Water Sports in Havelock Island: Complete Guide to the Best Place for Snorkeling in Andaman & Nicobar Islands
The monsoons have slowly bid adieu and the clouds are moving past the horizon. During monsoons, everyone enjoys a monsoon road trip in India. However, with clear skies and blue waters, it is time to get some adrenaline rush and enjoy the adventure activities in India. There are many places to visit in India for adventure activities and water sports, be it river rafting in Rishikesh, paragliding in Nainital or scuba diving in Gokarna. Although one destination stands out, Havelock Islands in Andaman. Snorkeling in Havelock Islands is a perfect adventure for leisure seeks, after all the vast yet safe coastlines of the beaches in Havelock Island is often considered as the best place in India for water spots.
Everyone seeks some adventure in life and enjoying water sports in Andaman is on everyone’s bucket list. The beaches in India, especially of Havelock Islands are renowned for its thrill and with shallow depths of 3 ft to 40 ft, snorkeling in Havelock Islands is a no-brainer. Be it the Elephant Beach or the Radha Nagar Beach, the beaches in Havelock Island make sure that one has a great time enjoying snorkeling in Havelock Island beach.
With so many water sports packages in Andaman, one often gets confused; which is the best beach for snorkeling in Havelock Island? What is the best time to visit Andaman? Is snorkeling in Havelock Island safe? If you’re here to catch the perfect or get answers to these questions, in this blog we’ll dive deep so that you can have a stress-free and adventurous experience of snorkeling in Havelock Island.
In this Blog
Is snorkeling in Andaman & Nicobar Islands safe?
Without a doubt, the first question that pops up in every person who seeks water sports in India, is snorkeling in Andaman and Nicobar Islands safe? Yes, absolutely! Snorkeling in Havelock Islands is a very popular water sport and with the perfect instructor, you will learn it in no time. There are many certified instructors that will guide you through regardless of the package you choose for water sports in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The average cost of snorkeling in Andaman and Nicobar packages is from Rs. 500 to Rs. 1000 with a time duration of 20 – 30 minutes. Just follow the instructors, set guidelines and you’ll fall in love with snorkeling in Havelock Island in no time. For a safe experience, the best time for snorkeling in Havelock Island is from October to March, where the tides are low and the weather in Andaman is beautiful.
Best spots for snorkeling in Havelock Islands
There are more than a dozen beaches in Havelock Islands. Each has its own aura and speciality, some with clear visibility, others with low tides and some with best marine life. Choosing the right spot for snorkeling in Havelock Islands is essential as it’ll decide what kind of experience you have. Let’s pick on the best spots for snorkeling in Havelock Island and why they’re perfect for enjoying this unique water sport in Andaman.
1) Elephant Beach
Snorkeling in Elephant beach of Havelock Islands must be on everyone’s bucket-lists. Elephant Beach in Havelock Island is known for crystal clear waters that provide an excellent vision. What makes this the best place in Havelock Island for snorkeling is the vast amount of marine life and coral reefs, which are regarded as the best in India. Thrilling and fun, snorkeling here takes place at a depth of mere 4 – 6m depth that makes it perfect for beginners. Visiting this beach in Andaman and Nicobar Islands is a thrill in itself as you’ll have to pass through a thicket of greenery and forests and is a perfect beach trek in Andaman.
2) Kala Pathar Beach
As the name suggests, Kala Pathar Beach is a little coastline in Havelock Islands that is dotted with a unique strip of black stones. The beach is known for enjoying leisurely walks and enjoying a beautiful sunset or sunrise in Havelock Island. With very little crowd all year around, Kala Pathar can be considered as the top romantic beaches in Havelock Island. This alone makes it a perfect spot for snorkeling in Havelock Island with you and your partner. The coastline of Kala Pathar features bewitching coral reefs and swaying palm trees where you can enjoy snorkeling in Havelock Island.
3) Vijay Nagar Beach
Located close to the Kalapathar Beach, Vijay Nagar Beach is another quaint spot for enjoying snorkeling in Havelock Island. This is also known as Beach No. 5 and is considered to be the most visited beach in Havelock Island. This is where most of the popular resorts in Havelock Island are located and is ideal in case you’re on a 2–3 day trip to Havelock Island. Apart from snorkeling, Vijay Nagar beach is also famous for swimming, beachcombing, surf riding, trekking, and sailing. The water sport packages in Andaman often cover this destination and it simply cannot be missed.
4) Radha Nagar Beach
Snorkelers in Andaman love this beach because of its shallow and clear waters that provide an ideal setting for snorkeling in Havelock Islands. Often known as the sunset beach of Andaman, a trip to Radha Nagar beach will be seared in your memory. A notable fact is that this beach in Havelock Island was awarded as the cleanest beach in Asia by Time Magazine in 2007, that alone is a big reason to visit Radha Nagar Beach in Havelock Island. When it comes to snorkeling, the beach is lined up with various instructors and guides who will help you throughout the experience and give a memorable experience of snorkeling in Havelock Islands.
Best places for snorkeling in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Now that we’ve covered most of the spots for snorkeling in Havelock Islands, here are more places in Andaman and Nicobar Islands for snorkeling –
1) South Button Island National Park
Located close to Port Blair, South Button Island National Park is known for shallow water coral reefs with high visibility and marine creatures. This one is for the experienced ones as the park features a vast number of creatures such as docile fish, yellow snappers, sea plumes, ornate hard, and soft corals. Visit this place in Andaman and Nicobar Island for snorkeling if you have prior experience.
2) Bharatpur Beach
An offbeat place to visit in Andaman and Nicobar Island, this beach is located in Shaheed Dweep. With less crowd and more marine life like blackfish, pufferfish, soldierfish, Blue-spotted stingrays, and angelfish, Bharatpur Beach is a hidden gem in Andaman and Nicobar Island. Snorkeling is a popular activity and the marine life makes it worth visiting and touching the fins, just adds to the thrill.
3) North Bay Island
To explore this island in Andaman, you’ll need a day-trip. North Bay Island is known as the third largest coral island of India and is the oldest island of the Andaman. As the seabed is nearly 6-7 m deep, one needs to dive quite deep in the waters with an instructor to explore the marine life of North Bay Island. With dolphins, pufferfish, and blue-spotted stingrays, it makes complete sense to enjoy snorkeling and underwater photography in Andaman.
4) Red Skin Island
Red Skin Island in Andaman is another gem within the marine national park. It is known for its coral reefs and abundant marine life which makes it a great destination in Andaman for snorkeling. The island offers fantastic snorkeling opportunities for those looking to explore the underwater world in a protected environment.
Popular water sports in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Snorkeling is not the only reason to visit Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The islands are a bed to some of the best places in India for adventure sports as well as water sports. So, if you’re over Goa, Rishikesh, Manali and Gokarna for water sports, here are some popular adventure and water sports in Andaman and Nicobar Islands –
1) Kayaking
We’ve all heard about kayaking and river rafting in Rishikesh, well Andaman doesn’t leave it behind as Kayaking is a popular thing to do in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The shallow and calm waters of the Andaman provide a beautiful setup to enjoy Kayaking near Port Blair. Similar to snorkeling, kayaking in Havelock Island is also a must-do thing and you can even sight the bioluminescent waters as shown in the movie Life of Pi.
2) Scuba Diving
One of the top reasons to visit Andaman and Nicobar Islands is for scuba diving. There are many scuba diving schools in Andaman that will take you through the vast marine life of the islands. Coral gardens, many schools of fish and sometimes even shipwrecks! The average price of scuba diving in Andaman for a single dive is around Rs. 4000 to Rs. 6000.
3) Jet Skiing
A jet ski ride in Goa is a popular thing to do at a beach destination in India. With clear waters and beautiful weather. Jet ski ride in Andaman is a must-do activity. The beaches of Andaman and Nicobar Island offer an excellent opportunity to travel through the streams of waters and enjoy the thrill and speed of adrenaline. Neil Island and Port Blair are popular spots in Andaman for jet skiing.
4) Parasailing
Much like paragliding in Manali and Shimla, where you get to enjoy vivid sights of greenery, you can enjoy beautiful sights of beaches. Parasailing in Andaman and Nicobar Islands is the most sought-after thing to do and lets you soar above the tranquil waters. Havelock Island, North Bay Island and Port Blair have many places to enjoy parasailing in Andaman and Nicobar Island at a nominal cost of Rs. 3500.
Conclusion
As October is approaching and tides are settling, the time is perfect for snorkeling in Havelock Islands. With so many places to cover for snorkeling in the Andamans, there’s a lot to explore and waters to dive deep in. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands offer a playground for water sport lovers. Plan your trip to Havelock Island now and cover the various spots for snorkeling in Havelock Island.
Incase you’re looking to know more about the beaches in Havelock Island, check out our latest blog –
FAQs about Snorkeling in Havelock Island
1) Where is the best place to snorkel in Havelock?
There are many spots for snorkeling in Havelock Islands. Elephant Beach stands as the top place in Havelock Island for snorkeling. The beautiful coral life and low cost starting from Rs 500 makes it perfect for snorkeling.
2) What is the best time for snorkeling in Havelock Islands?
October to March is generally considered as the best time for snorkeling in Havelock Islands. During this time, the tides are generally low and is ideal for enjoying the sightseeing places in Andaman and Nicobar Islands as well.
3) How much does snorkeling cost in Andaman?
The average cost of snorkeling in Andaman ranges from anywhere around Rs. 500 to Rs. 800. The most popular beaches in Andaman for snorkeling are Elephant Beach, Red Skin Island and Bharatpur Beach.
4) What is the minimum age for snorkeling at Elephant Beach?
The minimum age for snorkeling at Elephant Beach should at least be 12 years and older. As long as the child is confident and comfortable in water, the snorkeling experience will be amazing.
5) What safety precautions should be taken before snorkeling in open water?
One should be aware that snorkeling is a strenuous activity and requires lots of physical fitness. If you’re tired or afraid of water, then it is not advised to snorkel. Additionally, one should also wear proper gear to be protected from fins.
