Diving: Experience the Underwater

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The Andaman Islands are a part of India and one of the world's newest diving destinations and have yet to be fully explored for diving.

There is no modern fishing fleet on the islands and commercial fishing licenses are granted to foreign operators only on an extremely limited basis. Therefore the waters surrounding the islands are just full of fish that have never been disturbed by modern man. And as the islands were opened in the last few years, most of the offshore diving areas have been explored by very few people.

The visibility is limited in many of the near shore areas, the offshore islands such as Passage Island, Barren Island, and Narcondam are rich in marine life such as huge fish, sharks, manta rays and unbelievable coral growth, and boast of crystal clear water.

The capital and main port of the Andamans, Passage Island offers an offshore pinnacle - suitably named Fish Rock - where two meter (6.5 foot) long dog-toothed tuna compete with sharks for food. There are large eagle rays patroling the plankton rich waters completely at ease in the strong currents.

One of the most incredible site in the Andaman Sea is a dead volcano located another 160 km (99 miles) north of Barren Island, with a wall drop to over 500 meters (1640 feet) here as well - just off the shoreline - but the difference is that here everything is alive and healthy. The place is a real diver's paradise.

You may explore four meter (13 foot) tall barrel sponges, fans twice as large as they are in the Similan Islands and monstrous dog-toothed tuna. You may also encounter the herds of manta rays that may visit you on every dive-both in shallow and deep water.

The Andamans islands are surely not for everyone. If you want to dive here, you will require spending long periods of time on the boat and traveling almost every night in order to get to the best spots. And if you are interested in the best of frontier diving, this is it.

Reef type here is fringing, deep walls, and coral gardens. The access is lengthy liveaboard trips from Phuket; one, possibly two dive centers in Port Blair offering local trips and instruction. Variable visibility is from 3-50 meters (9-164 feet). The current here is variable, often strong. Corals are from average to unbelievable. The fish here is unusual and prolific, and very big. The main attractions are deep vertical walls, big sharks, lots of manta rays, active volcano, very clear water, lots and lots of big fish.