Nemo Reef Scuba Diving, Havelock Island

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

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)

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

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