Incredible diving awaits you off of India’s 8000 kilometres/5000 miles of coastline. Whatever sort of diving you crave (short of ice diving), India is sure to deliver. Wildlife abounds, and bizarre underwater formations are the norm.
Around the country, you’ll find the typical Indian Ocean reef fish, as well as groupers and turtles.
In Lakshadweep, you can also find manta ray cleaning stations, along with white-tip reef, grey reef and guitar sharks. Manta rays peruse the depths in throngs and make a fantastic show as they head to cleaning stations. Flitting reef fish, colorful and diverse, make their way in and out of coral crevices.
Be on the lookout for dugongs, manatee-like creatures that stay in the shallows near mangroves.
India is a large country with plenty of airports to choose from. The major ports of entry include Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai, Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, Bengaluru International Airport in Bengaluru, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad and Chennai International Airport in Chennai. Flights within the country are reasonable, so it may be in your best interest to fly from region to region. Taxis are recommended for intercity travel.
Most of the scuba diving at the Andaman Islands takes place in the south from Havelock Island or Neil Island. Alternatively, book yourself onto a liveaboard diving vessel that will take you to far flung, less visited areas like the volcanic Barren Island. The diving season usually starts in October or November and extends until May. Outside these times, the islands...
The best time to book a trip to Lakshadweep is during October to May as the weather is favorable and waters are calm. Water temperature is warm at 80-82°F (27-28°C) and you can expect excellent visibility which can stretch up to 150ft (45m). There are only a few dive operators to choose from and these can be found on the islands of Bangaram, Kadmat, Kavaratti and...