- About us
- For Beginners
- Dive Courses
- For Divers
- Rates
- Blog
- Contact us
Half-day private boat tour from Havelock to South Button — India's smallest national park. Snorkeling in South Button Island's pristine reef and South Button scuba diving on the volcanic wall.
GoPro Photos & Videos
Snorkel & reef footage from your trip - already included
Snorkel Gear & Refreshments
Mask, fins, life vest + water, fresh fruit and snacks onboard - included
South Button is the smallest notified national park in India. Just 0.03 km² of uninhabited rock and reef, 38 km north-east of Havelock. No ferry runs here. A private boat is the only way in, which is the whole reason a South Button National Park tour from Havelock works the way it does. Almost no boats reach this reef, and the coral shows it. The Havelock house reefs get busier every year. South Button doesn't.
The trip is a 4-hour half-day to South Button Island from Havelock. Out of the main jetty, 75 minutes by speedboat, then we anchor in the sheltered northern lagoon. The snorkel zone sits in 2–6 m of clear water with staghorn corals and parrotfish schools through the whole session. Snorkeling in South Button Island is the main event. Open Water certified divers can add South Button scuba diving on the wall down to 25 m as an upgrade.
National park rules: South Button is a protected national park. A Forest Department permit (₹500 Indian / ₹2,500 foreign) is mandatory and we file the paperwork. Fishing, anchoring on coral, and removing any marine material is prohibited.
Pickup mid-morning from Havelock, on the reef by lunchtime, hotel drop by mid-afternoon. Timings shift slightly with tide and weather; everything below is typical.
Morning slots run calmer than afternoon. If conditions deteriorate, the captain calls it. Weather-cancelled trips are rescheduled or refunded in full.
The fare covers everything on the boat. Forest Department permits and GST are billed separately at the dock.
Not suitable for: children under 8, pregnant guests, anyone with an active ear or sinus infection, recent ear/sinus surgery, or uncontrolled cardiac conditions. Non-swimmers are welcome with a life vest. If you're unsure, WhatsApp us before booking.
South Button is one of three uninhabited islands in the Button group (South Button, Middle Button and North Button), sitting between Havelock and Long Island in the Andaman Sea. South Button alone is India's smallest national park by area. It was gazetted in 1987 to protect the fringing reef and the seabird colony on the rock.
South Button is uninhabited and has no public ferry. The only way in is on a private day-boat from Havelock. Our 4-hour trip leaves Havelock jetty, about 75 minutes each way by speedboat, and it's the most direct route. We run on calm-sea days, October to May.
Yes. South Button is the smallest notified national park in India, covering just 0.03 km². Gazetted in 1987 to protect the fringing reef and the seabird colonies on the rock. Fishing, anchoring on coral and removing marine material are all prohibited. A Forest Department permit is mandatory.
Yes. We provide life vests for everyone and the snorkel zone sits in 2–4 metres of calm sheltered water inside the lagoon. Your in-water guide stays close to non-swimmers throughout. You don't need to swim to enjoy the reef from the surface.
About 75 minutes each way by speedboat in good conditions. Door to door from your Havelock hotel, the whole trip runs 4 hours including briefing, snorkel session and return.
Yes. South Button is a protected national park and a Forest Department permit is mandatory. We file the paperwork; you pay the fee at the Havelock office on the day. ₹500 per Indian national, ₹2,500 per foreign national, cash only. Bring a valid government photo ID.
October through May. Calm seas, 15–25 m visibility, stable weather. December to February is prime, with the calmest seas and the best light. June to September is the south-west monsoon and the trip runs only on weather-permitting days.
Neil Island is inhabited and reached by ferry, good for relaxed beach days with cafes. Elephant Beach is the busy day-trip out of Havelock, first-timer friendly but crowded. South Button is uninhabited, no ferry, private boat only. Quieter water, deeper reef, no crowds. The step up from Elephant Beach for travellers who want the real thing.
WhatsApp +91 95319 24029 or use the booking form on this page. We confirm with a deposit and the balance is due on the day. Free cancellation up to 60 days out. Slots cap at 8 per trip and December–February books up first, so earlier is better.
See why we are the top rated dive center in Andaman (Havelock) on Google & TripAdvisor
We dive the best spots around Havelock, where visibility is at its best. From shore dives at Nemo Reef to boat scuba diving in Havelock at Tribe Gate and The Wall, we pick the right site for the conditions.
