Scuba diving is an activity in which some find an adrenaline rush, while others find it to be a calming influence. Whatever be the experience, what is needed for this activity is the coastline and India has plenty of it. India is surrounded on 3 sides by water, the total coastline India has is around 7500 kilometres and is filled with these amazing scuba diving spots.
Scuba diving gives one an experience of the coral reefs and the rich underwater marine life. Countless species of fish and other marine animals and the colourful underwater reefs add life to the oceans underwater. The best places to dive in India are Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar are the places to get a world-class diving experience followed by Dwarka and the coastline of Karnataka.
What one finds underwater is something beyond one’s imagination. It is probably one of those activities that are easy to get addicted to. While this paper/article is no substitute for the experience, it attempts to give you all a brief insight into what to expect while diving and the best spots to get that experience in India.
Given Below Are Some Of The Best Scuba Diving Spots In India
Havelock Island, Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Havelock has a wide range of exotic wildlife. You can expect to see beautiful coral gardens, sloping reefs, steep walks and very calm waters which offer great visibility, upto 40 meters.
Spot: humpback parrotfish, lionfish, the rare dugongs (manatees) and schools of colourful fish
Dive sites: The wall, lighthouse, aquarium
Best time to visit: October to April
Popular dive schools: Barefoot scuba, Dive India
Barren Island, Andaman and Nicobar Islands
This is a site for scuba diving close to an active volcano, and this is what excites people and gets their adrenaline rushing to visit this spot. This island has earned its name as one of the best diving spots in India. Not only does it have a variety of sea creatures to see, but it also has a unique dark blue soil. The colourful reef life looks stunning against the blue sand. Along with that, the surface intervals offer beautiful sights of the smoking volcano as well. It is also much less crowded as compared to Havelock
Dive sites: Purple haze is an area named to reflect a 50-meter wide area covered in purple corals. It is an amazing sight to see. Manta Bay and Manta Point are sites where you can witness manta rays very close to you. Divers have also spotted whitetip, blacktip and whale sharks as well.
Best time to visit: December to May
Popular dive schools: Barefoot scuba, Dive India, Scuba Adventures
Netrani Island, Murdeshwar, Karnataka
This island, extremely famous for its heart shape is located close to Murudeshwar, a temple town in Karnataka. It is known for its calm and peaceful waters. Divers have also spotted ‘Baleen Whales’ and this island is also a breeding ground for these whales, so if you are lucky you might be able to spot them. Netrani island has been rated as one of the best spots for scuba diving off the west coast.
Spot: Varieties of corals, turtles, butterflyfish, parrotfish, eels, and shrimp
Best time to visit: December and January
Popular dive schools: Netrani Adventures West Coast
Dwarka, Gujarat
Depth varies from 5m to 23m, making it the perfect diving spot for both beginners and experts. Another famous diving spot to sight hale sharks. Dolphins and turtles are common sights in The Gulf of Kutch. Also, since waters can be as shallow as 5 meters, you can spot pufferfish, Barracuda, lionfish, butterflyfish and octopus as well.
Best time to visit: October to March
Popular dive schools: Dive India
Barracuda, lionfish, butterflyfish
Minicoy, Lakshadweep
Waters here are calm and the current is moderate, making it the perfect diving spot for beginners. Dive sites consist of an array of coral reefs, as Lakshadweep is an archipelago and so in many diving spots, you can see continuous ranges of coral reefs. And where there are coral reefs, there is always a large number of fish and other sea creatures, making it the perfect spot for scuba diving. The waters also consist of caves, Shipwrecks, sloping reefs and even drift diving! Drift diving is a type of diving wherein the diver is transported by the water movement caused by a tide.
You can spot black and whitetip sharks, barracuda, tuna, turtles and a huge number of very diverse and beautiful looking creatures.
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Lakshadweep has very limited accommodation, and so those interested to go scuba diving here must make their bookings and reservations in advance. This is the perfect place to enjoy your dive in the absence of large crowds of people, and only the deep blue sea for miles and miles, as far as your eyes can see.
