21 Dive Sites 5 to 55m Depth Range Best Season Oct to May

Best Places for Scuba Diving
in Havelock Island

21 dive sites from shallow coral gardens to deep shark dives. Here is the full breakdown.

Why Havelock Island is India's Best Scuba Diving Destination

decorative divider

Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep) in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands has some of the cleanest dive sites in Asia. With visibility reaching up to 40 meters, water temperatures of 27-30°C year-round, and marine life ranging from clownfish to whale sharks, experienced divers often call this “India’s diving capital.”

Whether you’re a first-time diver looking to try scuba at Nemo Reef‘s calm shore entry, or an advanced diver seeking white-tip reef sharks at Johnny’s Gorge, Havelock has a dive site for you. Here is every site, broken down by level.

Beginner-Friendly Dive Sites

Perfect for first-time divers and Discover Scuba experiences

Nemo Reef dive site Havelock

Nemo Reef

Shore Dive 5 to 16m #1 for Beginners

The most famous beginner dive site in Havelock! Features the iconic "Ghost Jeep" artificial reef at 6-8m, dual fringing reef system, and abundant clownfish families in anemone homes.

Shore Entry Ghost Jeep Clownfish
Aquarium dive site Havelock

Aquarium

Boat Dive 5 to 16m 5 Clownfish Species

This circular reef formation creates calm, protected conditions with 5 different clownfish species, giant barrel sponges, and abundant butterflyfish schools.

Calm Waters Macro Life Photography
Turtle Beach dive site Havelock

Turtle Beach

Boat Dive 5 to 10m Sea Turtles

80% pristine staghorn coral coverage with regular green and hawksbill turtle sightings. One of Havelock's healthiest reef systems with good coral variety.

Staghorn Coral Turtles Shallow
Lighthouse dive site Havelock

Lighthouse

Boat Dive 3 to 23m Night Dive Specialist

Havelock's most versatile dive site, perfect for day and night dives. Features gentle coral slopes, excellent for Open Water training with depths suitable for all levels.

Night Diving All Levels Training Site
Purple Haze dive site Havelock

Purple Haze

Boat Dive 8 to 12m Macro Paradise

Named for its purple soft coral gardens, featuring mantis shrimp, nudibranchs, pipefish, and exceptional critter diversity in shallow waters.

Macro Life Soft Corals Nudibranchs
Juvis dive site Havelock

Juvi's

Boat Dive 8-12m Potato Corals

Stunning shallow reef near John Lawrence Island featuring unique potato coral formations, staghorn gardens, and occasional reef shark sightings. Good visibility.

Coral Gardens Clear Water Reef Sharks
Tribe Gate dive site Havelock

Tribe Gate (Oval Reef)

Boat Dive 3 to 15m Giant Clams

Small submerged seamount featuring the world's largest living clams (Tridacna), 5 clownfish species, and an underwater "city" of bleached coral structures now thriving with life.

Giant Clams 5 min Boat Ride Macro Life
Pilot Reef dive site showing leopard shark at Havelock Island

Pilot Reef

Boat Dive 8 to 25m Leopard Sharks

Home to a resident leopard shark family and the famous "phantom bannerfish wall"! Features excellent macro life, marble rays, and exceptional visibility up to 40m.

Leopard Sharks Bannerfish Wall 10 to 15 min Boat
Mac Point dive site showing dugong habitat at Havelock Island

Mac Point

Boat Dive 10 to 15m Dugong Territory

India's only dive site with regular dugong sightings! Features seagrass meadows, healthy coral formations, and excellent turtle encounters in calm, shallow waters.

Dugong Sightings Sea Turtles Seagrass Meadows
Seduction Point dive site showing pristine staghorn coral gardens at Havelock Island

Seduction Point

Boat Dive 5 to 18m Napoleon Wrasse

Havelock's hidden gem featuring extensive pristine staghorn coral forests, friendly Napoleon wrasse, and uncrowded peaceful diving conditions perfect for beginners.

Staghorn Forest Napoleon Wrasse Uncrowded

Intermediate Dive Sites

For certified Open Water divers ready for more adventure

SS Inchkeith wreck dive site Havelock

SS Inchkeith Wreck

Boat Dive 5 to 22m Shipwreck

1950s cargo vessel that sank in 1955, now a thriving artificial reef. Features visible propeller, cargo holds, and excellent macro life including ghost pipefish and nudibranchs.

Historic Wreck Ghost Pipefish 45-60min Boat
The Wall dive site Havelock

The Wall

Boat Dive 10 to 55m Epic Drop-off

Dramatic vertical wall descending to 55+ meters. Famous for octopus mating behavior, massive gorgonian fans, and Napoleon wrasse. One of Havelock's most spectacular sites.

Wall Dive Octopus Deep Dive
Red Pillar dive site Havelock

Red Pillar

Boat Dive 12 to 25m Pillar Formation

Unique underwater pillar formation covered in vibrant red soft corals. Features cleaning stations, schooling fish, and excellent wide-angle photography opportunities.

Red Corals Unique Formation Photography
Grouper at cleaning station at The Slope dive site Havelock

The Slope

Boat Dive 5 to 20m Shrimp Central

Known as "Shrimp Central" with 7+ shrimp species! Features submerged lighthouse pillars with batfish, active cleaning stations, and amphitheatre topography.

7+ Shrimp Species Cleaning Stations 45 to 60 min Dives
Barracuda City dive site showing massive barracuda school at Havelock Island

Barracuda City

Boat Dive 15 to 30m Barracuda Schools

Witness one of Havelock's most spectacular underwater phenomena—massive schools of chevron barracuda forming swirling tornado formations around a dramatic wall dive.

Barracuda Tornado Wall Dive Sea Turtles

Advanced Dive Sites

For Advanced Open Water certified divers seeking thrilling encounters

Johnny's Gorge dive site Havelock shark

Johnny's Gorge

Boat Dive 24 to 30m Shark Dive

Havelock's premier shark dive! Reliable white-tip reef shark, occasional nurse sharks, and massive schools of trevally in a dramatic gorge formation. Named after legendary divemaster Johnny.

White-tip Sharks Strong Currents Pelagics
Dixon's Pinnacle dive site Havelock

Dixon's Pinnacle

Boat Dive 16 to 35m Whale Sharks

Three distinct pinnacles rising from the deep, known as the "holy trinity" of Havelock diving. Seasonal whale shark sightings, manta rays, and incredible pelagic action with strong currents.

Whale Sharks Manta Rays 3 Pinnacles
Jackson's Bar dive site Havelock

Jackson's Bar

Boat Dive 18 to 36m Pelagic Action

Part of the "holy trinity" alongside Dixon's and Johnny's. Dramatic plateau with strong currents attracting Bengal snappers, barracudas, manta rays, and eagle rays.

Strong Currents Manta Rays Deep Plateau
White House Rock dive site Havelock

White House Rock

Boat Dive 8 to 36m Black Coral

Famous for distinctive black coral with luminous white polyps. Dual topography with steep wall and gentle slope, featuring sharks, turtles, and exceptional fish biomass.

Black Coral Wall Dive High Biomass
Minerva Ledge dive site showing giant grouper at Havelock Island

Minerva Ledge

Boat Dive 12 to 24m Drift Diving

Discovered by Jacques Cousteau in the 1970s! Vast coral gardens with strong currents perfect for drift diving. Home to giant groupers, reef sharks, and eagle rays.

Drift Diving Reef Sharks Giant Groupers
Broken Ledge dive site showing dramatic deep reef at Havelock Island

Broken Ledge

Boat Dive 16 to 30m Turtle Hot Spot

Premier deep reef dive featuring dramatic rocky outcrops, labyrinth of mini canyons, and multiple resident sea turtle species. Named for its distinctive broken ledge formation.

Deep Dive Sea Turtles Rocky Canyons

Complete Dive Sites Comparison

Compare all 21 Havelock dive sites at a glance to find your perfect dive.

Dive Site Level Depth Access Best For Highlights
Nemo Reef Beginner 5 to 16m Shore First Dives Ghost Jeep, Clownfish
Aquarium Beginner 5 to 16m Boat Photography 5 Clownfish Species
Turtle Beach Beginner 5 to 10m Boat Coral & Turtles 80% Staghorn Coral
Lighthouse Beginner 3 to 23m Boat Night Dives All Levels, Versatile
Purple Haze Beginner 8 to 12m Boat Macro Life Mantis Shrimp, Nudis
Juvi's Beginner 8 to 12m Boat Coral Gardens Potato Corals
Tribe Gate Beginner 3 to 15m Boat Giant Clams 5 Clownfish Species
Pilot Reef Beginner 8 to 25m Boat Shark Encounters Leopard Sharks, Bannerfish
Mac Point Beginner 10 to 15m Boat Dugong Sightings Endangered Dugongs, Seagrass
Seduction Point Beginner 5 to 18m Boat Coral Gardens Staghorn Forest, Napoleon Wrasse
SS Inchkeith Intermediate 5 to 22m Boat Wreck Diving 1955 Shipwreck
The Wall Intermediate 10 to 55m Boat Wall Diving Octopus, Gorgonians
Red Pillar Intermediate 12 to 25m Boat Photography Pillar Formation
The Slope Intermediate 5 to 20m Boat Macro Life 7+ Shrimp Species
Barracuda City Intermediate 15 to 30m Boat Barracuda Schools Tornado Formation, Wall Dive
Johnny's Gorge Advanced 24 to 30m Boat Shark Encounters White-tip Sharks
Dixon's Pinnacle Advanced 16 to 35m Boat Big Animals Whale Sharks, Mantas
Jackson's Bar Advanced 18 to 36m Boat Pelagics Manta Rays, Eagles
White House Rock Advanced 8 to 36m Boat Deep Reef Black Coral, Sharks
Minerva's Ledge Advanced 12 to 24m Boat Drift Diving Reef Sharks, Eagle Rays
Broken Ledge Advanced 16 to 30m Boat Deep Reef Sea Turtles, Rocky Canyons

Which Beach is Best for Scuba Diving in Havelock?

decorative divider

Beach No. 2 (Govind Nagar Beach) is the main beach for scuba diving in Havelock Island. Here is why:

  • Nemo Reef is located directly offshore-the only shore entry dive site in Havelock
  • No swimming is required-walk directly into the water with your instructor
  • Protected bay conditions mean calm waters year-round
  • All dive centers operate from this beach with easy gear access
  • Perfect for first-time divers and Discover Scuba experiences

While other beaches like Radhanagar (Beach No. 7) are famous for sunsets, Beach No. 2 is set up for scuba diving with facilities, trained instructors, and the safest entry conditions.

Best Time to Dive in Havelock Island

decorative divider
Peak
December to April
  • Visibility: 20-40 meters (exceptional)
  • Water Temp: 27-30°C
  • Sea State: Calmest conditions all year
  • Wildlife: Manta rays, whale shark sightings at Dixon's Pinnacle
  • Perfect for all 21 dive sites including advanced deep dives
Excellent
October to November
  • Visibility: 15-25 meters (good)
  • Water Temp: 27-29°C
  • Sea State: Post-monsoon improvement
  • Advantage: Fewer crowds, great prices
  • Wildlife: High fish biomass from monsoon spawning
Avoid
June to September (Monsoon)
  • Visibility: 5-15 meters (poor)
  • Sea State: Rough, strong SW winds
  • Access: Many dive sites inaccessible
  • Note: Beginner sites like Nemo Reef may still operate on calmer days
🌟 Pro Tip
Book your Havelock diving trip for February to March for the perfect combination of peak visibility, calm seas, and maximum marine life activity. This is when you'll have the best chance to see manta rays at Dixon's and Jackson's Bar!

Frequently Asked Questions

decorative divider

What is the best dive site in Havelock for beginners?

Nemo Reef is the #1 dive site for beginners in Havelock. It’s the only shore entry dive site, meaning you walk directly from the beach into the water—no boat or swimming required. With calm conditions, shallow depths (5-16m), and the famous Ghost Jeep artificial reef, it’s perfect for Discover Scuba and first-time divers.

Which beach is best for scuba diving in Havelock Island?

Beach No. 2 (Govind Nagar Beach) is the best and only beach for scuba diving in Havelock. This is where Nemo Reef is located and where all dive centers operate. The calm bay conditions, gentle entry, and direct access to the reef make it ideal for all experience levels.

How many dive sites are there in Havelock Island?

Havelock Island has 21 established dive sites ranging from beginner-friendly shallow reefs to advanced deep dives. These include 10 beginner sites (Nemo Reef, Aquarium, Turtle Beach, Lighthouse, Purple Haze, Juvi’s, Tribe Gate, Pilot Reef, Mac Point, Seduction Point), 5 intermediate sites (SS Inchkeith, The Wall, Red Pillar, The Slope, Barracuda City), and 6 advanced sites (Johnny’s Gorge, Dixon’s Pinnacle, Jackson’s Bar, White House Rock, Minerva Ledge, Broken Ledge).

What is the best time to dive in Havelock?

The best time to dive in Havelock is October to May, with peak conditions from December to April. During this period, visibility reaches 20-40 meters, seas are calm, and all dive sites are accessible. October-November offers excellent value with fewer crowds. Avoid June-September monsoon when conditions are unpredictable.

Do I need to know how to swim to scuba dive in Havelock?

No, you don’t need to know how to swim! Discover Scuba Diving experiences at Nemo Reef are specifically designed for non-swimmers. You’ll be with a certified instructor at all times, using buoyancy equipment that keeps you afloat. Plenty of our guests are non-swimmers and they do just fine.

Ready to Explore Havelock's Underwater World?

Book your dive with Frogman Scuba, a RAID certified dive center with 1,500+ reviews on Google

  • RAID Certified Center
  • 500+ Happy Divers
  • Safety Focused