Planning a trip?
Hotels, dive operators, gear, and how to get here are on the Havelock Island location page.
Overview
Three rock pinnacles rise from a 34 m floor to within 15-16 m of the surface roughly 19 km east of Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep), a short hop from Johnny's Gorge. Their flanks are sheeted in soft coral and studded with metre-wide barrel sponges, and the shallow tops work as a cleaning station: reef fish swarm the rock while manta and mobula rays bank in to be groomed, alongside resident giant groupers and big Napoleon wrasse holding station in the current. Whitetip reef sharks patrol the bases, green turtles graze the coral, and barracuda, trevally and dogtooth tuna stack up in the blue. Tidal current and the depth make it an advanced dive; visibility opens up from November once the monsoon swell drops.
Briefing note
Advanced Open Water with deep training is the working minimum, and operators usually require a logged deep dive. Foreign nationals no longer need a separate Restricted Area Permit (RAP) for Havelock but must carry a passport; the RAP rule was lifted in 2022. The site closes during the southwest monsoon (roughly mid-May through mid-September) when swell and silt make the offshore run unsafe. Keep well back from rays on the cleaning station and do not touch the giant barrel sponges, which break easily and are very slow-growing.
What you'll see
11 species curated- seasonalReef manta rayPeak: Dec · Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr
- seasonalMobula rayPeak: Dec · Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr
- year-roundGiant grouper
- year-roundNapoleon wrasse
- year-roundWhitetip reef shark
- year-roundGreen turtle
- year-roundGreat barracuda
- year-roundGiant trevally
- year-roundDogtooth tuna
- year-roundTitan triggerfish
- rareWhale sharkPeak: Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr
Conditions
| Month | Water | Visibility | Current |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 26–28 °C | 20–30 m | moderate |
| Feb | 27–29 °C | 25–35 m | moderate |
| Mar | 28–30 °C | 25–35 m | moderate |
| Apr | 28–30 °C | 20–30 m | moderate |
| May | 28–30 °C | 15–25 m | moderate |
| Jun | 27–29 °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 | 27–29 °C | 15–20 m | moderate |
| Nov | 26–28 °C | 20–30 m | moderate |
| Dec | 26–28 °C | 20–30 m | moderate |
Season calendar
Peak season highlighted · current month outlined
Gear for this site
Beyond the basic kit- Dive light or torch — Below 30 m on the pinnacle bases ambient light drops and the overhangs are dim — a primary torch helps pick out resting sharks and the colour of the soft coral.
- Nitrox cert + EAN32 fills — Bottom time at 25-30 m on air is short; EAN32 stretches no-deco limits and is offered by Havelock operators with advance booking.
Next step
Book your trip to Havelock Island
Hotels, liveaboards, dive operators, gear recommendations, and travel logistics for the whole region.
Plan your trip →Some links earn us a commission. Learn more