Serenity by a palm-fringed shore
On the east coast of India , the rich forested islands of Andaman and Nicobar lie scattered in the Bay of Bengal. There are 362 volcanic islands of which only 37 are inhabited. They form an idyllic archipelago of gleaming white sandy beaches, a crystal-clear turquoise sea teeming with fish, and picturesque coral reefs. The lush green islands have a colourful historical past, with strings of invasions by the French, Dutch, Japanese and British, setting off raging wars between the settlers and the native tribes. The Cellular Jail, where hundreds of Indian revolutionaries were imprisoned during the Indian freedom struggle, still stands. 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 any other.
Sunbathe in the mellow sun as you sip from a fresh coconut. Then swim out into the waves where dolphins and many-hued fish will give you company. The clear waters of the Andamans are ideal for snorkelling and scuba diving. The best beaches are at Wandour, Corbyn's Cove, Jolly Buoy and Ross Island.
English, Hindi, Bengali, Tamil
Between November and May.
Tropical - between 23 and 28 degrees Celsius.
Summer (Mar. To Jun.): Warm
Monsoon (May. To Oct.): Warm
Winter (Nov. To Feb.): Mildly warm & pleasant
Clothing
Cottons
By Air
These Islands are located about 1250 Kms from Kolkata (formerly Calcutta ) and about 1200 kms from Chennai (formerly Madras ). The capital, Port Blair, is served via India Airlines and Jet Airways. Both inbound and outbound tickets should be booked well in advance for these sectors.
By Sea
It is possible to sail to Port Blair from Kolkata and Chennai every week. The crossing takes about 3-4 days. All ships plying on this route are under the auspices of the Directorate of Shipping, Govt. of India.
Andaman Beach Resort
Asiana Hotel
Hotel Dhanalakshmi
Hotel NK International
Hotel Shompen
Welcomgroup Bay Island Hotel
Cellular Jail
Built by the British in the early part of the century. Now a memorial to Indian prisoners. A son-et-lumiere is held here.
Around Port Blair
The waters around Andaman have spectacular bio-diversity, and dive conditions that are ideal for an experienced diver.
CinqueIsland
One of the best dive destinations in the island, it has clear emerald water with a visibility of up to 80 feet. The deep dive offers a terrific variety of marine life including back coral and sightings of sharks.
Rutland Island
The shallow waters here have a good representation of most smaller fish and coral, and a good place for training open water divers.
SnakeIsland
Has awesome rock faces and a spectacular dive landscape. Marine life includes Trigger fish, Grunts, Goatfish and Rays.
HavelockIsland
This island is approximately 4 hours from the Port Blair airport by inter-island ferry. The dive centre located on the island offers a wide range of largely unexplored dive sites rich in underwater marine life.
Address: Post Box No. 9, Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands 744101, India.
Dive Location: Andaman Scuba Club, Havelock Island , Andaman & Nicobar Islands 74411, India.
Contact Person at Port Blair: Gautam Dev, Anamika Tours & Travels.
Tel: 91-3192-34540
At Havelock Island : Ulrich Failer
Names & Qualifications of Dive Staff:
Marcus Kummer - PADI Master - MFA & Speciality Instructor.
Ulrich Failer - PADI Master - MFA & Speciality Instructor.
Address: Asparas B-8, Sriram Nagar, South Street , Chennai 600018, India.
Dive Location: Peerless Resort, Corbyn's Cave, Post Box No. 21, Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands 744106, India.
Contact Person at Port Blair: Herbert Burri
Names & Qualifications of Dive Staff:
Herbert Burri - PADI Instructor.
Jan Giese - PADI Instructor.
Eduardo Heiler: PADI Instructor.
Address: Sita Kunj, 6th Floor, 164 M.K. Marg, Mantralaya, Mumbai 400021, India.
Tel: 91-22-2870729
Fax: 2852037
Dive Location:Sinclairs Bay View, South Point, Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands 744106, India.
Tel: 91-3192-31824
Contact Person at Port Blair: Manavi Thakker
Names & Qualifications of Dive Staff: Manavi Thakker - PADI Instructor
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.
It is advisable to carry a few extra passport photographs and copies of your passport as you would need to submit these to the authorities at Port Blair on arrival for your permit to visit the Island.