If you have watched the movie Zindagi Na Milegee Doobara, then do you remember the scene where Rhitik Roshan comes out from the water after SCUBA diving onto the boat and just sits there with a very lost expression and finally starts crying? Well that particular emotion beautifully captured on camera tells us exactly what he has undergone after diving in the blue waters. It is the enormity and beauty of nature that has struck him and overwhelmed him !! If you ever dreamed of having such a moment in your life then you are thinking on the right lines. It is something which you should never miss in life and it should be there on your list of "Ten things to do before I die".
There are many resorts on Havelock island. prominent among them are Barefoot at Havelock, Holiday Inn etc. We had stayed put at Symphony Palms. There are some resorts catering exclusively to divers and are mostly booked by foreigners well in advance.
I think you need to spend at least 3-4 days in Havelock. Book full meal plans with your hotel as there are very few other restaurants out there. But you can try other resorts if you want to explore.
The beach is so clean and unspoilt that it appears like a huge swimming pool. Aquamarine crystal clear water. Frankly, having seen Mumbai , Goa and Konkan seashores, I was shocked beyond belief to find the water so clear, clean and translucent.
The next day head for SCUBA DIVING. There are various packages available, but a basic training and a single fun dive costs about 6-7 thousand Rs. Per head.You can take multiple dive packages if you enjoy it. The dive masters and boatman take you to a preselected diving spot. They train you in batches, regarding the use of the breathing apparatus and also various emergency manoeuvres. This itself will take about 2 hrs . They ensure you are comfortable in about 7-8 feet deep water.
The real fun starts when you begin the actual dive. The dive master takes you inside the water gradually. He controls your buoyancy and the speed. Your life is in his hands. You have to breathe properly. And believe me its scary. Once you get comfortable with the swim, he will take you deeper along the coral reef. And what do you see..... Something you had seen only on National geographic channel.
It is beyond words. The colourful world of the fish , big and small, in different shapes and sizes. It is as if you are transported into a different world altogether. When you see swarms of fish heading towards you, in thousands, and you wave your hand through them, you feel alive and thank god for the wonderful world he has created for all of us to enjoy. You will be witness to the live corals and see colorful fish playing hide and seek there. As long as you descent along the reef and are oriented with the shoreline, you are psychologically at ease. But the moment you take a turn and see the emptiness and vastness of the deep blue sea, it sends shivers down your spine. And mind you, you are already about 20 feet underwater seeing the rays of light being filtered through the waters.Ah what a feeling....
You can also take some underwater snaps with corals and the Nemos. I am sure that once you have done this you will come back for more.......
What to see in Port Blair.
Cellular jail.
The mangroves and the drive along NH 10
There is no better place than Andaman seas to take that plunge into the aquamarine waters. I feel that the most important thing you should do when you visit Andamans is snorkelling and SCUBA diving. And the place for your adventure to kickstart is Havelock island.
Havelock island is about about 100 nautical miles from mainland. There are regular ships to and fro from Port Blair. There is a reservation centre at Port Blair through which you can book once you reach there. There are other options in the form of private ships which ply on the route, better ships but are obviously expensive. As it is, most of the time you will spend on the deck of the ship. So think twice before you splurge on that exotic boat.
There are many resorts on Havelock island. prominent among them are Barefoot at Havelock, Holiday Inn etc. We had stayed put at Symphony Palms. There are some resorts catering exclusively to divers and are mostly booked by foreigners well in advance.
I think you need to spend at least 3-4 days in Havelock. Book full meal plans with your hotel as there are very few other restaurants out there. But you can try other resorts if you want to explore.
First day, visit the famous Elephant beach. It is accessible only by a boat. There are boats which will take you there in the morning. They will organise snorkeling for you. There is no need for you to be a swimmer. They will guide you and take you inside the ocean near the coral reef using life jackets.
It is really amazing to see the underwater world in a way you never thought possible. It is an altogether different world. A riot of colours. For the adventurous, the ultimate thing is SCUBA diving. There is another option for people who don't want to try snorkelling. And that is glass bottom boat. It in no way offers the same thrill, but nevertheless it's an option.
The beach is so clean and unspoilt that it appears like a huge swimming pool. Aquamarine crystal clear water. Frankly, having seen Mumbai , Goa and Konkan seashores, I was shocked beyond belief to find the water so clear, clean and translucent.
The next day head for SCUBA DIVING. There are various packages available, but a basic training and a single fun dive costs about 6-7 thousand Rs. Per head.You can take multiple dive packages if you enjoy it. The dive masters and boatman take you to a preselected diving spot. They train you in batches, regarding the use of the breathing apparatus and also various emergency manoeuvres. This itself will take about 2 hrs . They ensure you are comfortable in about 7-8 feet deep water.
The real fun starts when you begin the actual dive. The dive master takes you inside the water gradually. He controls your buoyancy and the speed. Your life is in his hands. You have to breathe properly. And believe me its scary. Once you get comfortable with the swim, he will take you deeper along the coral reef. And what do you see..... Something you had seen only on National geographic channel.
It is beyond words. The colourful world of the fish , big and small, in different shapes and sizes. It is as if you are transported into a different world altogether. When you see swarms of fish heading towards you, in thousands, and you wave your hand through them, you feel alive and thank god for the wonderful world he has created for all of us to enjoy. You will be witness to the live corals and see colorful fish playing hide and seek there. As long as you descent along the reef and are oriented with the shoreline, you are psychologically at ease. But the moment you take a turn and see the emptiness and vastness of the deep blue sea, it sends shivers down your spine. And mind you, you are already about 20 feet underwater seeing the rays of light being filtered through the waters.Ah what a feeling....
You can also take some underwater snaps with corals and the Nemos. I am sure that once you have done this you will come back for more.......
Enjoy your packed lunch on the boat and finally head back to your hotel. An campfire on the beach would be perfect to end the amazing day.
What to see in Port Blair.
If you are not fascinated by water then there is not much point in visiting Andamans. Nevertheless there are certain other standard tourist hot-spots which you can visit.
Cellular jail. 
The jail where Veer Savarkar was imprisoned, is not to be missed. You can see the actual cell where he was holed up.
Do go on the rooftop of the jail. It gives some amazing views.
Do go on the rooftop of the jail. It gives some amazing views.
The mangroves and the drive along NH 10
It is a beautiful drive and takes a full day. Movement is in convoys through the Jungle. You will come across the famous Jaravah tribes here. The limestone caves are fascinating to see.
Apart from these two spots there are other spots like the aquarium, temples and beaches.
If you have time and the inclination you can visit many islands like Neil island and ..... There are some tours which take you and drop you on some uninhabited islands too.
The city of Port Blair is quiet spread out. It is very clean and maintained. And most importantly not so crowded. So enjoy your stay there and come back again and again so that your dream of becoming a certified SCUBA diver comes true.....
HAPPY DIVING !!
