India, generally regarded as a culturally rich country, known for its all-encompassing spiritual heritage and tradition, has a few top spots to travel for scuba diving. A case in point is Dwarka, which has a few scuba diving spots, besides its reputation as the birthplace of the Hindu God Krishna in mythology. Some of the unique scuba diving destinations in India include Andaman, Lakshadweep, Goa, Pristine Island in Pondicherry, Netrani Island In Karnataka, Kovalam in Kerala, Tarkarli in Maharashtra, Neil Island, Havelock Island, Kadmat Islands, Bangaram Island, the Aravind Wall in Pondicherry, Cinque Island and Dwarka, among others. Here’re our five favourite places to go scuba diving in India in this (rather short) blog.
Andaman
The colourful underwater life of the Bay of Bengal lends the perfect backdrop as one of the best places for scuba diving in India. Travel to the vibrant islands of the Andamans to capture the amazing scenes of the pristine coral reefs accounting for fun and learning in the islands. The Andaman, to most scuba drivers, is one of the best sites for scuba diving in India. By the way, you can meet moray eels, trevally, turtles, and batfish if you’re lucky enough. Some of the most popular diving spots in the Andaman include Dixon’s Pinnacle, Havelock and Wall.
Lakshwadeep
Lakshadweep has some of the best sites for scuba diving in India which can chill you down, and send chills down your spine at the same time. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience to hang around in the blue translucent lagoons and coves with magical rays, animated fishes, turtles, sharks and the occasional whale. Some of the diving spots in Lakshadweep include Lost Paradise, Princess Royal, ClassRoom, Fish Soup, Dolphin Reef and Manta Point.
Goa
One of the most popular scuba diving destinations in India, Goa needs no introduction, with small exotic corals, attractive fishes in motion and other vibrant marine species. The near-zero underwater current and crystal clear waters of Goa make it one of the most exciting scuba diving destinations in India. The Sail Rock, Grand Island, Suzy’s Wreck, Turbo Tunnel, Davy Jones Locker and Shelter Cove are some of the famous scuba diving spots in the smallest state in India.
Pondicherry
In the beautiful eastern coast of South India lies Pondicherry blessed with rocky pop-ups, natural coral reefs, artificial ridges and a range of marine species such as sea snakes, jackfish, fan corals and manta rays. It is an ideal destination for scuba divers both at the beginner as well as professional levels and is one of the best places for scuba diving in India. Popular diving spots of Pondicherry include the Aravind’s Wall, Temple Reef, Cool Shark Reef, Ravines, 4 Corners and Hole.
Netrani Island
Netrani, popularly called the ‘Pigeon Island’, is situated 10 km from the small town of Murudeshwar in Bhatkal Taluk of Karnataka. This small heart-shaped island is a great scuba spot, though unconventional in nature, and abounds in bio-diverse organisms including coral humpbacks, fishes, etc. If luck favours you, you can even see the whale sharks. Netrani is popular as the best underwater scuba diving site in India.
FAQ:
1. Which place is best for scuba diving in India?
Though there isn’t anything like the best site for scuba diving in India, the places mentioned above include the Andaman & Lakshadweep Islands, Pondicherry, and the Netrani Island (Karnataka) and Goa are some of the most unique scuba diving destinations in India.
2. What is the cost of scuba diving in India?
The cost of scuba diving in India is approx. INR 6,000 – 8,000 per head, including two dives per day in the Netrani Island, Kovalam and Vishakapatnam, it is INR 5,000 per head and in Tarkarli, it comes around INR 1,500 per head.
3. Is scuba diving available in India?
Yes, there are 15 best places for scuba diving in India, which you can refer on the top of the article. The prescribed minimum age for scuba diving is 10 in most scuba diving sites there isn’t any upper age limit.
