Indian Ocean
INDIA'S ANDAMAN ISLANDS
Frontier exploration for the adventurous diver
Season: January-April
Visibility: 10-40 metres
Water Temperature: 27°C
Squirrel Fish (Alex Mustard)
Separating the Andaman Sea from the Indian Ocean in the southern reaches of the Bay of Bengal lie the Andaman Islands. Once used as a penal colony under British Imperial rule, only 26 of these 576 islands are inhabited. Two hundred kilometres from the nearest Asian mainland, the Andaman Islands are officially part of India, where your adventure to these hidden islands will begin. The capital and administrative centre of the this little-known archipelago, Port Blair, was off limits to non-Indian visitors for decades and the adjacent Nicobar Islands are still closed! Visiting and diving the Andaman Islands really is a special adventure!
Beneath the waves lie reefs barely touched and hardly seen by other divers. In fact, until recently, only about 50 divers a year have been lucky enough to experience the Andaman’s hidden treasures. It is easy to see why Jacques Cousteau named the Andamans the ‘invisible islands.’ You can be among some of the first explorers in this incredible divers paradise! A lack of any local commercial fishing fleet, and the granting of only very few licences to foreign fishing boats, means the reefs are simply teeming with fish and macro life, as well as home to some thrilling sharks and giant rays, and the occasional dugong. The islands themselves are rocky, rainforest-clad droplets in an azure ocean, edged with champagne-coloured beaches fringed with palms, and are home to over 150 endemic plant and animal species. You may be lucky enough to witness a ‘snorkelling’ working elephant, as these creatures often cool off in the sea using their trunk to breath above the water! And where else can you go diving and then go off and search for Tigers or visit the wonderful Taj Mahal?
At Passage Island the sloping hard coral reef levels out at 22-28 metres and is known for its vibrant fish life. Here you can encounter Spotted Eagle Rays and Mobula Rays, schools of bannerfish, both Blue-fin and Giant Trevallies, Oriental Sweetlips and Hawksbill Turtles.
Fish Rock is a series of rocky pinnacles and underwater rock formations which now house fan corals in what was once an Indian Navy target practice area. The sea seems to have harnessed the power of the ammunition once fired here and can sometimes unleash powerful currents! Fish Rock is so-called for a good reason! Napoleon Wrasse and an assortment of groupers, as well as octopi and giant Yellow-margin Moray Eels, regularly put in an appearance here.
The two adjoined islands of The Sisters ought really to be called The Siamese Twins! The hard and soft coral reefs are usually explored as a drift dive to encounter giant groupers, White-tip Reef Sharks, Great and Chevron Barracudas, and nudibranchs, as well as beautiful Harlequin Sweetlips.
Sixty nautical miles out in the open sea is the barely visible pinnacle of Invisible Bank. This ancient reef is home to some enormous coral formations at around 18 metres deep. Drifting along with you on this dive could be Nurse Sharks, Whitetip Reef Sharks, Black tip Reef Sharks and Whip Rays – quite a collection of the bigger fish!
Barren Island is a live volcano. Its wisps of volcanic smoke may well have rendered the land barren, but under the water lies a different story! The reef topography allows for wall diving. Gentle sloping lava ridges and seemingly infinite drop-offs can be dived as a drift where you can hope to share the reef with some of the more spectacular residents such as Manta Rays, Grey Reef Sharks, White-tip Reef Sharks, Silvertip Sharks and Blue-spotted Sting Rays – far from barren! What makes this site all the more fascinating and unusual is the effect of the last volcanic eruption. The black sand encrusted walls make for a startling backdrop for the colourful fish and the graceful outlines of the silvery, streamlined sharks.
A now extinct volcano, Narcondam Island, is encircled by coral beds where you may witness gas bubbles popping up from the shallow sea floor. As well as the larger sharks and rays which can be found at Barren Island, Narcondam Island’s reefs harbour rich fish life as well as some fascinating macro life. Lionfish, Hawksbill and Green Turtles, Ornate Ghost Pipefish and several unusual nudibranchs all make their home along the ridges and among the coral gardens. Diving here offers pinnacle diving and current-beaten crests and rims, as well as some calmer coral gardens.
The hard coral gardens of Button Island offer the macro diver a gentle and shallow experience with anemones, mantis shrimps, banded boxer shrimps and giant clams. Schooling fish including Horse-eye Jacks, while Great Barracudas and an assortment of butterflyfish are found at nearby Campbell Shoal.
Named after the 18th century British marine surveyor John Ritchie, Ritchie’s Archipelago comprises 13 islands including Button Island, Havelock Island and Henry Lawrence Island. The thrill of diving in this area is that it is still being discovered and explored, so you really will be among the first divers to have the pleasure of charting new waters. The reefs which ring Havelock Island are home to a plethora of colourful and intriguing fish from lionfish lurking at Lighthouse to numerous splendid seafans at Seafan City, where residents include some large schools of tuna, jacks and groupers. The gullies and ravines of Pilot Reef make perfect homes for Leopard and White-tip Reef Sharks, and there is always the possibility of encountering a visiting Manta Ray. At Mac Point you might be lucky enough to see a dugong frolicking in the sea grasses!
Diving in the Andaman Islands can involve drift and current diving and divers should be comfortable and experienced with diving in these conditions before booking on Andaman Islands cruises, which are not recommended for inexperienced divers.
MERMAID I
Mermaid I is a 28-metres, double-engine, steel motor yacht that offers superb hotel-style accommodation. Their slogan is ‘Mermaid liveaboards – Asia’s Premier Liveaboard Fleet’. The boat can take up to 15 guests. The eight air-conditioned cabins comprise one Master Staterooms with king bed, four Deluxe Cabins with one double or two single beds, two Budget Cabins both in the lower deck which have either one double or two single beds, and a Single Cabin. All cabins have en suite bathrooms and refrigerators with the Master, Deluxe and Single Cabins having superb panoramic sea views. The beds in these cabins are ‘normal’ sprung mattresses on real bed bases. Each cabin has a TV so you can review your pictures or take advantage of the DVD access. The Master and Single have their own DVD player in the cabin. Duvets. throw cushions, bed runners, bathrobes, slippers, fluffy pillows, loads of luxurious towels, and lovely toiletries all conspire to make those moments of relaxed luxury so enjoyable. A total of 14 crew are available at the service of 15 guests. The divemaster to diver ratio is usually 1:4 or 1:5 at most.
Both Thai and western menus are served in the Sawasdee Restaurant, which is air-conditioned and has large windows so you don’t miss any panoramic views while enjoying your meals. On several occasions during the week Chef works at the outdoor barbecue and produces delicious meals ‘al fresco’. The food is fabulous! A great way to relax at the end of the dive is to enjoy your favourite music on the music centre, peruse the fish and identification guides available from the library, or watch a DVD. There are two outdoor decks, one shaded with outside seating and a fabulous sundeck with plenty of wooden sun loungers with comfy cushions under a white canopy for shade, or in full sun for those who want to sunbathe.
There is a wide stern diving platform with two exit ladders and freshwater showers. Four camera rinse tanks and a large camera table are also on the dive deck. There are several power points in each cabin and also throughout the salon for charging and each table in the salon has electrical outlets for laptops. Usually the crew will have a laptop available for your use, if you don’t have your own. There is a DVD burning service for those who want to save images to disc.
The boat offers satellite phone, fax and e-mail facilities. Other facilities on board include a small boutique shop selling books, tee-shirts, hats and souvenirs. For those in the mood for serious relaxation, you may also like to make use of the massage and spa service. A pressing service is also available. The chef prides himself on presenting a full range of local and international dishes and is happy to provide vegetarian meals, as long as they are previously requested.
Divers enter the water from the main boat or from one of the two ribs, and dives are usually ‘go with the flow’ with an easy climb up one of the ladders on return. Everyone has their own dive station and box to place equipment. The crew is fully trained to look after your gear either as much or as little as you wish. They will assist you to remove your wetsuit and rinse it for you after every dive, if you wish, and will wash and dry your gear at the end of the cruise. There is an on board videographer who will produce excellent quality DVDs. Complimentary photo advice is a popular service too. Nitrox is available on every cruise. Please note that individual computers are mandatory for each client. Although most of the tanks available are 12 litre steel tanks, there are a few 15 litre tanks available for those who might need them.
Mermaid I offers a series of 10 nights Andaman cruises from February to April, departing from Port Blair.
Cruise Itinerary: Day 1: Board Mermaid I between 1400-1600, enjoy dinner then settle in to your cabin and cruise overnight. Days 2-10: Four dives will be offered each day in the areas of Passage Island, Fish Rock, Invisible Bank, Narcondam Island, Barren Island, Button Island and Richie’s Archipelago. The Andaman Islands are for adventure and discovery diving and the boat will make its way to unexplored regions, as well as some recently discovered dive sites, using weather and local conditions as a guide. Day 11: After breakfast disembark Mermaid 1 and transfer to your hotel or the airport. A total of 36 dives will be offered.
Price: from about £2008. Includes: 10 nights cruise on Mermaid I on a twin/share basis with full board, including tea, coffee, soft drinks and drinking water; 9 days diving (4 dives per day, including night dives where the location is suitable); escorted shore excursions where appropriate. Reduction for non-divers. A fuel surcharge may be payable locally and would be calculated at the time of travel depending on the cost of fuel locally. Please contact our office for the most up to date information. Airport/hotel transfers are not included, but local taxis are inexpensive. Deposit: £850.
Single Occupancy Supplement: 90% of the cruise cost (but you can avoid paying the supplement if you are willing to share a cabin).
Note: Because of the infrequency of flights to the islands (meaning that you will miss the cruise if there is a serious flight delay) it is recommended that you arrive in Port Blair one night before the cruise departure date.
SIREN
The 34-metre SY Siren (also known as Sampai Jumpa Lagi) is a handcrafted Indonesian phinisi constructed in ironwood and teak and sailing under seven sails. She is purpose-built and designed by Worldwide Dive and Sail especially for divers, with superb facilities for the underwater photographers as well as for the watersport enthusiast or the adventurous sailor. The boat takes up to 18 guests. There are eight large, en-suite, air-conditioned cabins each with its own computer and audio-visual entertainment system complete with 20-inch flat screen, high definition monitor integrated into the yacht’s network server in the saloon. Each cabin has a lavish array of luxury facilities, including bathrobes, hairdryers, towels and individually-controlled lighting and air-conditioning. The boat has three decks; the lower deck has all the cabins, the main deck has the dining area and the dive area, and the upper deck has the lovely sun lounge area.
Delicious international and Asian cuisine is offered, with individual requirements happily catered for. Imagine enjoying a superb meal while looking out across the wide expanse of ocean from the covered outdoor dining area near the stern of the boat on the main deck.
The spacious and modern air-conditioned saloon has a cocktail bar, 42-inch flat-screen TV and a computer supporting the inter-cabin network. There is plenty of space to relax on the comfortable sofas while enjoying a post-diving drink.
The boat offers satellite phone facilities. Other facilities on board include a small boutique shop selling books, tee-shirts, hats and souvenirs. For those in the mood for some serious self-indulgence, why not try the massage serve.
The dive area is on the main deck with space for twenty divers and further space for the dive crew. With a maximum of 16 divers on most trips, it means that the area is very spacious and allows for each diver to suit up in comfort. Each diver has his or her own place to store equipment. Divers set up their dive kit once only, at the start of the cruise. For the rest of the trip the crew will prepare your dive kit for you for every dive. Cylinders are filled in situ with air or with Nitrox (which is provided at no additional cost). The dive platform provides easy access to the two dive tenders, one of which is 5.8 metres and the other is 5.2 metres in length. Divers usually enter the water from one of the tender boats and dives are usually ‘go with the flow’ drifts with an easy climb up one of the ladders on return. The tenders are staffed by very experienced crew and they will be there to greet you at the end of the dive. The crew comprises the most experienced, multi-lingual instructors who are available to teach PADI courses from Open Water to Divemaster. They are fully trained to look after your dive and photography gear, either as much or as little as you wish. Thorough dive briefings are given before every dive, and you may elect to dive with the dive crew or with your buddy. There is a fresh water shower on the dive platform and another two showers on the same deck for post-dive rinses. Photographers and videographers have their own large rinse tank with fresh water, which is changed on a regular basis. There is a further rinse tank for computer, mask and dive light rinsing.
Siren offers a series of 9 nights cruises in February, March and early April, starting from and ending in Port Blair.
Cruise Itinerary: Day 1: Board Siren in the morning and depart from Port Blair in the early afternoon, setting course for the southern end of the Lower Andamans. In the afternoon the first dive will be an easy, shallow dive in the region of Rutlant Island. A night dive will be offered. Day 2: The South Andaman islands offer encounters with some big schools of fish and some super soft coral dives. After a night dive in the calm waters off Sister Island, set sail for Invisible Bank. Day 3: You will be far out to sea all day on this massive bank, where we hope to see some BIG fish. Days 4-5: Diving round Barren Island where we should see some large pelagic fish including Manta Rays. Set sail for Narcondam Island in the afternoon of day 5. Days 6-7: Narcondam Island and two days to dive these splendid sites with their beautiful hard and soft corals and fish, fish, fish. In the afternoon of day 7 depart for Campbell Shoal. Day 8: Fabulous diving around Campbell Shoal, South Button Island and Havelock Island. Day 9: Start the day with a sunrise dive at the Lighthouse on Havelock Island, then check out Seafan City and enjoy an afternoon opportunity to snorkel with the Dugongs before taking one more dive prior to a barbecue. Day 10: An early morning departure for the Middle Andamans and the final dive, the wreck of an old steamer. Set sail for Port Blair where you will disembark the boat and transfer to your hotel having done up to 28 dives, including 5 night dives.
Price: from about £2050. Includes: 9 nights cruise on Siren on a twin/share basis with full board, plus coffee, tea, fruit juice, soft drinks, fresh fruit and beer; 7 full days of diving (up to 4 dives per day) plus two on the first day and one on the last day; air or Nitrox fills; dive gear including wetsuit, regulator, BCD and fins; escorted shore excursions where appropriate. Reduction for non-divers. A fuel surcharge may be payable locally and would be calculated at the time of travel depending on the cost of fuel locally. Please contact our office for the most up to date information. Airport/hotel transfers are not included, but local taxis are inexpensive. Deposit: £700.
Single Occupancy Supplement: 80% of the cruise cost (but you can avoid paying the supplement if you are willing to share a cabin).
Note: Because of the infrequency of flights to the islands (meaning that you will miss the cruise if there is a serious flight delay) it is recommended that you arrive in Port Blair one night before the cruise departure date.
FLIGHTS: Prices from about £850 to Port Blair. There are daily flight connections to Port Blair via Chennai or Kolkata. We recommend a night in Port Blair prior to the cruise. We will quote you the airfare applicable, based on routing, season, current fare levels and booking class availability. Our quote will include all taxes and fuel supplements applicable at the time of quotation, as well as our service charge. The usual airfare deposit is £300.
COMBINATIONS: India is a fascinating, sometimes disturbing, but always intriguing country. Whether you wish to explore the ‘golden triangle’ of Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, or spend some days visiting the attractions of India’s southern states, or go anywhere in the country, our well-established Indian agents can create a custom-made itinerary for you. Talk to us about the possibilities.
Lion Fish (Sam Bean)
