Floating in splendid isolation some 460 nautical miles north-west from Phuket in the Andaman Sea is this archipelago of over 500 islands, islets, rocks and reefs. They stretch out over a length of 430 miles and are an unparalleled destination for nature lovers and divers alike.

Geologically speaking the islands were once part of a mountain range stretching roughly from what is now Burma to Sumatra. Tectonic movements caused the larger part of these mountains to sink below sea level, what remained above the water are now the Andaman Islands

Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The climate is somewhat cooler than Thailand or Burma, seabreezes further reduce the temperature. You may actually find a need for a jacket in the mornings.

The aboriginal peoples on the Andaman and Nicobar islands are of Negroid and Mongoloid stocks. The main tribes are the Onge, Andamanese, Shompen, Nicobarese and Jarawa Sentinelese.
Languages spoken are Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, tribal languages and English.
The number of tribes is sadly dwindling fast, although the Indian government makes an admirable effort to protect their area’s and culture.
There are many historical sites to visit around Port Blair dating back to the times of British rule.

Nature :

Above water the islands are a veritable Garden of Eden and a naturalists haven. The rainforests are a habitat to a vast number of plant-, bird-, and animal species, many of them unique in the world. The canopied forests themselves have an amazing variety of timbers, foliage and blooms.

The Andaman Paduk, the Yellow Hibiscus, the White Lily, the Pandanus as well as many varieties of Orchids are but a few of the over 700 species of plants to be found. Flocks of parrots, Bahminy kites, hornbills, sea eagles, and herons will delight the birdwatcher. Around sunrise one can often sight spotted deer along the shores.

Another unusual sight is the swimming elephants. After a day’s work the mahouts (elephant trainers) take their pachyderms for a refreshing swim. The elephants can actually swim under water using their trunks as a snorkel!

Diving in the Andmans

The most striking feature and the big attraction of diving in the Andamans is the sheer number and variety of fish one can encounter. The diving is for this reason world class.
Because of the almost total absence of commercial fishing and industrial pollution the sealife is extraordinary healthy.

One can almost lose orientation whilst swimming in vast schools of snappers or jacks. Other species one routinely encounters are mantas, tunas, grey reef and silvertip sharks as well as turtles, dolphins and occasionally whalesharks. Reeffish and smaller life are also abundant. Excellent corals are to be found throughout the area offering opportunity for divers and snorkelers alike.

Visibility you can expect to be in the 20 m+ range.

You will always have the divesites to yourself as there are virtually no diveboats in the entire area.
Some of the offshore sites such as Narcondam are generally not to be recommended for the beginning diver, this due to strong currents and sometimes large swell. The inshore sites are generally suited both for beginners and more advanced divers.

Permits may be required for some destinations.

New divesites and splendid anchorages are continuously being discovered and explored, lending a unique expeditionary feel to these trips.

Getting There:

Departures can be either from Phuket or from Port Blair in the Andamans itself.

Duration of the trip from Phuket is a minimum of 16 days.

Sailing time between Phuket and Port Blair is about 2 1/2 days, so this schedule allows for about 10 days cruising around the islands.

Trips of one week minimum are available for those who wish to fly in and board the yacht in Port Blair. Consideration will be given for individual bookings when boarding is from the Andamans. Air India provides flights from Calcutta, they are available on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday and are of 2 hour duration. They depart early morning at 0530Hrs arriving at Port Blair 0730Hrs.

The only prerequisite is that guests obtain an Indian visa before boarding for the trip. It is recommended they do this in their home country, rather than in Thailand where arranging for this visa can take as long as one week.

Formalities on arrival when travelling from Phuket are simple, all formalities can be fulfilled on board, passengers are asked to make a currency declaration and list the electronic items(video cameras, etc) they have with them.

The Indian officials are cooperative and helpful. British procedures for most formalities are followed.

After clearance we will travel to Havelock Island, which is our base whilst in the Andamans. Havelock Island’s beach number 7 (beaches are numbered rather than named) is a long, curved sweep of white sand, lapped by turquoise water and crowned by a forest of huge tropical hardwood trees. Inland, Havelock Island is like a piece of rural India cast adrift in the sea. Local children play naked outside thatched huts, holy cows amble by along the peaceful country roads, woman dressed in sari’s squat together for gossip and tea.

The most notable observation is that there is no pollution whatsoever. No cigarette butts, plastic bottles, or abandoned car tyres along the roadside.

On Havelock Island there is a small scale Eco resort with bungalow style accomodation. Guests who wish to spend a night on shore after the trip from Phuket can use their facilities.

Andaman Scuba Club offers dive courses at Havelock Island.

Trips operate from December to April.

The Andamans in their pristine and isolated location provide the opportunity for a trip that is a unique experience, fastly becoming rare on our overcrowded planet.