Andaman & Nicobar
Scuba diving in the Andaman Islands
Updated 2026-09-01 · 39 plates in this cluster
The Andamans are not one dive. Havelock is the dense, tourist-facing cluster. Neil is the quieter channel neighbour. South Andaman — Chidiya Tapu, Mundapahar, Cinque — is a different day: longer boats from Port Blair, wreck and rock sites, and fewer copy-paste blog posts.
Diver Atlas is Andaman-first on purpose. Thin global maps already exist. A complete regional encyclopedia is what a skipper and a visiting diver can actually share.
Named plates
intermediate · 10–55 m · boat
The Wall
Channel between Havelock Lighthouse and Peel Island, Swaraj Dweep
Havelock's namesake wall: a sloping-to-vertical drop from about 10 m into the channel, scattered with fan corals, coral rock and sand pockets. Among the deepest regularly dived sites in the Andamans.
advanced · 16–35 m · boat
Dixon's Pinnacle
Offshore east of Swaraj Dweep
Three gigantic pinnacles dressed in soft coral — a world-class cleaning station and the centrepiece of Havelock's offshore 'holy trinity' with Johnny's Gorge and Jackson's Bar. Seasonal mantas and the occasional whale shark. Usually run as an advanced day.
beginner · 5–16 m · shore
Nemo Reef
Beach No. 2, Govind Nagar, Swaraj Dweep
Beach No. 2's fringing reef — where almost every Havelock diver starts. Dual reef, clownfish, and the Ghost Jeep. A common checkout and try-dive house reef.
advanced · 22–30 m · drift
Junction
Channel between Swaraj Dweep and Shaheed Dweep (Neil)
A finger of reef in the channel between Havelock and Neil. DIVEIndia describes a start around 22 m dropping to about 30 m, lionfish on soft coral at the tip, and pelagics in the blue. ScubaLov runs it as an advanced 28–34 m ledge dive with strong eastward current. Structured depth uses the 22–30 m band published by DIVEIndia and Dive Andaman.
advanced · 30–30 m · boat
Chidiya Tapu Wreck
About 20 minutes by boat from Chidiya Tapu, South Andaman
The Chidiya Tapu wreck Lacadives dives about 20 minutes from their desk, published at about 30 m. Their page does not settle the hull's identity. Schooling snapper, fusiliers, batfish, trevally and a giant grouper. Coarse-located on purpose.
intermediate · 4–25 m · boat
Cinque Island
North Cinque Island, South Andaman
Uninhabited twin islands south of Port Blair, joined by a sandbar. Lacadives runs Cinque as a Chidiya Tapu day trip. Seahawks Scuba publishes 4–25 m, black coral, boulders and walls. Structured depth uses that operator range; the map mark is the North Cinque island, not a mooring.
Which island first
Most first-timers fly into Port Blair, ferry to Havelock, and stay. That is the right default: training reefs, a wreck, a wall, and the offshore trinity are all on one island's boat schedule.
Add Neil if you have extra days and want shorter reefs. Add South Andaman if you are based in Port Blair or chasing Cinque / Chidiya Tapu with a centre that actually runs those sites.
Season
The working season for Andaman boats is roughly October to May. Peak vis and the calmest offshore days sit in the winter dry months. Monsoon cuts Barren and most Havelock offshore charters; it does not delete the encyclopedia — it changes which plates are in play.
Also on this chart
beginner · 8–8 m · shore
Mundapahar Beach
Mundapahar / Chidiya Tapu, South Andaman
Mundapahar house reef at Chidiya Tapu. Lacadives publishes 8 m and a U-shaped structure with wrasse, parrotfish, lionfish, fusiliers and clownfish. Structured depth is their published 8 m.
advanced · 5–20 m · drift
Parrot's Rock
MacPherson Strait, between South Andaman and Rutland
A low-tide rock cluster between South Andaman and Rutland. Lacadives publishes a 5–20 m slope, purple soft coral, gorgonians, morays and turtles, and a drift strong enough for the PADI Drift specialty.
advanced · 14–40 m · boat
Corruption Rock
Channel entrance off Chidiya Tapu, South Andaman
A surface-breaking pinnacle off Chidiya Tapu. Lacadives publishes 14 m / 30 m faces and a 40 m+ drop-off, with barracuda, jacks, snapper, tuna and eagle rays. Dive Andaman independently names the same rock on their Port Blair list.
Questions people search
- Where is the best scuba diving in the Andaman Islands?
- Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) has the densest set of named sites. Neil is shorter-boat reef diving. South Andaman and Cinque are a Port Blair / Chidiya Tapu day, not a Havelock add-on.
- Is Diver Atlas the same as Divers Atlas?
- No. Diver Atlas (diveratlas.com) is CoreSpaces LLC's Andaman-first encyclopedia. Divers Atlas is a different project. We are not a certification agency and we do not sell trips.
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