Boat Schedule and advice on diving

freebirdnz · Oct 7th, 2009, 22:22

Hi there,

Does anyone know where I can get the boat schedule for Nov - Dec 2009? We are flying into Chenni and want to get the boat. (I will look at flights though as the second option)

I have contacted the shipping corporation and looked up numerous websites but the schedule only goes to October.

If anyone has a schedule they can send me or the link that would be so great!!!!!!

I am looking at booking this asap so any tips on that would be great. Is there online booking? Any tips would be helpful.

I would also look at flights as a second option and have read some posts about that but they are quite old. Does anyone have any advice on what airlines go there now? So far I have:

Jet Airways
Air Deccan
Air Sahara

Also I would love to hear from anyone who has done some scuba diving. Is it as good as I have been told? I did my Open Water in the Red Sea so I know that will be hard to beat. I have read a few posts from people who did their open water but I would love to hear from the more experienced divers and if they think it's a good place compared to other countries like Thailand. What Island in Andaman do you recommend for the diving?

I am getting very excited about this adventure!

Oh and another question.... do you just need your tourist visa? I was told you need a permit? I am already here in India on my tourist visa.

Thanks sooooooooooooooo much!!!!

martinez · Oct 7th, 2009, 23:31

Hi Freebirdnz,see www.and.nic.in for boat details and lots of other bits and peices.
I dive with Indiascubaexplorers at Neil Island,its not quite as good as the Red Sea(especially south red sea),but the whole vibe is completely different.Andamans is really laid back in comparison to Red Sea.
Johann and Sam at Indiascubaexplorers are a small independent firm and they are very well equipped with all that you will need for a good diving expierience.The outings(2 dive events)are most usually very small groups,so you can gaurantee being looked after. You need a tourist visa to get into India,then you will be issued a permit upon arrival in Port Blair,Andaman. Arriving by boat or plane are now the same,the permit is issued at Port Blair,and it lasts for 30 days.>Some are able to get 15 day extentions,but that varies .
You will see other diveshops being reccomended on this forum and i have only heard good things about all of them.
The difference between Neil and Havelock is that Neil is nuch smaller and more laid back. Ya get to know everyone quickly.
Hope this info helps.

freebirdnz · Oct 8th, 2009, 00:01

Hi and thanks for the reply.

I have tired this site and it's the same story.... old schedule. I can't seem to find Nov - Dec anywhere and I am sure it's out there somewhere!

Thanks for the other information though. I will plan my trip..........when I can find the ship schedule!

Take care,

Freebird

freebirdnz · Oct 8th, 2009, 00:14

OK I found a schedule up to November.... but I really want to look at December too. Also this site only names the date and has no other details.

http://www.akshayaindia.com/honeymoon/Andaman.htm

So if anyone else can find a more detailed schedule for NOV and DEC that would be great!

Thanks again,

freebird

machadinha · Oct 8th, 2009, 00:17

When I've looked through http://www.and.nic.in/ before, my impression was it never goes any further than this month's schedules (and said there to be always tentative in any case, mind). They currently do list early Nov., so maybe it moves on on a weekly basis or so, I really don't know.

So them's the breaks I guess. You say you've contacted the shipping corporation, but if you give them a ring I'm sure they can tell you what's what?

freebirdnz · Oct 8th, 2009, 00:33

Thanks machadinha,

Yeah I will try ringing as a last resort. I always think
the worse about making phone calls here.... I know it's sad!

I am sure I can find an online schedule out there somewhere..........someone??

freebird

machadinha · Oct 8th, 2009, 00:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by freebirdnz

I am sure I can find an online schedule out there somewhere..........someone??

I've never seen them, or not further ahead then anyway. Not in answer to previous questions on it here either.

freebirdnz · Oct 8th, 2009, 11:54

Hi again,

I spent this morning ringing around with no luck. Everyone tells me to ring another number or it's an old schedule.

They tell you to book well in advance which I am trying to do if only I can get the schedule. It isn't that far in advance anyway.

I will keep trying but it's very frustrating. I want to plan my trip!

freebird

freebirdnz · Oct 8th, 2009, 16:56

OK.... I think it will be soooooooooooo much easier to fly to Port Blair as I will be in London when I need to book which is another hassle. It's first in first served so would hate to miss out.

I can get a round trip for R's10,000 so that isn't too bad.

Thanks everyone for your help!

Shareen

delhiwala · Oct 8th, 2009, 19:17

This is the website of Shipping Corporation of India, the company that opeartes these voyages. May Check schedule online.

Oct 7th, 2009, 22:22	#1
freebirdnz Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: London Posts: 181	Boat Schedule and advice on diving Hi there, Does anyone know where I can get the boat schedule for Nov - Dec 2009? We are flying into Chenni and want to get the boat. (I will look at flights though as the second option) I have contacted the shipping corporation and looked up numerous websites but the schedule only goes to October. If anyone has a schedule they can send me or the link that would be so great!!!!!! I am looking at booking this asap so any tips on that would be great. Is there online booking? Any tips would be helpful. I would also look at flights as a second option and have read some posts about that but they are quite old. Does anyone have any advice on what airlines go there now? So far I have: Jet Airways Air Deccan Air Sahara Also I would love to hear from anyone who has done some scuba diving. Is it as good as I have been told? I did my Open Water in the Red Sea so I know that will be hard to beat. I have read a few posts from people who did their open water but I would love to hear from the more experienced divers and if they think it's a good place compared to other countries like Thailand. What Island in Andaman do you recommend for the diving? I am getting very excited about this adventure! Oh and another question.... do you just need your tourist visa? I was told you need a permit? I am already here in India on my tourist visa. Thanks sooooooooooooooo much!!!! Last edited by freebirdnz : Oct 7th, 2009 at 22:56. Reason: adding another question

Oct 8th, 2009, 00:17	#5
machadinha brother my cup is empty member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 14,391	When I've looked through http://www.and.nic.in/ before, my impression was it never goes any further than this month's schedules (and said there to be always tentative in any case, mind). They currently do list early Nov., so maybe it moves on on a weekly basis or so, I really don't know. So them's the breaks I guess. You say you've contacted the shipping corporation, but if you give them a ring I'm sure they can tell you what's what? __________________ Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

Oct 8th, 2009, 19:17	#10
delhiwala IM what IM Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Indeyah ! Posts: 4,817	This is the website of Shipping Corporation of India, the company that opeartes these voyages. May Check schedule online. __________________ Travel only with thy equals or thy betters; if there are none, travel alone. - The Dhammapada

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Oct 7th, 2009, 23:31	#2
martinez Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: portugal Posts: 455	Hi Freebirdnz,see www.and.nic.in for boat details and lots of other bits and peices. I dive with Indiascubaexplorers at Neil Island,its not quite as good as the Red Sea(especially south red sea),but the whole vibe is completely different.Andamans is really laid back in comparison to Red Sea. Johann and Sam at Indiascubaexplorers are a small independent firm and they are very well equipped with all that you will need for a good diving expierience.The outings(2 dive events)are most usually very small groups,so you can gaurantee being looked after. You need a tourist visa to get into India,then you will be issued a permit upon arrival in Port Blair,Andaman. Arriving by boat or plane are now the same,the permit is issued at Port Blair,and it lasts for 30 days.>Some are able to get 15 day extentions,but that varies . You will see other diveshops being reccomended on this forum and i have only heard good things about all of them. The difference between Neil and Havelock is that Neil is nuch smaller and more laid back. Ya get to know everyone quickly. Hope this info helps.

Oct 8th, 2009, 00:01	#3
freebirdnz Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: London Posts: 181	Hi and thanks for the reply. I have tired this site and it's the same story.... old schedule. I can't seem to find Nov - Dec anywhere and I am sure it's out there somewhere! Thanks for the other information though. I will plan my trip..........when I can find the ship schedule! Take care, Freebird

Oct 8th, 2009, 00:14	#4
freebirdnz Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: London Posts: 181	OK I found a schedule up to November.... but I really want to look at December too. Also this site only names the date and has no other details. http://www.akshayaindia.com/honeymoon/Andaman.htm So if anyone else can find a more detailed schedule for NOV and DEC that would be great! Thanks again, freebird

Oct 8th, 2009, 00:33	#6
freebirdnz Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: London Posts: 181	Thanks machadinha, Yeah I will try ringing as a last resort. I always think the worse about making phone calls here.... I know it's sad! I am sure I can find an online schedule out there somewhere..........someone?? freebird

Oct 8th, 2009, 11:54	#8
freebirdnz Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: London Posts: 181	Hi again, I spent this morning ringing around with no luck. Everyone tells me to ring another number or it's an old schedule. They tell you to book well in advance which I am trying to do if only I can get the schedule. It isn't that far in advance anyway. I will keep trying but it's very frustrating. I want to plan my trip! freebird

Oct 8th, 2009, 16:56	#9
freebirdnz Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: London Posts: 181	OK.... I think it will be soooooooooooo much easier to fly to Port Blair as I will be in London when I need to book which is another hassle. It's first in first served so would hate to miss out. I can get a round trip for R's10,000 so that isn't too bad. Thanks everyone for your help! Shareen