Nemo Reef scuba diving site at Beach No. 2, Havelock Island – calm shore dive Andaman
Course Code: FRG-NMR-HVL

Nemo Reef Scuba Diving, Havelock Island

₹2,500 ₹3,500 + GST
4.9 1800 reviews

Scuba dive at Nemo Reef in Havelock Island, Andaman. A calm shore dive at 2 to 6 metres depth surrounded by clownfish, anemones and colourful reef fish. Beginner friendly and open to non-swimmers. Rated 4.9 out of 5 by 1,828 divers on Google.

Optional Add-Ons

Nemo Reef Pro Upgrade

+15 min underwater (45 min total) · 10 extra photos + 2 extra videos

+₹1,000
Things to Know
Max depth for beginners programs is 12 meters
Minimum age 12 years
Booking confirmation sent via WhatsApp within 30 minutes
Free cancellation up to 48 hours before your dive
Secure payment RAID Certified & Expert PADI Instructors 10+ years experience 4.9★ rated

About Nemo Reef Shore Dive

Nemo Reef is Havelock Island's best-known beginner dive site — named for the clownfish that fill its shallow coral gardens. Shore entry from Beach No. 2, pool-like conditions with virtually no current, and depths starting at just one metre make it a reliable first choice for a first-ever scuba dive. Non-swimmers are completely welcome; the shallowest section never exceeds three metres, and your instructor is with you every second underwater.

This is the site where more people have taken their first breath underwater than anywhere else in the Andaman Islands. A dual-reef system, a submerged Mahindra Jeep at 6–8 metres, dense anemone beds, and one of the healthiest clownfish populations in India — it's a proper dive, not a tourist dip.

Total Duration
1–1.5 Hours
Underwater Time
30 min  |  45 min (Pro)
Max Depth
12 Metres
Visibility
10–30 Metres
Difficulty
Beginner — Non-Swimmers OK
Entry Type
Shore Dive — Beach No. 2

Nemo Reef vs Nemo Reef Pro: The standard dive is 30 minutes underwater — you get GoPro photos & videos of your dive. Upgrade to Pro (+₹1,000) for an extra 15 minutes underwater (45 min total), plus 10 extra photos and 2 extra videos — more reef, more memories.

What's Included in Your Dive

Everything is taken care of — gear, guidance, photos. Show up, we handle the rest.

Included in All Packages

  • One-on-one certified RAID/PADI instructor — you are never left alone underwater
  • Full scuba equipment — BCD, regulator, wetsuit, mask, fins, tank
  • GoPro photos & videos of your dive (standard package)
  • 30-minute theory session and shallow training before the dive
  • Free pickup and drop within 5km of Beach No. 2
  • Medical declaration form and safety briefing

Nemo Reef Pro — Additional (+₹1,000)

  • Extra 15 minutes underwater — 45 min total instead of 30
  • 10 extra GoPro photos + 2 extra videos on top of standard
  • Extended reef exploration including the Ghost Jeep at 6–8 metres
  • Deeper section of the dual-reef system covered

What to Bring

  • Swimwear — worn under your wetsuit
  • Towel and dry change of clothes
  • Reef-safe sunscreen only
  • Water and a light snack
  • Any medical information relevant to diving (asthma, ear conditions, etc.)

Your Experience — Step by Step

Step 1 · ~30 Min
Briefing & Equipment
Meet your instructor at Beach No. 2. Theory session covering breathing, equalisation, and hand signals. Equipment fitted and checked. Medical form signed.
Step 2 · ~15 Min
Shallow Water Training
Wade in to knee-deep water. Practice breathing through the regulator, clearing your mask, and the basic signals with your instructor before going deeper.
Step 3 · 30–45 Min
The Dive
Descend into Nemo Reef's coral gardens. Your instructor guides you through the reef while a GoPro captures your experience. Clownfish, groupers, and coral formations throughout.
Step 4 · 1–2 Hrs After
Photos & Videos Delivered
Your GoPro photos and videos are transferred to your phone via WhatsApp or USB — ready to share immediately.

Not suitable for: Anyone with active ear infections, recent surgery, or uncontrolled asthma on the day. Pregnant guests are advised not to dive. Call us if you're unsure — we'd rather advise you correctly beforehand.

What You'll See at Nemo Reef

Nemo Reef hosts one of the most diverse shallow-water marine ecosystems in the Andaman Islands. The anemone beds alone hold several clownfish species — it's not unusual to find four different Amphiprion species on a single dive. Here's what to expect.

Signature Species

  • Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) — the namesake, in every anemone cluster; multiple species including Clark's, saddle, and skunk clownfish
  • Humphead Parrotfish — large, unmistakable, grazes the reef noisily
  • Giant Grouper — slow-moving ambush predators, surprisingly approachable
  • Moray Eel — spotted in rock crevices at 4–8 metres
  • Pufferfish — spotted inflating near the coral base

Schools & Reef Fish

  • Blue-striped snapper schools — large, fast-moving silver clouds
  • Bannerfish — distinctive black-and-white, float in pairs
  • Butterflyfish — multiple species, coral-dependent feeders
  • Damselfish — aggressive tiny residents guarding coral patches
  • Surgeonfish, triggerfish, angelfish
  • Trevally — occasionally sweeps through in fast hunting runs

The Reef Structure

  • Staghorn coral — branching, forms large thickets at 3–6m
  • Table coral — wide flat structures, fish shelter underneath
  • Brain coral — large, ancient-looking, individual colony
  • Cauliflower & mushroom coral — dense patches throughout
  • Sea anemones — magnificent, bubble-tip, saddle varieties

Macro Life

  • Porcelain anemone crabs — tiny, white-spotted, live inside anemones
  • Transparent shrimp — almost invisible against coral
  • Hermit crabs, sea urchins, starfish on sandy bottom
  • Octopus — uses rock dens at 5–8m; occasionally spotted
  • Cuttlefish — rare but present, masters of camouflage

Seasonal Highlights

  • December–February — peak visibility 20–30m, peak fish biomass
  • March–May — excellent conditions, fewer tourists
  • June–September — monsoon season; Nemo Reef stays diveable (unlike boat sites) due to its sheltered bay
  • Occasional sightings — turtle, ray, barracuda (rare but possible year-round)

About the Dive Site

Nemo Reef sits in a protected bay at Beach No. 2 (Govind Nagar) on the north shore of Havelock Island — 2–3km from the main jetty by auto-rickshaw. Unlike the boat dive sites, there's no surface swim required and no boat needed; you wade in from the beach and descend directly over the reef.

Location

  • Beach: Beach No. 2, Govind Nagar, Swaraj Dweep (Havelock Island)
  • GPS: 12.00765° N, 92.94044° E
  • From jetty: ~2–3km, 5–10 minutes by auto-rickshaw
  • Pickup included: Free pickup within 5km of Beach No. 2

Conditions

  • Current: Minimal to none — sheltered bay, protected from prevailing winds
  • Surge: Negligible in normal conditions
  • Entry: Gradual sandy slope, wade from shore — no surface swim
  • Visibility: 10–15m year-round; 20–30m December–February
  • Water temperature: 26–29°C year-round

Best Time to Dive

  • December–February — mirror-calm, clearest water, 20–30m visibility
  • October–November & March–May — excellent, 15–25m visibility
  • June–September — still diveable (sheltered site), 10–20m visibility, fewer crowds
  • High tide provides best visibility throughout the year

Depth Profile

0–1m Sandy entry zone — knee-deep wading
1–3m Shallow coral gardens, juvenile fish
3–8m Main reef — anemones, clownfish, groupers
8–12m Deeper slope — larger species, Ghost Jeep
12–16m Max depth — certified divers only

Reef Features

  • Dual Reef System — two fringing reefs with a sandy patch between them, each with distinct coral profiles
  • Ghost Jeep — decommissioned Mahindra Commander sunk at 6–8m, now an artificial reef with its own resident community
  • Anemone Beds — dense clusters of host anemones from 2m depth onwards
  • Mangrove Edge — adjacent mangrove nursery visible from surface; juvenile fish concentration at the boundary

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — Nemo Reef is specifically designed for non-swimmers. The shallowest section is 1–3 metres and you enter gradually from the beach. Your instructor is physically beside you throughout the entire dive. No swimming skills are assessed or required. The majority of our guests at Nemo Reef are first-time divers who don't swim.

Both packages include GoPro photos and videos of your dive. The standard Nemo Reef (₹2,500) is a 30-minute underwater experience. The Pro upgrade (+₹1,000 = ₹3,500) gives you an extra 15 minutes underwater (45 min total), plus 10 extra photos and 2 extra videos — and covers more of the reef including the Ghost Jeep at 6–8 metres. If it's your first dive, the standard is plenty. Upgrade to Pro if you want more time and more content.

Allow 1.5 to 2 hours total. The theory session and shallow training takes around 30–45 minutes, the dive itself is 30–45 minutes, and exit and debriefing adds another 15 minutes. Photos and videos are delivered to your WhatsApp within 1–2 hours after the dive ends.

December to February offers the best conditions — visibility of 20–30 metres, mirror-calm water, and peak marine life activity. October–November and March–May are excellent shoulder months with fewer crowds. Nemo Reef is diveable year-round including during the monsoon (June–September) because the sheltered bay protects it from swell, unlike the boat dive sites which are sometimes inaccessible in rough weather.

Almost certainly — Nemo Reef has one of the densest clownfish populations in the Andaman Islands, spread across dozens of anemone clusters throughout the reef. The only scenario where you might not encounter them is an unusual tide or visibility event, which is rare at this sheltered site. Your instructor knows exactly where the anemone beds are.

The listed price of ₹2,500 (standard) or ₹3,500 (Pro) excludes GST. 18% GST applies as per Indian government regulations, bringing the totals to ₹2,950 and ₹4,130 respectively. Your invoice will show the full GST breakdown.

You're welcome to use our GoPro rental (+₹1,500) to record your own raw footage from your perspective. We also rent underwater housings for some phone models — ask us when booking. Your package already includes GoPro photos and videos taken during your dive. The rental gives you an additional unit so you can also capture your own raw perspective footage alongside the included content.

You surface immediately — no questions asked. Your instructor is monitoring you throughout and will pick up on any signs of discomfort before you even signal. We've had guests take 10 minutes to find their breathing rhythm at 2 metres before relaxing completely and continuing. There is no pressure to go deeper or stay longer than you're comfortable with.

Loved by Travelers

See why we are the top rated dive center in Andaman (Havelock) on Google & TripAdvisor