Saturday, 31 March 2018

Andaman Islands diving

After spending a week in southern India we flew 1,000 km east from Chennai to the Andaman Islands. After arriving at Port Blair (the islands' capital) we then took a two-hour ferry ride north-east to Havelock Island, where we spent the first four nights. Our main interest there was diving, so we dived in the mornings and explored or relaxed in the afternoon. We dived with Barefoot Scuba, and altogether did six dives off Havelock: Red Lighthouse, The Wall, Dixon's  Pinnacle (twice), Sebastien Hill and Parridge. 

curious squid, Havelock 

Frustratingly we forgot our camera the day we dived Dixon's Pinnacle, which was the day with the best visibility and most interesting underwater life spotted (Napoleon wrasses, school of barracudas, giant trevallies, barramundi, peacock mantis shrimp, pick-handle barracuda)!

one of many large barrel sponges, Havelock

Havelock

Havelock

feather star, Havelock

Other things that we saw on Havelock but don't have (good enough) photos of are  humpheaded parrotfish, blue-spotted stingrays, lobster and cleaner shrimp, pufferfish, boxfish, moray eels, octopus, bearded scorpionfish, ornate ghost pipefish, cuttlefish and tiger cowries.

Havelock dive sites.
The islands to the north (Peel, Wilson etc.) are uninhabited.

After four nights at Havelock we travelled to neighbouring Neil Island to spend a night. We were also able to fit in two dives there, with India Scuba Explorers, despite having been told it wouldn't be possible on the island.

Neil Island

Trevallies, Neil Island

Banded sea krait, Neil Island

Butterflyfish, Neil Island

Fan coral, Neil island

Then it was time to head back to Reunion via Port Blair and Chennai.

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