ANDAMAN &
NICOBAR - This is closest you get to feeling like Robinson
Crusoe. 362 volcanic islands scattered in the Bay of Bengal, only 37 of
these are inhabited. These lush green islands have a colourful historical
past. With strings of invasions by the French, Dutch, Japanese and British,
raging war between settlers and the native tribes. The Cellular Jail, where
hundreds of Indian revolutionaries were imprisoned during the Indian freedom
struggle, still stands tall. Descendents of these political prisoners and
the local tribes of the area are the inhabitants of modern day Andaman and
Nicobar.
The tropical rain forests that loom close to the
seashore are home to unique species of birds, and to tribes that still
haven't learned to use fire. Andaman is an experience quite unlike another.
And if you find yourself using more mosquito repellent here than ever
before, you'll be using a lot more camera roll too.
DIVE
SITES Around Port Blair - The waters around Andaman have
spectacular bio-diversity, and dive conditions that are ideal for an
experienced diver.
- Cinque Island
- Rutland Island
-
Snake Island
At Havelock Island - This Island is located
approximately 4 hours from the Port Blair airport by inter-island ferry. The
dive center located on the island offers a wide range of largely unexplored
dive sites rich in underwater marine life.
Miscellaneous
Information The nearest decompression chamber is at the Naval Base
in Port Blair. Foreigners are only allowed to visit certain islands in
Middle. Little and South Andamans.
Best time of the year
- Between November and May.
Climate
- Tropical - between 23-28 degree Celsius.
Languages spoken
- English, Hindi, Bengali and Tamil.
Lakshadweep - Be warned. There are some things that are really
hard to find in Lakshadweep. Like fast cars, or shrinks, or tranquilizers.
They do have all that water though. Bright and clear as liquid glass.
Fringed by white stretches of sand where the only throngs you'll ever see
are of the sandpipers on the shore. And you could sleep by the seaside with
the night sky as your ceiling. Therapy has never felt better.
Geographically similar to that other divers' haunt, Lakshadweep is like
Maldives without the crowds. 400 kilometers off the coast of Kerala, this
group of 36 coral islands and atolls can be reached by a twenty-hour sea
journey from Cochin. Of the ten inhabited islands, only two, Bangaram and
Kadmat, are open to foreigners and there are dive centers on both these
islands. The lagoons are home to a spectacular world of marine life, so
unexplored; you may well have a site named after you.
DIVE
SITES Around Kadmat Island - Surrounded on the eastern and western
side by the lagoon, Kadmat is the ideal haven of solitude. This little
island has an astonishing variety of marine flora and fauna. Some of the
dive sites explored till date are beyond any sort of written description;
they are ethereal moments of pure wonder.
The Wall - A
wall of soft coral starting at 12 meters and cascading down to the deep
blue. Dive amongst turtles as resplendent as their surroundings.
Sting Ray City - A 21-meter dive along the sand dunes, abundant with
stingrays.
Cross Currents - Located between the islands
of Amini and Kadmat, drift dive along with schools of Snapper, Fusilier and
Sharks at 15-21 meters.
Jack Point - A drift dive between 21-30 meters with different types of
fish like Jack Fish and KingFish.
Garden of Eden - An
abundance of table coral at 12-25 meters along with varieties of small fish
and Groupers.
East Channel - Located between 9-20 meters
an abundance of soft coral and tuna.
Around Bangaram Island
- A teardrop shaped island surrounded by a continuous strip of creamy
sand. The temperate blue-green waters of the Indian Ocean are an
irresistible invitation to the scuba diving fraternity of the world.
The exquisite black coral formations along with AngelFish, Clown Fish,
Butterfly, Surgeons, Groupers, Mantas, String Rays and wondrous marine life
found in the Lakshadweep.
Visit the wreck of the Princess Royal
at 32 meters, sunk in a battle over two hundred years ago, or if luck is on
your side, have the pleasure of being escorted by a pod of 10-20 Dolphins...
Visit the dive sites Manta Point, Shark Point and The Wall. Dive
amidst a submerged reef with shoals of Giant Parrotfish.
Miscellaneous Information For both the dive centers, the nearest
decompression chamber is a 2-hour chopper ride to the Naval Base at Cochin.
Best time of the year - Between November and May.
Climate - Tropical - between 25-28 degree Celsius.
Languages
spoken - English, Malayalam, Mhal
Goa
- Goa is a little bit of Rio de Janeiro meets Ibiza. But then Goa
is a lot of things. This little Seaside State, with an identity that's a
seamless blend of Portuguese-Latin influence and Indian tradition, was
cracking enough to have been one of the Millennium destinations of the
world.
The waters are safe and temperate, the absence of riptide
currents making them ideal for learners and novice divers. And when you
aren't wiggling in and out of your wetsuit, you could be sunbathing or
bungee jumping, visiting temples or haunting the flea market. Like we said,
Goa is a lot of things.
The three hundred years of Portuguese
rule has left an indelible imprint on the collective psyche of Goans. It
shows in their music, their architecture, and their culture. It's also why
Goans make the most wonderful vindaloo this side of the Indian Ocean.
DIVE SITES The marine life in Goa is similar to that found in
Maldives. The presence of wrecks in Spanish and Portuguese galleons, World
War II ships make the fish life prolific.
Grande Island -
Much of the local diving is conducted around this island. Some of the sites
near the island include Suzy's Wreck, Davy Jone's Locker, Sail Rock, Turbo
Tunnel, Surge City, Uma Guma Reef, and Bounty Bay.
Angria
Bank - A four-hour high-speed boat ride takes you to this world class
dive site 120 miles from Goa. A vast underwater landmass about half the size
of the state of Goa, it offers an amazing wealth of coral and fish. A
'live-aboard' is available with the local dive center to make diving at this
site an unforgettable experience.
Pigeon Island - This rocky outcrop has interesting marine life as well
as good visibility.
Malvan Shoal - Some interesting
shallow sites in the water between Vengurla and Malvan, 2 hours away from
the capital city of Panaji.
Miscellaneous Information
Decompression chamber is available about an hour away by road from any of
the dive sites.
Best time of the year - Between November and
May.
Climate - Tropical - between 25-28 degree Celsius.
Diving Gear is available on rent at all the above places.
Men
and women have practiced breath-hold diving for centuries. Indirect evidence
comes from thousand-year-old undersea artifacts found on land (e.g.,
mother-of-pearl ornaments), and depictions of divers in ancient drawings. In
ancient Greece breath-hold divers are known to have hunted for sponges and
engaged in military exploits. Of the latter, the story of Scyllis (sometimes
spelled Scyllias; about 500 BC) is perhaps the most famous. As told by the
5th century BC historian Herodotus (and quoted in numerous modern texts).
