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Hotels, dive operators, gear, and how to get here are on the Havelock Island location page.
Overview
India's only active volcano breaks the surface about 140 km northeast of Port Blair, and the reef ringing its base is unlike anywhere else in the Andamans — the sand here is black volcanic ash, not white, and old lava flows have set into stepped ledges, arches and walls that drop past 100 m. Reef manta rays are the headline: a group of up to nine works the cleaning stations off the western black sand bay, banking slowly while cleaner wrasse pick them over. Whitetip reef sharks patrol the drop offs, green and hawksbill turtles graze the shallows, and schools of needlefish, barracuda and trevally hang in water that routinely clears to 40 m or more. Sites such as the Washing Machine throw strong down currents, and with the island reachable only by liveaboard this stays firmly advanced ground.
Briefing note
Advanced Open Water with solid current experience is the working minimum; sites like the Washing Machine throw strong down currents. Landing on Barren Island is prohibited, it is an active volcano (last erupted 2017 to 2018) and a protected zone, so all diving is from boats with no shore access. The season runs roughly October to May; the southwest monsoon from June to September makes the offshore crossing unsafe. Trips run by liveaboard and book out well ahead because few vessels are permitted here. Keep clear of mantas on the cleaning stations and do not touch the gorgonian fans.
What you'll see
9 species curated- seasonalReef manta rayPeak: Nov · Dec · Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr
- year-roundWhitetip reef shark
- year-roundGreen turtle
- year-roundHawksbill turtle
- year-roundGiant trevally
- year-roundGreat barracuda
- year-roundDogtooth tuna
- year-roundCrocodile needlefish
- rareNapoleon wrasse
Conditions
| Month | Water | Visibility | Current |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 27–29 °C | 30–45 m | moderate |
| Feb | 27–29 °C | 35–50 m | moderate |
| Mar | 28–30 °C | 35–50 m | moderate |
| Apr | 28–30 °C | 30–45 m | moderate |
| May | 28–30 °C | 20–30 m | strong |
| Jun | 28–29 °C | 10–15 m | strong |
| Jul | 27–29 °C | 8–12 m | strong |
| Aug | 27–29 °C | 8–12 m | strong |
| Sep | 27–29 °C | 10–15 m | strong |
| Oct | 28–29 °C | 20–30 m | moderate |
| Nov | 27–29 °C | 30–45 m | moderate |
| Dec | 27–29 °C | 30–45 m | moderate |
Season calendar
Peak season highlighted · current month outlined
Gear for this site
Beyond the basic kit- Dive light or torch — Lava ledges, arches and the deeper walls fall into shadow, and a primary torch brings out the colour of the gorgonian fans and helps with shark and turtle ID.
- Nitrox cert + EAN32 fills — Manta cleaning stations and the lava reef sit deep enough that air bottom time is short; EAN32 stretches no deco limits and is worth arranging with the liveaboard before departure.
Next step
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Hotels, liveaboards, dive operators, gear recommendations, and travel logistics for the whole region.
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