Situated in the Bay of Bengal, the Andaman Islands, also known as Emerald Isles because of their green forests, are an isolated group of 325 islands with distinct beauty. Still remaining untouched by mass tourism, the islands are located closer to Thailand than to India and the main settlement called the Port Blair is easily approached from India by plane or ferry.
Boasting amazing landscapes, huge coconut trees and sugar sand beaches, as well as a plethora of exotic flora and fauna, the islands are an undiscovered gem, waiting for the nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers to discover them. Underwater, the Andaman Islands are a true wonder full of surprises, unusual species and colorful corals.
One of the finest dives on the island is the Lighthouse Reef and is located on a remote, small island called Narcondam. In order to get there from Port Blair-the largest island-, you can take a ferry to Haverlock island and from there, you can either book an organized dive with one of the schools operating on the spot or charter a yacht or a sailing boat for a live aboard, unforgettable diving experience.
Lighthouse Reef is a wall dive with steep slopes, rocky ridges and outstanding biodiversity. Visibility is excellent in the crystal clear waters of the Andaman Sea and the underwater life thrives in colors and numbers. The minimum depth of this dive site is 82 ft/25 m and the maximum is 328.1 ft/100 m. The water temperature is not dropping below 78.8 °F/26 °C all year round. However, the best season to scuba dive on the spot is from November to mid March, before the Monsoon season.
Divers will come across huge barrel sponges, Napoleon wrasse, lush soft corals, manta rays, tuna and so much more and if you are lucky, you might see grey and white tip reef sharks. Keep in mind that currents are strong and thus the spot is suitable for intermediate and experienced open water divers. If you love diving and the underwater world, this is definitely a place that you will never forget!