Best Scuba Diving Sites in Havelock Island

Discover the best scuba diving sites in Havelock Island, Andaman. Find detailed information about diving spots. Book your dive today!

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Havelock Island, now known as Swaraj Dweep, is a premier scuba diving destination in India, renowned for its crystal-clear waters and thriving coral reefs. Its diverse dive sites cater to both beginners and advanced divers, offering everything from shallow coral gardens to deep-sea adventures. The island is home to certified dive operators adhering to high safety standards, ensuring a secure and exhilarating experience.

With its rich marine biodiversity—including reef sharks, turtles, rays, and mesmerizing macro life—Havelock promises unforgettable underwater encounters. Below are some of the top scuba diving sites, detailing their depth, marine life, topography, and location.

Nemo Reef (Best for Beginners & First-Timers)

Depth: 1-13 meters (Average: 5-8 meters)

Level: Beginner

Expected Marine Life: Clownfish (Nemo), Butterfly Fish, Sea Anemones, Bannerfish, Giant Groupers, Sweetlips, Parrotfish, Triggerfish, occasional Humphead Parrotfish, Lionfish, Octopus, and Barracuda

Topography: Dual reef system with natural corals on one side, artificial reef on the other, and a sandy patch in between

Location: North side of Havelock, Beach Number 2, Swaraj Dweep (12.00765 N, 92.94044 E)

Nemo Reef is Havelock’s premier shallow diving spot with swimming pool-like conditions and year-round clear visibility. This shore entry site offers a safe haven for non-swimmers and beginners while hosting diverse marine species among colorful coral formations, making it perfect for training and night dives.

Tribe Gate (Best for Beginners & Underwater Photography)

Depth: 3.5-14 meters (Average: 5-8 meters)

Level: Beginner

Expected Marine Life: Clownfish, Butterfly Fish, Barracuda, Sea Anemones, Bannerfish, Trevally, Giant Groupers, Sweetlips, Snappers, Parrotfish, Triggerfish, Moray Eels, occasional Turtles and Octopus

Topography: Oval-shaped reef with Porites coral boulders stacked in shelves around a sandy bottom

Location: Between Havelock and John Lawrence Island, 3 km from Beach-03, Govind Nagar (12.036121, 93.007259)

Tribe Gate, also known as Oval Reef, features crystal-clear waters with mild currents and diverse coral formations. This submerged hill surrounded by sand offers spectacular visibility, especially during morning dives. Home to all five Andaman anemonefish species and Tridacna clams, it’s perfect for beginners, certification students, and photographers.

Red Pillar (Best for Artificial Reef Exploration)

Depth: 2.5-14 meters

Level: Beginner

Expected Marine Life: Angelfish, Triggerfish, Clownfish, Reef fish, Snappers, Fusiliers, Stingrays, Scorpion fish, Crustaceans, Pipefishes, Seahorses, occasional Dolphins, Rays, Jellyfish, and Turtles

Topography: Shallow round-shaped reef with artificial elements (sunken scooter, bicycle, tanks) and massive barrel sponges

Location: 1.5km north of Havelock, off Peel Island (12.047861, 92.984157)

Red Pillar features remarkable bathtub-sized barrel sponges and a unique artificial reef created from sunken scuba tanks, a bicycle, and a scooter. Located in a channel with mild to strong currents, this vibrant site offers excellent visibility and serves as a cleaning station for diverse marine species, making it perfect for drift diving experiences.

Seduction Point, Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep)

Depth: Shallow

Level: Beginners and Intermediates

Expected Marine Life: Staghorn Corals, Napoleons, Colorful Reef Fish

Topography: Large underwater rock formation surrounded by dense coral population

Location: Central Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep)

Seduction Point is a breathtaking dive site in Havelock Island, best known for its massive underwater rock that serves as a hub for diverse marine life. With shallow waters rich in hard staghorn corals, this site offers an ideal diving experience for beginners and intermediates. Expect to encounter Napoleons and vibrant schools of reef fish as you explore this underwater treasure trove.

Pilot Reef, Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep)

Depth: 12-25 meters

Level: Intermediate and Advanced Divers

Expected Marine Life: Surgeonfish, Fusiliers, Snappers, Manta Rays, Lobsters, Moray Eels, Sweetlips, Trumpetfish, White-tip Reef Sharks, Zebra Sharks, Leopard Sharks

Topography: Large Complex Patch Reef

Location: 6 km northeast of Havelock Island

Pilot Reef is a vast underwater canyon featuring a 25-meter-long strip teeming with marine life. The reef starts at 12 meters and drops to 25 meters, attracting white-tip reef sharks and manta rays. Divers can explore rich coral formations, small caves, and hidden marine surprises. It is a must-visit site for those seeking thrilling underwater encounters in Havelock Island.

Minerva Ledge

Depth: 14-18 meters

Level: Intermediate and Advanced Divers

Expected Marine Life: Oriental Sweetlips, Angelfishes, Surgeonfishes, Triggerfishes, Butterflyfishes, Banded Sea Kraits, Green Turtles, Eagle Rays, Schools of Snappers, Unicorn Fish, Fusiliers, Giant Grouper, and occasional sightings of Mobula Rays, White Tip Reef Sharks, Nurse Sharks, and Cat Sharks.

Topography: Large Reef

Location: East of Havelock (GPS: 12.06337, 93.15197)

Minerva Ledge is one of Havelock’s largest and most diverse dive sites, located 18 km east of the island. Known for its expansive coral gardens, thriving reef fish populations, and strong currents, it is a hotspot for drift diving. Divers can expect to see vibrant marine life, including moray eels, giant groupers, turtles, and even sharks.

Mac Point

Depth: 10-14 meters

Level: Beginner

Expected Marine Life: Dugongs (Sea Cows), Wahoo, Hard Corals

Topography: Hard Coral Reefs

Location: Near Havelock Island (GPS: 11.960000° N, 93.000000° E)

Mac Point is a top scuba diving spot in Havelock Island, renowned for its rare sightings of dugongs, the Andaman Islands’ state animal. The site features rugged hard coral formations and small schools of fish, making it a perfect destination for beginner divers looking for a unique underwater experience.

Jackson’s Bar (For Experienced Divers Seeking Big Fish)

Depth: 25-35 meters

Level: Advanced and Deep Divers

Expected Marine Life: Blue-Spotted Stingrays (Kuhl’s), Barracudas, Bengal Snappers, Andaman Sweetlips, Fusiliers, Tuna, White Tip Reef Sharks, Napoleon Wrasse, Manta Rays, Eagle Rays, Spotted Garden Eels

Topography: Plateau with Deep Reef

Location: North-East of Havelock (GPS: 12.12313, 93.16103)

Jackson’s Bar is an advanced dive site, 19 km northeast of Havelock, known for its bar-like rocky plateau and strong underwater currents. A hotspot for pelagic action, it hosts schools of barracudas, snappers, tunas, and white tip reef sharks. Divers can witness massive stingray gatherings, vibrant coral formations, and thrilling drift dives.

Barracuda City

Depth: 25-30 meters

Level: Intermediate to Expert Divers

Expected Marine Life: Stingrays, Surgeonfish, Coral Fish, Turtles, Octopuses

Topography: Long Coral Belts with Hard and Soft Coral Formations

Location: Approximately 12.036121° N, 93.007259° E

Barracuda City in Havelock Island is a mesmerizing dive site with a rich marine ecosystem. Featuring vibrant coral belts, it is home to an array of colorful fish, stingrays, and sea turtles. Ideal for intermediate and expert divers, this site offers an unforgettable underwater experience amidst stunning aquatic biodiversity.

Turtle Beach

Depth: 2-22 meters

Level: Beginner (Suitable for non-swimmers, students, and certified divers)

Expected Marine Life: Octopus, Lobster, Nemo Fish, Snapper, Trevally, Giant Grouper, Starfish, Sweetlips, Sea Anemones, Turtles, Manta Rays, Humphead Parrotfish

Topography: Shallow fringing reef with a sandy bottom and extensive staghorn coral gardens

Location: Approximately 12.00765° N, 92.94044° E (Southeast of Havelock Island)

Turtle Beach in Havelock Island is a hidden gem, offering calm waters, vibrant coral reefs, and diverse marine life. Ideal for beginners, it features a shallow reef teeming with colorful fish and occasional sea turtles. With easy dive conditions and stunning biodiversity, it’s a must-visit spot for a serene underwater adventure.

Aquarium

Depth: 3m – 15mLevel: Suitable for beginners and experienced divers

Expected Marine Life: False Percula Clownfish, Giant Trevally, Bluefin Trevally, Coral Trout, Moorish Idols, Moray Eels, Scorpionfish, Nudibranchs, Stingrays, Seahorses, Fringe-lip Flathead, Humphead Parrotfish, Butterfly Fish, Bat Fish, Crocodile Fish, Shrimp, Sea Stars, Eagle Rays, Seaweed Beds

Topography: Small fringing reef with scattered bommies; shallowest part at 2m, descending to a maximum of 15m over a sandy patch. Occasional mild currents.

Location: Southwest of Havelock Island, approximately 12.036121° N latitude and 93.007259° E longitude, about 5 km from Elephant Beach.

The Aquarium is an offshore dive site near Havelock Island, offering calm waters with excellent visibility. Ideal for beginners, it features vibrant hard corals and an abundance of marine life, resembling an actual aquarium. The site is perfect for relaxed dives with stunning underwater landscapes and a diverse array of fish species.

S.S. Inchket Wreck

Depth: 5 meters – 18 meters

Level: Intermediate – Advanced (Open Water Divers and above)

Expected Marine Life: Regular sightings: Bannerfish, Triggerfish, Parrotfish, Trumpetfish, Barracuda, Grouper, Sweetlips, Snapper, Rainbow Wrasse, Ghost Pipefish, Scorpionfish, Boxfish, Pufferfish, Surgeonfish, Angelfish, Pipefish, Clownfish, Lionfish, Ornate Ghost Pipefish.

Topography: Wreck lying on the sandy bottom.

Diving Time: 5:10 AM – 11:30 AM

Location: West of Havelock Island, 20 km near Duncan Island (12.00663° N, 92.78065° E)

In March 1955, the cargo vessel SS Inchkeith, carrying coal and timber, struck a rock and sank near Duncan Island. Today, it is a mysterious yet fascinating dive site where divers can explore its encrusted remnants, including a massive propeller at 18 meters. The wreck is now home to a diverse marine ecosystem, making it an exceptional spot for wreck diving enthusiasts and macro photographers.

The Slope (Best for Intermediate Divers)

Depth: 4-18 meters (Average: 7-10 meters)

Level: Intermediate (Open Water and Advanced)

Expected Marine Life: Bannerfish, Triggerfish, Parrotfish, Trumpetfish, Barracuda, Grouper, Sweetlips, Snapper, Rainbow Wrasse, Scorpionfish, Boxfish, Surgeonfish, Angelfish, Lionfish, various shrimps (Banded Boxer, Durban Dancing, Ambon), Echinoderms, occasional Octopus, Rays, and Sea Turtles

Topography: Gentle slope with amphitheater-like sandy ridges interspersed with coral boulders

Location: 4km northwest of Havelock, near Lighthouse (12°03’21.6″N 92°58’24.8″E)

The Slope features amphitheater-like cascading sandy ridges with interspersed coral boulders. This diverse site offers excellent photography opportunities with well-illuminated shallows and rich macro life. Divers can explore submerged lighthouse pillars housing oysters and mantis shrimps while experiencing the site’s cinematic sea whips.

White House Rock

Depth: 8-36 meters

Level: Beginner/Advanced

Expected Marine Life: Great Barracuda, Tuna, Trevally, Fusiliers, Grouper, Jackfish, Lionfish, Scorpionfish, Boxfish, Pufferfish, Surgeonfish, Angelfish, Bannerfish, Triggerfish, Parrotfish, Trumpetfish, Pipefish, Clownfish, Sweetlips, and occasional Lemon Sharks, Hawksbill Turtles, Octopus, Yellow Lipped Sea Krait, and Green Sea Turtles.

Topography: Circular reef with pinnacles, steep drop-offs, and gradual slopes

Location: 12°01’18.7″N 92°48’03.8″E (21 km west of Swaraj Dweep)

White House Rock is an exhilarating scuba diving site in Havelock Island, ideal for both beginners and experienced divers. Featuring a vertical rock formation that drops into the deep blue, the site offers an awe-inspiring underwater landscape. Divers can explore vibrant corals, schools of fish, and occasional sightings of turtles and sharks in its crystal-clear waters.

The Wall (Best for Advanced Divers)

Depth: 10.2 meters to 55 meters

Level: OWD Certified Divers, DM Trainees, and Experienced Divers

Expected Marine Life: Napoleon Wrasse, Lobster, Bannerfish, Snapper, Trevally, Giant Grouper, Sweetlips, Sea Anemones, Parrotfish, Triggerfish, Butterflyfish, Barracuda, Jackfish, Marble Rays, Lionfish, Crocodile Fish, Octopus, and more.

Topography: A massive underwater rock structure with a sharp drop-off, multiple coral reefs, caves, and sandy beds.

Location: North-West of Havelock, situated between Havelock Lighthouse and Peel Island. GPS Coordinates: 12.05968° N, 92.96043° E.

The Wall is an exhilarating dive site with a sloping reef that descends steeply into the deep blue. Teeming with vibrant corals and diverse marine life, this site is ideal for certified divers looking for adventure. With sightings of schooling fish, macro life, and occasional pelagic hunters, The Wall offers a spectacular underwater experience. Boat dives are commonly conducted here, ensuring a safe and guided dive into the mesmerizing depths of the Andaman Sea.

Johnny’s Gorge (Macro & Big Fish Spot)

Depth: 20-34 meters (65-112 feet)

Level: Advanced and Deep Divers

Expected Marine Life: White tip reef sharks, great barracudas, schools of snappers, turtles, trevally, groupers, stingrays, unicornfish, octopus, Napoleon wrasse, pufferfish, surgeonfish, angelfish, bannerfish, triggerfish, parrotfish, tuna, lionfish, clownfish, sweetlips, and more. Occasionally spotted species include nurse sharks, cat sharks, dolphins, giant moray eels, and eagle rays.

Topography: Deep Circular Reef

Location: East of Havelock Island (GPS: 12.06420, 93.15697)

Johnny’s Gorge is a renowned deep dive site, 19 km east of Havelock Island. A bed of low-lying rocky outcrops surrounded by sandy bottoms, this reef is a hotspot for reef sharks, manta rays, and barracudas. The site is a bustling underwater hub with massive schools of snappers, trevallies, and parrotfish weaving through vibrant corals.

Dickson’s Pinnacles (Thrilling Deep Dive Site)

Depth: 16-35 meters

Level: Advanced

Expected Marine Life: White tip reef sharks, great barracudas, batfish, Indian glassy fish, surgeonfish, leopard-spotted moray eels, stingrays, trevally, humphead wrasse, Napoleon wrasse, angelfish, groupers, whale sharks, mobulas, turtles, schools of snappers, juvenile emperor angelfish, and many more.

Topography: Three deep pinnacles

Location: East of Havelock Island (GPS: 11.92782, 93.09815)Brief Description: Dickson’s Pinnacles is a premier deep dive site near Havelock Island, featuring three towering rock pinnacles rising from the seabed. This vibrant marine ecosystem serves as a cleaning station for groupers and is frequented by Napoleon wrasse, manta rays, and even the occasional whale shark. Ideal for advanced divers seeking thrilling underwater exploration.

M4 (Wreck Diving Experience)

Depth: 8-14 meters

Level: Beginner

Expected Marine Life: Reef fish, snappers, fusiliers, sweetlips, stingrays, leopard rays, dancing shrimp

Topography: Large shallow reef

Location: South-east of Havelock, 12 km from Havelock (Kalapathar Beach)

M4 is a shallow reef dive site off the east coast of Havelock Island, perfect for beginner divers. It offers an incredible mix of marine life, from stingrays and leopard rays to dancing shrimp and harlequin sweetlips. The site’s rocky outcrops also provide shelter for leopard groupers and the elusive octopus.

Broken Ledge

Depth: 24-30 meters

Level: Advanced

Expected Marine Life: Moray eels, Napoleon wrasses, triggerfish, marbled groupers, schools of snappers, bannerfish, barracudas, dogtooth tunas, yellowfin tunas, white-tip reef sharks, manta rays, sea turtles

Topography: Rocky outcrops, small canyons, sandy bottom, broken ridge

Location: Near Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep), Andaman Sea

Broken Ledge is an advanced dive site featuring rocky outcrops, cracks, and canyons, offering exciting swim-throughs. Home to moray eels, Napoleon wrasses, and schooling snappers, the site also attracts larger pelagic species like dogtooth tunas and manta rays. The diverse coral formations make it a vibrant underwater ecosystem.

Peel Light House

Depth: 8-12 meters

Level: Suitable for all levels

Expected Marine Life: Kuhl’s sting rays, lionfish, moray eels, puffers, cowries, feather duster worms, nudibranchs, schooling fish, flounders, goby-shrimp partnerships

Topography: Circular reef, sandy bottom, fallen pillars, artificial reef structures

Location: Near Havelock Island, Andaman Sea

Peel Lighthouse is an adventurous dive site featuring a floating red lighthouse surrounded by sand. With vibrant corals, fallen pillars, and artificial reef structures, it hosts diverse marine life, including sting rays, lionfish, and nudibranchs. This site offers thrilling drift dives during strong tidal currents and relaxed shallow explorations.