Latest Information on Travelling to Andaman Islands?
  • Runway Status for Port Blair Airport From October,22 to February, 23

    Updated: 19 Sep 2022
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  • Andaman Tourism Opens

    Updated: 14 Aug 2021

    Andaman Tourism Opens: The Andaman & Nicobar administration has announced that all tourist spots in the South Andaman district will be opened for tourism activities with immediate effect 8 Feb 2022.

  • RT PCR report on arrival

    Updated: 14 Aug 2021

    A negative RT PCR report has to be presented by all passengers on arrival.

  • What is the advisory to travel to North & Middle Andaman District?

    Updated: 14 Aug 2021

    The tourists are allowed to visit Baratang/North & Middle Andaman on production of double dose covid certificate/ All other passengers viz. unvaccinated and partially vaccinated passengers (those who have taken only 1S1 dose of COVID vaccine) shall have to produce RT-PCR negative test report

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  • All asymptomatic fully vaccinated persons coming to these islands from mainland are exempted from the requirement of carrying RT-PCR negative test report,irrespective of the type of vaccine received and country of origin. Such fullyvaccinated individuals shall produce the final vaccination certificate at the origin airport, sea port in the mainland and at Port Blair Airport / sea port.
  • Alt asymptomatic children below 5 years of age are exempted from carrying RT-PCR negative test report and further RT-PCR testing at Port Blair Airport.
  • All other passengers viz. unvaccinated and partially vaccinated passengers (those who have taken only 1S1 dose of COVID vaccine) shall have to produce RT-PCR negative test report to travel to Port Blair from the mainland, as is the practice now. Such an RT-PCR test should have been taken within 48 hours prior to commencement of journey from the origin airport connecting Port Blair. Such passengers will also have to undergo additional RT-PCR test on arrival at Port Blair. Such passengers shall remain in self-quarantine till the arrival of the test report.
  • If a passenger on arrival is tested positive then, the prescribed quarantine protocol is to be followed.
  • All Airlines shall ensure strict compliance of this order and observance of COVID Appropriate Behaviour. Any non-compliance shall invite action under Disaster Management Act and other applicable laws. 
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General Guidelines defined for traveling to Andaman Islands during COVID :

  1. The Tourism Activities are permitted only in South Andaman & North & Middle Andaman District except Nicobar District.
  2. Persons above 65 years of age, persons with home co-morbidities, pregnant women and children below the age of 10 years advised not to travel for tourism purposes.
  3. Tourists/Visitors who are at higher risk due to some medical history are advised to take extra precautions.
  4. Tourists/visitors shall minimize contact with other staff and visitors as far as possible and zero contact policy should be followed at all tourist destinations.
  5. All tourists/visitors shall be briefed by the hotel concerned about do’s & don’ts to be mandatorily followed during their stay and movements.
  6. While travelling tourists/visitors should wear a face mask and carry their own sanitizer and wet wipes for personal use.
  7. At all tourist destinations, staff must wear face masks and wash/sanitize hands regularly while performing their duties.
  8. Arogya Setu App shall be mandatory for all incoming tourists/visitors.
  9. Respiratory etiquettes to be strictly followed. This involves strict practice of covering one’s mouth and nose while coughing/sneezing with a tissue handkerchief/flexed elbow and disposing off used tissues properly after use.
  10. The tourists/visitors on arrival at Port Blair airport have to undergo mandatory Covid-19 screening with RTPCR test free of cost. Thereafter the tourists/ visitors are allowed to move to their respective hotels. However, they will have to be under quarantine at Port Blair in their hotel rooms until the result of RTPCR tests are received. In case of RTPCR positive test results, the tourists/visitors shall remain in institutional quarantine in hotels notified by the Hoteliers Association in consent with the A&%N Administration, on rate as specified or to the designated hospital/ Covid 19 care centre on case to case basis.
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What are the guidelines for testing for tourists coming to Andaman after August 03 2021?

On arrival at Port Blair :

1. The tourists need to carry COVID-19 negative test report from mainland based 1CMR approved lab using Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RTPCR). However, the sample for RTPCR test should have been taken within 48 hours prior to starting the journey from the origin station. (For e.g. if the tourist takes a flight from Delhi at 0600 hrs. on 1st September, 2021, the sample for RTPCR test should have been taken not before 0600 hrs. on 30th August, 2021).

2. The tourists/visitors on arrival at Port Blair airport have to undergo mandatory Covid-19 screening with RTPCR test free of cost. Thereafter the tourists/visitors are allowed to move to their respective hotels. However, they will have to be under quarantine at Port Blair in their hotel rooms until the result of RTPCR tests are received. In case of RTPCR positive test results, the tourists/visitors shall remain in
institutional quarantine in hotels notified by the Hoteliers Association in consent with the A&N Administration, on rates as specified or to the designated hospital/ Covid-19 care centre on case-to-case basis.

3. Tourists may also have to undergo random Rapid Antigen Test conducted from time to time on payment basis as prescribed by A8N Administration.

What if the tourists test positive after arriving at the Andaman Islands?


If the tourists tests positive during their stay in the Islands, he/she will need to undergo institutional isolation as per existing health protocols. The
cost of such isolation for govt. facility will be paid by the tourists as fixed by the administration from time to time.

If the patient wants to stay at hotels, he/she can stay in the hotels if all the conditions below are met:

a) Patients are not symptomatic and not more than 60 years old.
b) Request/ undertaking is made by patient in writing.
c)lf allowed by doctors.

Hotels will make necessary arrangements to designate a part of their rooms for institutional isolation for this purpose.

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  • Regular flights to Port Blair (the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands) are operational now.
  • There are direct flights from Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, and Delhi.
  • Public transports like cabs, taxis, and bus services are also functional.
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Travellers should carefully follow social distancing norms and wear masks as well. Also, before making any booking, they should refer to the latest travel news on the government website of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

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Top Scuba Diving Sites in the Andaman Islands

Top Scuba Diving Sites in the Andaman Islands
Date : 27 Jan 2023

Is scuba diving a part of your bucket list? If so, you should try it on the Andaman Islands. You’ll get to explore the exotic marine plant life, intricate corals, vibrant creatures, and mysterious ocean beds. And in complete honesty, there’s no better place to experience diving than in crystal turquoise waters. 

The Andaman Islands are heaven for scuba divers, attracting travellers from the entire globe. In case you are thinking about what makes the place ideal for divers, it is its gorgeous islands. Bestowed with stunning underwater animals, vivid corals, exciting ocean waves, and silver shores, Andaman provides a range of opportunities to scuba divers. 

Considering the multitude of scuba diving spots in Andaman, it may be overwhelming for you to choose the place. This is why we have curated a list of the best ones, with details, to make it easier for you. Keep reading to find out what these are!

Our Package

 Port Blair

The first on the list is the capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Port Blair. With scenic beauty, mesmerizing coral reefs, and adventurous diving, the city has everything you require for refreshment. Although there are numerous scuba diving places here, the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park in Wandoor is the one we recommend. Home to more than 50 kinds of sea flowers and corals, you will get to witness clownfish, whitetip sharks, and butterflyfish during your underwater expedition here. 

Other famous diving spots include Rutland Island, Corruption Rock, and Snake Island. Before you choose any of the spots, find out which ones are right for you, based on your level of expertise. 

Barren Island

Barren Island is completely the opposite of what its name suggests. The place holds some of the most astounding wonders of nature. Besides, it is the only confirmed active volcano in South Asia. Now if you are wondering what the place holds for you, the answer is impressive marine life and pristine waters. 

Scuba diving on Barren Island means exploring massive manta rays, silver garden eels, picturesque basalt formations, and coral gardens. And if this does not sound enough to you, there are also barracuda fish and dogtooth tuna. 

North Bay Island

If you have already tried researching diving spots or have heard from a traveler, you might already know about scuba diving on North Bay Island. And if not, we have got you covered. The island’s glimmering waters, alluring coral reefs, and stunning landscape will leave you in awe. You can never have enough of marine life - the soft corals such as sea fans, mushroom corals, and sea anemones are visually appealing. And if you are a non-swimmer, you can also consider going shore diving on North Bay Island. Sounds interesting, doesn’t it?

Neil Island 

The laid-back vibe, rich biodiversity, and untouched coral reefs are what give Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep) its charm. Upon your arrival, the serenity and beauty of the white sandy beaches and refreshing breeze will allure you. The best part about scuba diving on Neil Island is that the safe depth and medium water currents are ideal for beginners or first-timers. Some of the most common spots here include Busy Burro, Junctions, Margarita, and Rocky’s. 

Havelock Island

Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep) is indeed a paradise for scuba divers. The gorgeous island boasts numerous famous as well as pristine diving sites. As a matter of fact, whenever one talks about scuba diving on the Andaman Islands, Havelock Island is the first place that comes to our mind. 

Whether you are a beginner or a skilled scuba diver, Havelock Island has a number of diving spots for you to choose from. Some of these are mentioned below. 

  • Lighthouse: Lighthouse is the only place where skilled, certified (SSI/PADI) divers are allowed to scuba dive at night time. So if you are certified, you must definitely consider exploring the plethora of hard and soft corals while diving amidst them in the middle of the night. 
  • Mac Point: The astonishing appeal of the spot is sufficient enough to attract tourists from all over the world. But what makes the point even more special is the existence of a Sirenain tusked mammal named Dugong, which is often found in eastern Africa and Australia. 
  • Aquarium: Ideal for all kinds of scuba divers, Aquarium has vibrant fishes, hard corals, and foreseeable soft currents. With a depth of nearly 10 to 12 meters, the diving spot is situated southwest of Havelock Island. 
  • Tribe Gate: Perfect for non-swimmers and beginners, Tribe Gate is among one of the top scuba diving sites on the Andaman Islands. Located less than 2 kilometers from Govind Nagar Beach, the scuba diving spot is archetypal for witnessing clownfish, sea anemones, clamps, trevallies, four-lined orange snappers, and double-spotted fusiliers. 

 

When is the Best Time for Diving?

The scuba diving season on the Andaman Islands generally begins by the end of October or the beginning of November and prolongs till May. The water temperature on the islands is tropical, ranging from 80 degrees Fahrenheit to 84 degrees Fahrenheit, which is ideal for diving. In general, you can dive on the islands at any time of the year since it is the weather that determines if conditions are ideal or not. Some sites are usually calm with foreseeable currents while others experience down currents as well. 

How to Reach Scuba Diving Spots?

In order to reach any scuba diving spot, you first need to fly to the Veer Savarkar Airport in Port Blair. You can either take a direct flight from cities like Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai or take a connecting flight to reach here. Once you are in the capital of the Andaman Islands, you can take a ferry to reach other islands with scuba diving spots. Some islands are connected to Port Blair by road as well. 

The Final Verdict 

Scuba diving on the Andaman Islands is an exciting experience and once you perform the underwater sport, it will remain etched in your memory for a lifetime. While we shared some of the most popular spots for diving on the islands here, you should check with your instructor regarding which is ideal for you based on your level of expertise. Further, factor in weather conditions before taking the dive as well.

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