certified divers, our improved gear storage, rinse stations, and dedicated maintenance area keep your equipment safe and dive-ready at all times.

The upgraded facilities also enhance relaxation between dives. A shaded chill-out zone offers cozy seating where divers can share stories, review photos, and enjoy refreshments from Full Moon Café just next door. Together, this lively hub creates a seamless blend of diving, good food, and island atmosphere—perfect for travelers seeking both adventure and comfort.

Whether you’re beginning your diving journey or progressing toward professional certification, Scuba Lov’s team of experienced instructors ensures a safe, supportive, and inspiring experience. Our convenient beachside location allows easy access to some of Havelock’s most stunning sites, including Aquarium, Lighthouse, and Dixon’s Pinnacle.

With fresh facilities, great food next door, and a passionate crew ready to welcome you, Scuba Lov Dive Center continues to set the standard for diving excellence on Havelock Island. Come explore the Andaman’s underwater treasures and discover why diving with Scuba Lov is truly an experience you’ll never forget.

The easiest way to get to Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep), Andamans, is to first fly to Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Port Blair is well connected by regular flights from major Indian cities such as Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, and Mumbai; international travelers also typically arrive via a connecting flight through one of these cities.

Once in Port Blair, travel to Havelock Island is exclusively by sea. Multiple private ferry operators—Makruzz, Green Ocean, Nautika, and Sea Link—offer comfortable air-conditioned seats; travel time is about 90-120 minutes.

Government ferries are also available and generally cheaper, but they tend to be crowded and tickets are more difficult to obtain for non-residents. Contact us and we will help arrange airport pick up and ferry tickets.

Ferries depart mainly from Haddo Wharf or Phoenix Bay Jetty, and the last ferry typically leaves Port Blair by 2 PM—plan your connecting flight arrivals accordingly.

Book ferry tickets well in advance, especially during peak season, to avoid being stranded. Upon arrival at Havelock Jetty, local transport options include scooter rentals, tourist taxis, auto-rickshaws, and public buses, making it easy to explore the island.