Barren Island Active Volcano Dive
Dive site
South Asia's only active volcano and one of the world's most unusual dive experiences. Barren Island has erupted multiple times since 1991 and lava fields extend into the sea, creating bizarre geology — black basalt columns, volcanic rubble slopes, and hydrothermal vents producing warm micro-currents. Despite (or because of) the hostile substrate, fish life colonises every crevice and the outer reef walls are spectacular. Dive here while the ocean floor is still being made.
Conditions
Depth
5 to 35 m
Advanced depths
Current
Often strong
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
5 to 12 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
25 to 30°C
3mm wetsuit
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 25 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 25 |
| Vis (m) | 15 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 15 |
| Current | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Gentle | Moderate | Strong | Strong | Strong | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Whitetip reef shark
Photo: Craig Fujii · CC BY-NC-ND
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Guitarfish
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Eagle ray
Photo: michel candel · CC BY-NC-SA
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Moray eel
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Barracuda
Photo: Mark Rosenstein · CC BY-NC
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Field journal
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Gear