diving in the andamans

jez

hi

if anyone is intrested in diving on havelock island , i have dived with diveindia and barefootindia both good.


i,ve done over 80 dives there ,so if anyone wants to know about diving there please fill free to contact me.

Carina

Hi Jez,
I have been several times to Andaman but the next (March-April) I wish to learn how to dive. I have seen on the net the two centers you mention and would be interested into knowing your experience in both. I am a total beginner in diving.
Also hesitating between PADI open water + may be advanced open water or BSPA ?
Finally I do not have a budget to stay in luxury hotels. Are the centers far from cheaper guest houses like on beach n°5 ?
Is the lady from Bombay still having a diving center on Neil Island ?
Thank you in advance for your advices.
Carina

vargoje3

Diving with Jez is great. I just got my certification for open water diver 3 days ago with him. Barefoot resort is a great place and the reef is gorgeous.

Miqel

Hi!

I'll be in Port Blair 27.1. or in about a week from this today and I'm definently planning on diving somewhere around there. Are there other diving operators around than those two mentioned here? Something around PB or other parts of Middle Andaman? Is Diveindia the one thats operates from Orchid Bungalows or something? What about the otherone, barefoot? Which one is better, and before all, cheaper? Is it really high season right now? On my last visit during oct 2004 all the smaller islands were really empty, nice and quiet. Best place in all the seas.

Miqel

scub_a_holic

Diving in the Andamans isn't that great. There is long 2 hour boat trips from the islands to the dive spots, the boats are the small traditional style and not comfortable. If the sea is any way rough its going to a really uncomfortable.

Maybe i've been spoilt in the past, but there are nicer places to dive that are better and easier. And no Neil island isn't operating this year, only diving from Havelock.

joepubli

Visiting early April. Complete beginner - only a bit of snorkelling before! Can anyone recommend specific place?

Can a 10 year old try it?

Would appreciate an idea on costs and safety.

Barefoot looks really good - anyone stayed there or would recommend anywhere else. Seems a bit expensive.

joe

AndaMan

Barefoot themselves have cheaper options: they have backpacker accomodation at Havelock as well, attached to their scuba dive center, with prices ranging from $2 to $30 per night in total for 2 people sharing (i.e. $1 - $15 per person on 2 sharing basis).
10-years may be just a tad too young, but you can always enquire...perhaps chck the PADI website.
Barefoot Scuba and Dive India both charge exactly the same.

May

Hi All,

I am planning a trip to Andaman , probably next year during the diving season. I know it is way to early to plan now but it seems that the information on Andaman islands is pretty limited and I am confused! I have read about Charter flight from BKK. I am a Thai, so I think that should be the best way to get there. I found the website and it posted some restriction that I have to stay over there at least 7 days and have to buy their package, which I am okay with that since they seem to have diving package ( with Barefoot) on their website. However, I wrote them and make some queries....I got a reply saying that the best way to get there is to fly to india and then connect the flight from Chennai to Port Blair. So what is all about the charter flight thing? Unless they are no longer available (well, at least the guy should have told me in the email but he didnt!)

Anyway, still have strong intention to go there. Any recommendation? Thanks!

shahronakm

Hi Everybody,

Is October right time to visit Andaman ?
Lonely planet suggests to visit Andaman between December to Early April. Will it be raining at that time ?
I am planning to visit there for Scuba diving, snorkelling etc., (My first time)
I don't want to be disappointed with the weather after reaching.

Waiting for your comments. Thanks

Ronak.

AndaMan

The advice from A&N Islands Tours and Travel (I reckon its their website you got the charter flight info from) to travel via India to the Andaman Islands is correct as it stands at date.

The inside story is that the charter flight operators are having difficulty in sourcing an aircraft for next season, and until such time that they do not get the plane they are unable to sell seats or even recommend the direct route from Bangkok.

If you are planning a dive trip to the Andamans, mid-Jan till end April is the best time. October is not very good.

vargoje3

Having visited the islands for 10 days and taken several dunghi boat rides i would have to say they can be a little uncomfortable but don't pass up a trip there just because of that. I took a dunghi from port blair to havelock and that was not a lot of fun but i dont know about the long trips to go diving. I think the longest dunghi boat trip we took to go diving was around 45 minutes. Diving in havelock is great from my perspective.