What is the best time to dive Andaman Islands?

The best months to dive Andaman Islands in India are December, January, February, March, April. Water temperatures range from 26°C to 30°C during peak season.

How deep is Andaman Islands?

Andaman Islands reaches a maximum depth of 40 m, with visibility ranging from 9–30 m. The full depth range requires Advanced certification at minimum; some zones are technical diver territory.

What marine life can you see at Andaman Islands?

Andaman Islands is known for encounters with manta ray, reef shark, sea turtle, barracuda, grouper, nudibranch. The site features reef, wreck, pelagic diving across 25 named sites, with a marine life score of 66/100 in OkToDive's ranking.

Is Andaman Islands good for beginners?

Andaman Islands is better suited to experienced divers. Currents can be moderate and depths reach 40 m. A minimum Open Water certification is required, and OkToDive recommends at least 100 logged dives before visiting.

How much does it cost to dive Andaman Islands?

A 2-tank dive at Andaman Islands averages around $60 USD, placing it in the mid range tier. Both boat and shore access are available, giving divers flexibility on budget.

Andaman Islands Diving — India's Best Reefs

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World Class

Intermediate

Andaman Islands

IndiaIndian Ocean

65.8

SCORE

11.7401°N

92.6586°E

The Andaman Islands sit 1,200km from mainland India in the Bay of Bengal, offering some of the best diving in South Asia. Havelock Island is the hub, with clear water, healthy hard corals, and manta ray encounters at The Wall. Still relatively undiscovered, it's India's answer to the Coral Triangle — at Indian prices.

India's Frontier Dive Destination

Visibility9–30 m

Temperature26–30°C

Max Depth40 m

Currentmoderate

2-Tank Dive$60

Best MonthsDecember, January, February, March

CertificationOpen WaterIntermediate

Score breakdown

Click any score to see a detailed breakdown

Marine Life

66.0

Species diversity, megafauna encounters, reef fish abundance, macro life, and endemic species.

Species Diversity

Megafauna Encounters

Reef Fish Abundance

Macro Life

Endemic Species

Marine life diversity

66.0

Coral & reef health

72.0

Visibility & conditions

70.0

Dive site variety

55.0

Water temperature

72.0

Depth & access

62.0

Operator quality

73.0

Topside experience

64.0

Getting there

68.0

Value & cost

63.0

Crowding

59.0

Social proof

57.0

Key species

manta ray reef shark sea turtle barracuda grouper nudibranch

Dive types

reefwreckpelagic

Traveling with non-divers?

Your non-diving travel companions will find plenty to enjoy topside while you're underwater. Here are some activities to consider.

Activities for non-divers

Radhanagar Beach (Havelock)snorkeling at Elephant Beachmangrove kayakingRoss Island WWII ruinsCellular Jail sound & light show

Nearby cultural sites

Cellular Jail National Memorial (Port Blair)
Ross Island ruins
Anthropological Museum

Non-diver score

7/10

Good topside options for non-diving companions.

Family FriendlyYes

Restaurants & Nightlifebasic

Safety & emergency

Dive insurance

DAN recommends dive insurance for all divers.

Learn more at DAN.org

Hyperbaric Chamber10 km — INHS Dhanvantari Naval Hospital Chamber, Port Blair

Nearest Hospital10 km

Naval chamber in Port Blair; hospital in Port Blair; flight to Chennai for advanced care (2 hrs)

Skill LevelIntermediate

Current Strengthmoderate

Top operators

Barefoot Scuba

PADI

4.8

310 reviewsNITROX

Infinity Scuba

PADI

4.7

220 reviewsNITROX

Compare this dive site

Andaman Islands in India scores 65.8/100in OkToDive's 12-category data-driven rating. Best for reef diving with 9–30m visibility and 26–30°C water temps. A 2-tank dive costs ~$60 USD. Peak season: December, January, February.

Last updated: 2026-05-24

Who should dive here

Best for

+ Wreck diving enthusiasts
+ Anyone visiting Indian Ocean for the first time
+ Groups seeking 25+ named dive sites in one area

Skip if

− You don't have Advanced certification
− You need shore access — this is boat-only

Verdict

Choose Andaman Islands over similar Indian Ocean destinations when operator quality matters more than site variety

How Andaman Islands compares

Site	Score	Visibility	Cost/dive	Best for
Andaman Islands	65.8	9–30m	$60	reef, wreck
Maldives	78.8	15–40m	$150	channel, reef
North Malé Atoll	77.1	15–40m	$130	reef, channel
Baa Atoll	74.9	12–35m	$150	reef, channel
South Ari Atoll	74.8	15–40m	$140	reef, channel

Current conditions

9/10Excellent

Waves0.22 m

Swell0.14 m

Wind10.7 km/h

Air30°C

Slight rain showers

43d ago

Honest reality check

What your dive shop won't tell you

The minimum certification printed on a brochure is the legal floor, not the honest recommendation. Here's what we actually think you should bring to this site.

Recommended logged dives

60+

Below this we'd send you somewhere easier first.

Recommended certification

Advanced Open Water

“India's best diving and one of the most pristine reef systems in SE Asia. Andamans feel like Coral Triangle before tourism.”

What will challenge you

→Moderate currents. Expect to drift — this is not a skill-builder site for a first trip after certification.
→Recreational limit of 40 m is reachable here (max depth 40 m). Gas planning and NDL tracking matter.
→Wreck penetration requires Wreck specialty training at minimum, and often decompression planning. Don't improvise inside.
→Permit required for foreigners. Budget an extra day for paperwork.

What will surprise you

→Thermoclines can drop water temp by 4°C between the surface and depth. Your wetsuit choice should match the minimum, not the average.

Time of day

When to dive it

Every dive shop gives you this briefing at 7am. We just wrote it down. Tidal dependency: slight. Optimal window: Dec-Apr dive season. May-Oct monsoon closes operations. Strict window..

Morning

Viz
high
Current
moderate
Crowd
light

Havelock reefs
manta encounters
wide angle

India's best diving — remote, pristine, barely touched. Morning at Havelock's Lighthouse reef for mantas and pristine hard coral.

Afternoon

Viz
high
Current
moderate
Crowd
moderate

Barracuda City
coral walls
macro on reef

Barracuda City at South Button Island. Afternoon current brings schooling fish. Reef health like SE Asia 30 years ago.

Month-by-month

Dive forecast

Realistic conditions by month. Viz ranges are what you should actually expect, not best-case marketing numbers. Confidence % is the share of days that match this profile historically.

Month	Viz (m)	Temp (°C)	Current	Sea	Rain	Confidence	Highlights
Jan	14–26	28	Mod	Calm	Dry	88%	conditions vary
Feb	13–24	28	Mod	Calm	Dry	88%	conditions vary
Mar	13–24	28	Mod	Calm	Dry	88%	conditions vary
Apr	14–26	29	Mod	Calm	Dry	88%	conditions vary
May	15–28	29	Mod	Calm	Dry	78%	conditions vary
Jun	15–28	29	Mod	Chop	Light	65%	conditions vary
Jul	14–26	28	Mod	Chop	Light	55%	conditions vary
Aug	13–24	27	Mod	Chop	Wet	55%	conditions vary
Sep	13–24	28	Mod	Chop	Wet	55%	conditions vary
Oct	14–26	28	Mod	Chop	Wet	65%	conditions vary
Nov	15–28	28	Mod	Calm	Light	78%	conditions vary
Dec	15–30	28	Mod	Calm	Dry	88%	conditions vary

Shoot here

Photography brief

Subjects are only half the shot. A perfect macro site is useless in a three-knot drift, and a wide-angle dream is useless at 35 m with a murky ceiling. These are the conditions, not the hype.

Macro subjects49

Wide angle69

Viz stability51

Hover friendliness70

Natural light49

Recommended kit

→Dedicated video light for dark wreck interiors; don't rely on strobes alone

Level up here

What this site will teach you

The dives that made you a better diver are the ones that made you uncomfortable for the right reasons. Here's what this site will quietly train you for.

Pristine reef appreciation
foundational
Seeing what healthy reef looks like without dive tourism.
Indian Ocean currents
intermediate
Monsoon-driven currents. Reading seasonal patterns.

What it costsEstimates — calibration pending

7-day trip, per person

Rough ranges anchored to existing regional data — not booking quotes. Land-based trip, standard breakdown.

Budget

$2,200–$3,300

Hostels, shore diving, cheap eats

Flights (RT from US): $1,150–$1,450
Accommodation / day: $50–$100
Diving / day: $50–$60
Food / day: $40–$80
Transfers + misc: $50–$150

Mid-range

$3,650–$5,450

3-star hotels, standard boat ops, mix of restaurants

Flights (RT from US): $1,700–$2,100
Accommodation / day: $120–$220
Diving / day: $60–$80
Food / day: $90–$160
Transfers + misc: $50–$150

Splurge

$6,200–$9,900

Top resorts or liveaboards, premium operators

Flights (RT from US): $2,500–$3,100
Accommodation / day: $260–$500
Diving / day: $80–$100
Food / day: $180–$350
Transfers + misc: $50–$150

Budget decision guide

Choose Budget if you prioritize dive count over comfort — hostels and shore diving maximize bottom time per dollar. Choose Mid-range for the best balance of comfort and value — most divers land here. Choose Splurge for premium operators, private guides, and top-tier accommodation — worth it for special trips or non-diving partners.

Flights priced round-trip from a major US hub. Figures are per person on a shared room. Solo travelers add ~30% to accommodation.

Pair with

Build a trip around it

Most divers fly across the world for one destination and don't realise another worth-it site is 90 minutes away. Here are the honest pairings.

Best dive types here

Andaman Islands Diving — India