The sea is a natural aquarium, and one of the best ways to experience the chromatic blue waters is snorkeling. So grab your masks and fins to descend to depths as shallow as 1 m (3ft) to 12 m (40 ft) into the deeper pocket of the Andamans Sea.
This activity is rewarding even for kids above 10 years old because the best places for snorkeling in Andaman and Nicobar Islands are near the shores. With approximately two dozen inhabited islands that support human settlement, you can enjoy snorkeling in Andman to quench your thirst for underwater marine life.
For instance, snorkeling destinations in Andaman like Elephant Beach (at Swaraj Dweep/Havelock Island), Bharatpur Beach (at Shaheed Dweep/Neil Island) are the abode of the richest coral reef systems in India.
If you are racing your thoughts like; is the Andaman Islands safe for snorkeling, what it feels like snorkeling at Andamans, what is the best time, places for snorkeling in Andaman, and more, continue reading! This post will dive deep into every aspect of snorkeling in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. So let’s get started!
Snorkeling in Andaman and Nicobar Islands Summary
- 1. Is Snorkeling Safe in Andaman and Nicobar Islands?
- 2. Snorkeling in Andaman: What You Need to Know Before You Go!
- A. Best Time for Snorkeling in Andaman
- B. Places for Snorkeling in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
- C. Snorkeling in Andaman Age Limit (Who Can Snorkel in Andaman)
- D. Snorkeling Price in Andaman | Snorkeling Duration Underwater
- E. Equipment Required for Snorkeling
- F. General Snorkeling Tips and Advice for Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Is Snorkeling Safe in Andaman and Nicobar Islands?
Yes! Snorkeling in Andaman and Nicobar Islands is a safe watersport to enjoy. PADI Certified Instructors conduct snorkeling tours at different islands and beaches in Andaman. If you follow simple guidelines for ocean safety, you will love your snorkeling in Andaman Islands and beaches.
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Best Time for Snorkeling in Andaman
Summer (April to May), spring (February to March), winter (October to February) are the best months for snorkeling in Andaman. Additionally, consider this duration as the best time for Andaman tourism because the weather is clear. This is the best time for snorkeling at different islands and beaches in Andaman because the underwater world boasts excellent visibility. However, a lot depends on which snorkeling destination in Andaman you will prefer.
Places for Snorkeling in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Here are 7 Best Places for Snorkeling in Andaman and Nicobar Islands (From Islands to Beaches)
1. Elephant Beach
Where: Havelock Islands (Swaraj Dweep)
Snorkeling Price (approx.): ₹ 500 onwards (per person) excluding snorkeling gears
Activity Timings: 15-20 minutes (approx.)
Epic underwater vision is amazing when you choose Elephant Beach as your snorkeling spot. It is an epic beach with shimmering blue waters and white sands. You can marvel at underwater coral reefs and varieties of marine creatures as the underwater ecosystem of Elephant Beach is one of the best in India. Here shore snorkeling is conducted at approximately 4-6 m depth. The water is crystal clear plus, it’s shallow without rocks and hard corals.
You must visit Elephant Beach on Havelock Island via a 2 kilometers trek from Radhanagar Beach ( a blue flag coveted beach of India). Admire the giant creatures before/after a snorkeling trip, which roams around the vicinity of the beach amidst the lush green forests. Furthermore, you can also embark on a trek to Elephant Beach that passes through thick rainforest vegetation.
2. Red Skin Island
Where: Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park
Snorkeling Price (approx.): ₹ 500 onwards (per person) excluding snorkeling gears
Activity Timings: 15-20 minutes (approx.)
Amongst the 15 beaches inside the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, the untouched marine life of the Red Skin Island beaches attracts snorkeling enthusiasts. A 30 KM jetty ride from Port Blair is available every day to escort tourists to Red Skin Island. PADI Certified instructors are not very money-oriented, and they will take you to the best snorkeling spots where you will see the untouched, natural, underwater marine world.
The majority of the coral colonies grow up to a depth of approximately (2-8 meters). From the smallest zooplankton to giant mammals like sharks and dolphins, the underwater world of Red Skin Island is worth exploring if you are looking for a snorkeling place in Andaman around Port Blair.
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3. Bharatpur Beach
Where: Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep)
Snorkeling Price (approx.): ₹ 500 onwards (per person) excluding snorkeling gears
Activity Timings: 15-20 minutes (approx.)
Bharatpur Beach is an ideal background for dreamy dives into the seabed to capture the unspoiled marine world. Lucky ones can spot the blackfish, pufferfish, soldierfish, Blue-spotted stingrays, and angelfish. At the same time, Bharatpur Beach is a marine life teeming colony of hard and soft corals. Put on your fins and dive into the water depending upon the thrill quotient you have, as the diving depth at Neil Island snorkeling beaches starts from 3 – 15 ft (approx.).
Book an underwater photography inclusive package to get yourself to click near the colonies of sea urchins, starfishes, sea anemones, turtles, etc. Before/after the snorkeling activity, take a walk in the lush green rainforest surroundings (with a guide). It goes without saying that Bharatpur Beach is one of the best places to do snorkeling in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
4. North Bay Island/Coral Island
Where: Close to Port Blair
Snorkeling Price (approx.): ₹ 500 onwards (per person) excluding snorkeling gears
Activity Timings: 15-20 minutes (approx.)
If you want to visit the somnolent snorkeling gem of Andaman, bookmark North Bay Island. It is located close to Port Blair and could be reached by the jetty on a day trip. North Bay Island is India’s third-largest coral island, and Andaman’s one of the oldest coral islands. So it is a brainer that snorkeling in North Bay Island around coral-encrusted walls is one of the best experiences to cherish in the Andaman Islands. Dive deep into the seabed approximately 6-7 m (or even more) with the instructor.
The marine creatures are generally less afraid of the humans at North Bay Island. The seabed features some distinct marine creatures that will surprise you when they meander around you, like dolphins, batfish, pufferfish, blue-spotted stingrays etc. Before or after the snorkeling activity, get yourself clicked in the Lighthouse backdrop inscribed on Twenty Rupees of Indian Currency.
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5. South Button Island National Park
Where: Rani Jhansi Marine National Park, near Port Blair
Snorkeling Price (approx.): ₹ 500 onwards (per person) excluding snorkeling gears
Activity Timings: 15-20 minutes (approx.)
Famous for shallow water coral reefs with high visibility, South Button Island National Park is an amazing school of marine creatures. It belongs to the Rani Jhansi Marine National Park. Here you can spot docile fish, yellow snappers, sea plumes, ornate hard, and soft corals. This snorkeling place in Andaman is not for novice snorkelers as snorkelers need to go a little depth into the seabed to witness the colony of hard and soft corals.
South Button Island National Park doesn’t have any accommodation, so people from Havelock Island or Port Blair come here via speedboat/jetty. When you are here for snorkeling, it is important to book your round-up visit to the Havelock to save yourself from paying last-minute additional charges.
6. Kalipur Beach
Where: Near Diglipur, buses available from Port Blair
Snorkeling Price (approx.): ₹ 500 onwards (per person) excluding snorkeling gears
Activity Timings: 15-20 minutes (approx.)
Witness coral reefs in abundance with various distinct marine creatures like octopus, sea turtles, and corals’ soft & hard colonies on a snorkeling excursion in Kalipur Beach. The water is shimmering blue at Kalipur Beach and is great to visit during winter, early summer, and post-monsoon season. The coral colonies are beautiful when you dive into the crystalline waters, and the water visibility is also excellent.
Apart from snorkeling, Kalipur Beach is a famous turtle nesting site, and the sand here is volcanic gray. Kalipur Beach is located approximately 17 kilometers from Diglipur Beach, and one can also reach via road from Port Blair! Accommodations are provided at Diglipur, and advance booking is suggested.
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7. Jolly Buoy Island
Where: Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park
Snorkeling Price (approx.): ₹ 500 onwards (per person) excluding snorkeling gears
Activity Timings: 15-20 minutes (approx.)
Surrealism and tranquility are a few traits of Jolly Buoy Island, part of Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park. Jolly Buoy Island is another perfect snorkeling destination of Andaman, where the shoreline is covered with a vast swathe of blue and sponge corals. From zebrafish to jellyfish and other breeds of fishes could be observed on a snorkeling excursion. When you go under 5 m or 15 ft approx, you will see the best of the marine world next to you! One needs to reach Wandoor Beach first to arrive at Jolly Buoy Island close to Port Blair. You can club Red Skin Island on a day trip to Jolly Buoy Island because both are adjacent.
This island remains closed for 6 months, and hence, the coral colonies grow here better than on any other island. Moreover, the mangrove swamps and tropical rainforest setting at Jolly Buoy Island is another visual retreat you must enjoy before/after snorkeling activity. There are no accommodation options here, and obtaining a permit in advance is suggested because the concerned authority allows a handful of tourists in a day.
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Snorkeling in Andaman Age Limit (Who Can Snorkel in Andaman)
Everybody above the 10 years (approx.) of age can enjoy snorkeling in Andaman. You must know that adults above 18+ don’t require parents’ consent to enjoy the snorkeling activity in Andaman. But teens under 18 years need to come up for snorkeling with their parent’s consent form. However, people with heart and breathing problems are strictly suggested not to indulge in snorkeling in the Andaman Islands, no matter how lucrative the activity price sounds.
Snorkeling Price in Andaman (At Islands, Beaches) | Snorkeling Duration Underwater
The average snorkeling price in Andaman starts from ₹ 500 – ₹ 1,500 (approx.) onwards per person for 15-20 minutes. However, the price hovers greatly with various factors like diving spot, activity timing, and seabed depth. A few places for snorkeling in Andaman are only accessible via boat from Port Blair and Havelock Island. Hence, a few snorkeling packages in Andaman include roundup boat trips and snorkeling activity charges. Check the price from your tour operator so that you won’t be surprised at last-minute charges.
Equipment Required for Snorkeling in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
- Snorkel Mask – To protect your eyes and nose from seawater
- Dry Snorkel – It helps you do breathe underwater comfortably without any stress
- Snorkeling Fins – With this, you can propel yourself with water at more speed
- Life Vest – Mandatory for all but who engulfs in a snorkeling excursion
- Waterproof Camera – Optional and at additional cost (exclusive of the package)
General Snorkeling Tips and Advice for Andaman and Nicobar Islands
- Apply SPF enriched sunscreen before 15 minutes from snorkeling
- Choose fins that are neither too tight nor too loose
- Follow the underwater technique and don’t touch the corals
- Children above 10 years must not indulge in snorkeling deep into the sea
- At the same time, adults are also suggested to snorkel with the instructor
- Go for snorkeling from the beach, not from the boat
- Choose to snorkel around the safe area and hear your instructor instructions carefully
- Don’t indulge in snorkeling in Andaman during monsoon, no matter how lucrative the offers are
Wrapping Up the Best Places for Snorkeling in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
We have covered almost everything you need to know about snorkeling in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and beaches. A good takeaway is to always have a piece of knowledge about when is the right time to visit the Andaman Islands. You must take a snorkeling excursion with certified PADI instructors. Moreover, if you want to skip the hassle, check-out Indian Holiday Andaman tour packages where snorkeling, scuba diving, and various other watersports are the principal highlight.
When you are trying to take yourself out from the womb of comfort? Plan a trip to Andaman in 2022 to see the colonies of hard and soft corals under the seabed. After all, the underwater ecosystem of the Andaman is touted as the abode of the richest coral reef systems in India.
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