Tired of land adventures? Skip the roads and explore the water this season. Goa parties are old news—it’s time to dive into the stunning turquoise and deep blue waters of the Andaman and Lakshadweep islands. Yes, we’re talking about scuba diving and have the best spots in India for you to explore.
The movie Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara beautifully showcased the excitement of scuba diving. The peaceful underwater world, vibrant marine life, and incredible diving experience transport you to another realm. Scuba diving, or swimming underwater with a Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA), is thrilling and a once-in-a-lifetime experience. And here’s some good news— you don’t need to know how to swim to enjoy scuba diving!
About Scuba Diving In India
Scuba diving in India offers loads of fun and excitement. However, before diving in, it is important to follow some essential safety guidelinesnes.
- Never dive alone. It’s always more enjoyable and safer when you’re with others.
- Always breathe normally. Holding your breath is not safe.
- Begin with shallow dives. Avoid going too deep right away.
- Always check your equipment before diving. Malfunctioning gear can be dangerous.
- Follow the instructions of your trainer or supervisor—they are in charge and there to keep you safe.
- Don’t pollute the underwater environment. Marine life doesn’t harm you, so be respectful and keep your home clean.
Scuba Diving In India: 10 Best Places To Dive
Ready for an exciting adventure? Check out our list of the best scuba diving spots in India. It might be worth skipping if a place isn’t on this list.
Andaman: The Deep Blue Side
Lakshadweep: Underwater Delight
Goa: Glee! It’s Time For Scuba Diving Here
Pondicherry: Underwater Break At Pristine Island
Netrani Island In Karnataka: Witness The Rich Marine Life
Tarkarli In Maharashtra: Enjoy The Colorful Corals
Kovalam In Kerala: A Unique Experience In God’s Own Country
Havelock Island: A World Underwater
Neil Island: Dive In And Witness The Coral Beauty
Cinque Island: Away From The Chaos, Amidst The Serenity
1. Andaman: The Deep Blue Side
The Bay of Bengal’s lively underwater world makes the Andaman Islands perfect for scuba diving. It’s considered one of India’s best scuba diving spots, with stunning corals and clear reefs. While diving, you might encounter turtles, moray eels, manta rays, trevally, and batfish.
Diving Spot: The Wall, Havelock, and Dixon’s Pinnacle
Cost: ₹4,500 per person for each dive
Scuba Diving Organisers: Barefoot, Pugmark Eco Tours, and Experience Andamans
Best Time for Diving: The best time for scuba diving is from November to mid-April. Most of the diving trips take place in the morning.
Good to Know: Scuba diving organizers provide certified training courses for beginners, advanced divers, and rescue divers. Training for advanced and rescue divers usually happens after sunset.
2. Lakshadweep: Underwater Delight
Lakshadweep is a top destination for scuba diving in India, offering thrilling and adventurous experiences. You’ll enjoy exploring the clear blue lagoons and coves, encountering manta rays, turtles, colorful fish, and occasionally even sharks and whales. It’s a unique and unforgettable adventure.
Diving Spot: Princess Royal, Lost Paradise, Dolphin Reef, ClassRoom, Fish Soup and Manta Point
Cost: Scuba diving in Lakshadweep costs between ₹4,000 and ₹7,000 per person for a 25-minute underwater experience.
Scuba Diving Organisers: Lacadives, Nivalink, and Planet Scuba Diving.
The best time for scuba diving is from October to mid-May. For the best experience, plan your visit between December and April.
Good to Know: A warship sank during a battle between France and England 200 years ago near the diving spot of Princess Royal in Bangaram. While enjoying Scuba, you may find traces of cannons, potteries, and shipwrecks. How exciting!
3. Goa: Glee! It’s Time For Scuba Diving Here
Scuba diving in Goa is pure joy, with vibrant corals, schools of colorful fish, and other fascinating marine creatures. The calm waters with clear visibility make Goa one of India’s safest spots for scuba diving.
Diving Spot: Suzy’s Wreck, Sail Rock, Davy Jones Locker, Grand Island, Shelter Cove, and Turbo Tunnel.
Cost: INR 5,000 per person, covering training and a single dive.
Scuba Diving Organisers: Barracuda Diving, Dive Goa, and Elan Adventures.
Best Time for Diving: October to mid-May.
Good to Know: The water temperature in Goa is about 28 degrees, and visibility ranges from 5 to 10 meters. Most diving sites are shallow, with depths between 5 and 15 meters, making them safe and suitable for beginners.
4. Pondicherry: Underwater Break At Pristine Island
Pondicherry is the only diving spot on India’s eastern coast. It features natural coral reefs, rocky outcrops, man-made ridges, and a wide variety of marine life, including jackfish, sea snakes, manta rays, and fan corals. This makes it an ideal scuba diving destination for beginners and professionals, and it is often considered one of the best places for scuba diving in India.
Diving Spots: Cool Shark Reef, Aravind’s Wall, Temple Reef, 4 Corners, Ravines, and The Hole.
Cost: ₹6,500-8,000 per person, which includes two dives in one day.
Scuba Diving Organisers: Temple Adventures and Elan Adventures are popular scuba diving operators in Pondicherry.
Best Time for Diving: Scuba diving in Pondicherry is available year-round, but the best times to dive are from February to April and September to November. Keep in mind that these periods are also the peak seasons.
Good to Know: You don’t need to know how to swim for the initial scuba diving sessions. However, if you can swim up to 200 meters, you can become a licensed diver.
5. Netrani Island In Karnataka: Witness The Rich Marine Life
Netrani Island, also known as Pigeon Island, is a small, heart-shaped island 10 kilometers from Murudeshwar on the Karnataka coast. This unique scuba diving spot is rich in marine life, including various fish, corals, and humpback whales. Divers might even spot whale sharks. A popular diving site here is the Bhatkal shipwreck, 25 kilometers from the shore. Netrani is renowned for offering some of India’s best underwater diving experiences.
Diving Spots: NA
Cost: ₹4,999 per person
Scuba Diving Organisers: Netrani Adventures
Best Time for Diving: From mid-September to the end of May
Good to know: Netrani Adventures is a certified PADI resort.
6. Tarkarli In Maharashtra: Enjoy The Colorful Corals
Tarkarli, near Sindhudurg Fort in Maharashtra, offers clear coastal waters filled with corals and colorful marine life. Visitors are taken from Dandi Beach to the dive site by speed boat. Diving in Tarkarli is guided by experts and is more of a recreational experience than a typical scuba dive.
Diving Spots: NA
Cost: ₹850 per person
Scuba Diving Organisers: Shamika Scuba Diving
Best Time for Diving: The best time to visit Tarkarli for scuba diving is from October to April. The waters are clear during these months, making it perfect for diving.
It’s good to know that even non-swimmers can join the dives at Tarkarli. Divers can explore depths of up to 30 feet underwater.
7. Kovalam In Kerala: A Unique Experience In God’s Own Country
Kovalam in Kerala is quickly gaining popularity among tourists as a scuba diving hotspot. This exciting adventure is now available on Kovalam’s beaches thanks to Bond Safari, a company that uses an underwater scooter. The clear waters offer a fascinating view of diverse marine life, making Kovalam one of the most unique scuba diving destinations in India.
Diving Spots: Lighthouse Beach, Hawah Beach
Cost: INR 4500 per person (the rates may vary)
Scuba Diving Organisers: Bond safari, scuba Cochin Dive Centre
Best Time for Diving: September to February is ideal for water activities like scuba diving in Kovalam.
Good to Know: Kovalam is quickly becoming one of India’s top spots for scuba diving.
8. Havelock Island: A World Underwater
This beautiful island, located 50 km from Port Blair, is one of the must-visit spots in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and a popular scuba diving site in India. It’s famous for its diverse and exotic marine life, where you can encounter species like Humpback Parrotfish, Lionfish, and Soft Corals underwater.
Diving Spots: Turtle Bay
Cost: INR 4500-INR 6000
Scuba Diving Organisers: Barefoot Scuba, India Scuba Explorers, Eco Diver, Dive India Outbound, and Ocean Tribe Scuba.
Best Time For Diving: October-April
Good to Know: You may encounter species like Humpback Parrotfish, Lionfish, and Soft Corals.
9. Neil Island: Dive In And Witness The Coral Beauty
Neil Island, a hidden gem in the Andaman, offers a serene escape from the hustle of the main town. Known for its untouched and secluded beaches, this island also boasts some of India’s best scuba diving spots. The coral reefs here remain pristine, showcasing a rich diversity of marine life. Neil Island is undoubtedly one of India’s top destinations for underwater diving.
Diving Spots: NA
Cost: INR 3500-INR 6000
Scuba Diving Organisers: K Rock, Bus Stop, and Margherita’s Mischief
Best Time To Visit: December-April
Good to Know: The coral reef remains pristine, maintaining its vibrant and diverse beauty of both flora and fauna.
10. Cinque Island: Away From The Chaos, Amidst The Serenity
Cinque Island is another stunning destination in the Andaman Islands that’s worth exploring. With some of the clearest waters in the world, you can see up to 80 feet deep, making it one of India’s top scuba diving spots. The island is home to diverse marine life, including black corals and sharks.
Diving Spots: NA
Cost: INR 3500-INR 5000
Scuba Diving Organisers: Barefoot Scuba
Best Time To Visit: December-May
Good to Know: The place is home to various marine life, black corals, and ferocious sharks.
Things To Carry While Scuba Diving
- Sunblock
- Diving mask
- Rehydrating Salt
- Dive Logbook
- Dry Bag
- A Good Quality Wetsuit
- Depth Gauge, Compass, Submersible Pressure Gauge
- Quality Diving Footwear
Tips For Scuba Diving In India
Scuba diving is exciting and enjoyable, but breathing underwater can be intimidating for some. To help you feel more confident, here are some useful tips to remember.
- Safety is the most important factor when scuba diving. Before you dive, it’s best to get training from a professional.
- Before you start scuba diving, practice swimming underwater and do some yoga for a few months. This will help you build confidence and prepare for the dive.
- Get a medical check-up to ensure you’re healthy and ready for scuba diving.
- Follow your instructor’s guidance carefully. Plan your dive route and share it with your guide.
- Get the right equipment and inspect your gear before you head to your dive site. If you’re unsure about anything, ask your guide for help.
Conclusion
In 2024, India offers some of the most exciting scuba diving experiences for enthusiasts of all levels. From the vibrant marine life of the Andaman Islands to the clear waters of Goa, there’s a scuba destination to suit every taste. Whether diving in the crystal-clear lagoons of Lakshadweep, exploring the rich coral reefs of Pondicherry, or discovering the hidden gems of Kovalam and Netrani Island, each location promises a unique underwater adventure. With proper safety measures and certified instructors, these top spots ensure a memorable dive into India’s stunning marine world.
FAQs
Q1: Do I need to know how to swim to go scuba diving?
Ans: You don’t need to be an expert swimmer to go scuba diving. However, being comfortable in the water helps. Many dive operators offer training for beginners.
Q2: What is the best time to go scuba diving in India?
Ans: The best time for scuba diving varies by location. Generally, October to April is ideal for most destinations, but it’s good to check specific timings for each spot.
Q3: How deep can I dive during a recreational dive?
Ans: Recreational dives typically reach 30 meters (about 100 feet), while beginners usually start with shallower dives.
Q4: Is scuba diving safe?
Ans: Scuba diving is generally safe when proper procedures are followed and trained professionals guide you. Always listen to your instructor and follow safety guidelines.
Q5: How much does scuba diving cost in India?
Ans: Costs vary depending on the location and dive operator. For a single dive, prices typically range from INR 4,000 to INR 8,000 per person.
Q6: What should I bring for a scuba diving trip?
Ans: Bring comfortable swimwear, sunscreen, and a change of clothes. The dive operator will provide most diving gear, but check in advance if you need to bring anything specific.
Q7: Are there any medical requirements for scuba diving?
Ans: Yes, it’s advisable to have a medical examination before diving, especially if you have health conditions. Consult with a doctor to ensure you’re fit for diving.
Q8: Can I take photos underwater?
Ans: Yes, many divers use underwater cameras to capture the beauty of marine life. Some dive operators also offer photography services.
Q9: How can I find a good dive operator?
Ans: Look for certified dive operators with good reviews. Check their credentials, such as PADI or SSI certification, and ensure they follow safety standards.
Q10: What should I do if I feel nervous about diving?
Ans: It’s normal to feel nervous. Communicate your concerns with your instructor, who can provide additional support and reassurance. Starting with a shallow dive can also help build confidence.
