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.
There are many incredible dive sites on Andaman islands and in order to reach them, you must first get on Port Blair-the largest island- and from there you can take a ferry to Haverlock island. If you choose to stay on the island, you can book an organized dive with one of the schools operating on the spot. As an alternative, there are charter yachts that offer live aboard excursions around the islands and include diving gear, as well as scuba diving instructors.
Dixon’s Pinnacle is located in the open sea, east of Haverlock Island and can only be approached by boat. This dive site was discovered by a local diver, named Dixon, a few years ago and ever since it is one of the best and most unique dives in the area, as it is consisted of three main pinnacles forming a triangle in the bottom of the ocean. The average depth is around 59 ft/18 m, while the top of the pinnacle stands at 49.2 ft/15 m and has a maximum depth of 98.4 ft/30 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, hard and soft corals, Moray Eels, green turtles and the amazing Juvenile Emperor Angelfish that loves to swim around the pinnacle. Keep in mind that currents can be strong and thus the spot is suitable for intermediate and experienced open water divers. If you are planning to dive in the Andaman Islands, Dixon’s Pinnacle is most certainly one of the most impressive dives that no one should miss!
