Scuba diving is a life-changing and thrilling experience as the ocean carries the ability to leave you enchanted with all its mysticism. Fantastic diving anticipates you off of India's 8000 km of coastline. From whale shark sighting to macro photography, scuba diving in India offers an abundance of possibilities, for both beginners as well as advanced divers.
Here are seventeen of the best sites for scuba diving in India that should be on your bucket list this year.
Havelock Islands, Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Situated about 70 km away from Port Blair, the Havelock Islands has a vast range of unusual marine life like Humpback Parrotfish, Lionfish, soft corals, unique dugongs, and schools of colorful fishes. The island boasts few of the greatly well-defined locations of enticement with an excellent variety of tropical wilderness and white sand beaches. To get there, one can get a ferry from Port Blair which would take nearly 2.5 hours. There are multiple intriguing locations upon arriving there like there is The Wall, Lighthouse, Aquarium, and Mac Point, etc each with its unusual elements. The resorts and lodges are furthermore pretty great and reasonable.
Cost: approx. INR 3500- INR 5000
Barren Island, Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Imagine Scuba diving close to an active volcano! The mere idea is enough to give you an adrenaline rush. Barren Island in the Andamans is situated on the edge of the India-Burma tectonic plates and has achieved prestige worldwide for maintaining a few of the promising sites for scuba diving in India. The underwater kingdom here is a series of juxtapositions: bright blue waters, dark black soil and vivid reef life. Not to forget that surface lengths offer spectacular sceneries of a smoking volcano.
Cost: approx. 22,700/-
Neil Island, Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Neil Islands is another portion of Andaman which is precisely a glamorous surprise with slight hustle and bustle that envelops the Havelock islands. It is a small island, however, an absolutely fascinating one with its yet unexplored seashores, incredible scuba diving places. The coral reef here is relatively intact by external components and hence maintains its magnificence owing to the affluent diversity of marine life. There are outstanding beach areas like the Jetty area and Margherita's Mischief.
Cost: approx. INR 3500- INR 6000.
Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
The capital city of the Union Territory has few incredible locations to go to for scuba diving. The Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park in Wandoor is one of the unusual locations reserved to preserve the marine flora and fauna. It is undoubtedly a one-of-a-kind location in the nation. Brace yourself to observe some of the great attractive sea flowers and nearly 50 distinct species of corals encompassing Fungia, Pocillopora, Clownfish Leptoseris etc. You will furthermore discover Clownfish, Butterflyfish, Parrotfish etc.
Cost: approx. INR 3500 - INR 6000
North Point, Cinque Island, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Another charm of the Andaman and Nicobar islands, this place has one of the most pristine waters in the world. With clarity up to 80 feet, this location makes for one of the greatly remarkable scuba diving spots. With an assortment of corals, sponges, and a prosperous diversity of bright and vivid marine life, this makes an incredible stop. The location has an assortment of wonderful black corals and furthermore ferocious sharks. After arriving at Port Blair, one can depart to Cinque Island by a chartered boat.
Cost: INR 3500- INR 5000
Corruption Rock, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
This extremely glamorous dive point, between Chidiyatappu and Rutland Island, is an attractive dive location. It practically comprises of rock, nearly 30 meters in height, part of it sticking out of water. It is present in between intermediate to strong current channels which captivates a vast assortment of flora and fauna. There is a prosperity of canyons, ridges and channels undersea which makes the location absolutely unique and enhances its unusual magnificence. This location furthermore has several shipwrecks underneath. The location is also popular for its unicorn fishes, Napoleon and Eagle rays etc. The sole way of getting there is by ferries which start from Port Blair on a day-to-day basis.
Cost: approx. INR 3500- INR 6000
Grand Island, Goa
The Grand Island is a famous location for adventure fanatics all over the world. Situated few kilometers westwards of the Mormugao peninsula, this location is a paradise for scuba divers. Amongst the greatly prominent areas is the Suzy's Wreck, a British ship sunken in the 1930s due to a powerful hurricane. The ship still survives at the bottom draped with mussels and corals, serving as a dwelling for various fishes and crustaceans. The sea current is very strong here so it is advisable for just professionals and experienced scuba divers. The sole way to reach there is by using a boat or ferry.
Cost: approx. INR 4000
Malvan, Goa
Malvan is a spot full of fascinating perspectives that will bring out the calming feeling of serenity in its azure waters. Experience the level of exhilaration rising within you as you get relinquished in the scuba diving experience in the calmness of the clear blue water of Malvan. This beach is an excellent location to relinquish in fascinating water recreations and get lost in the spectacular magnificence of the surroundings at a similar time in Malvan.
Cost: approx.INR 2000
Netrani Island, Karnataka
Netrani Island, also recognized as Pigeon Island, is situated nearly 10 marine miles from the temple city of Mudreshwar in Bhatkal Taluk. It is a glorious diving spot, formed in the shape of a heart, popularly recognized as 'The heart of India's diving'. It is a coral island and has a coral reef with a diversity of coral, butterflyfish, parrotfish, eels and shrimps. If you are fortunate enough, you might even discover a whale or orcas. The island is primarily uninhabited and due to the steep rocks, it is advisable to do diving from a boat. The location is nicely connected from Goa, Mumbai, Mangalore and Bengaluru.
Cost: approx.INR 5500- INR 6000
Kovalam, Kerala
Kovalam is located in Kerala, at a distance of approximately 16 km from Thiruvananthapuram. A beach region primarily, it is gradually evolving into a prominent scuba diving location since the Bond Safari Kovalam has arrived there. Additionally, the waters here are absolutely steady, with shallows of anchovy and silver moony, Bluefin trevally, the unique Moray eel, pufferfish, groupers, boxfish, sergeants, pipefish etc. The location is nicely linked by railways and airports.
Cost: approx. INR 4000
Bangaram, Lakshadweep
The spot is recognized for its serene and soothing atmosphere. It is situated in the union territory of the Lakshadweep islands. The underwater scenic magnificence is truly spectacular with the continuous coral reef. One furthermore gets to watch a ton of barracudas. The point that it is one of the cleanest beaches certainly boosts its standard. The linkage is nice and one can enter the island by taking a boat from Agatti.
Cost: approx. INR 4000- INR 7000
Kadmat Islands, Lakshadweep
Also recognized as Cardamom Islands, Kadmat Islands is a coral island located in the union territory of Lakshadweep. It is a dwelling to the marine turtles and different unusual marine species. There are furthermore diverse species of live coral. Turquoise waters and white sands certainly make this location look supernatural. This spot is worth a stop for its wonderful fauna and live corals.
Cost: approx. INR 6000
Coral Sharks Reef, Pondicherry
One of the largest flexible scuba diving places of Pondicherry is the cool shark's reef. This is so titled because it has a depth of the sea that varies from 5m to 23m which allows both the beginners as well as the professionals to relish the glamorous spectacles. Also, the seafloor is sandy in nature and the coral reefs are beautiful.
Cost: approx. INR 3500- INR 6000
The Aravind Wall, Pondicherry
One of the most popular scuba diving locations, The Aravind Wall has situated 15 km offshore. One can observe a volume of diverse and unique marine creatures like lionfish, butterflyfish and furthermore an assortment of sea snakes. If one is fortunate, he/she can also discover the Honeycomb Moray Eel in the Wall. The location is conveniently linked to airways.
Cost: approx. INR 3500- INR 6000
4 corners, Pondicherry
One of the conventional dive locations, this spot is perfect for open water divers. Enclosed by palm trees, the region has a vast volume of diverse marine species. The depth of the location can go up to 18 m which allows deep-sea diving too. It has amassed myriad species like lionfishes, dolphins etc.
Cost: approx. INR 3500- INR 6000
The Hole, Pondicherry
The hole is one of those spots where merely the hardcore scuba diving fanatics would dare go. To begin with, the depth is nearly 30m in the central region that is approximately twice as deep as the other diving areas, there is the spooky darkness taking care of which one has got to carry lighting equipment with them. So if you are one of those courageously advanced divers, this location is a paradise for you. One might even discover some unusual mysterious creature.
Cost: approx. INR 3500- INR 6000
Dwarka
The small temple city of Dwarka is recognized widely as the home of Lord Krishna and lesser-known for its scuba diving tales. However, with a new community of diving arranging a base in Dwarka, it is now becoming a hotspot to locate fresh dive locations and explore its marine ecosystem. With good visibility, a marine haven in the Gulf of Kutch and spottings of whale sharks, dolphins and turtles, there is an abundance to look forward to during your dive here!
Cost: approx. INR 4,500
Have a time of your life. Just make sure that you don't forget your medical certificate. It's time to mark scuba diving off your bucket list!
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