Tribe Gate scuba diving site at Havelock Island, Andaman

Two divers above a staghorn coral head with orange damselfish while scuba diving at Tribe Gate, Havelock Island

Single mushroom coral on the reef bed at the Tribe Gate dive site, Havelock

Staghorn coral thicket with schooling chromis on the reef slope at Tribe Gate, Andaman

Diver making a heart sign with her hands over the coral field while scuba diving at Tribe Gate, Havelock

Purple soft coral growing on a rocky bommie at the Tribe Gate dive site in Andaman

Instructor and guest above a carpet anemone with clownfish while scuba diving at Tribe Gate, Havelock

Two divers over a staghorn coral garden surrounded by reef fish at Tribe Gate, Havelock Island

Instructor pointing out a Moorish idol over the coral garden at the Tribe Gate dive site, Havelock

Beginner diver with an instructor above a table coral while scuba diving at Tribe Gate, Havelock

Yellow angelfish and chromis over plate corals with divers behind at Tribe Gate, Andaman

Two divers in clear blue water above the coral reef at Tribe Gate, Havelock Island

Blue-green chromis beside staghorn coral with a diver behind at the Tribe Gate dive site, Havelock

Diver giving a peace sign underwater while scuba diving at Tribe Gate, Havelock Island

Diver signing to the camera while scuba diving at Tribe Gate, Andaman

Couple posing with a heart sign underwater during a Tribe Gate scuba dive in Havelock

Guest giving a thumbs up beside the instructor while scuba diving at Tribe Gate, Havelock

Diver hovering above an anemone with a clownfish while scuba diving at Tribe Gate, Havelock Island

Diver beside a pair of carpet anemones with clownfish at the Tribe Gate dive site, Havelock

Frogman crew and guests on the dive boat before a Tribe Gate scuba dive, Govind Nagar, Havelock

Couple on the dive boat during the short ride out to Tribe Gate, Havelock Island

Two guests at the surface after a Tribe Gate scuba dive off Govind Nagar, Havelock

Course Code: FRG-TRG-HVL

Tribe Gate Scuba Diving, Havelock Island

₹4,500 per person, inclusive of GST

4.9 2,023 Google reviews

The only site in the Andaman archipelago where you see all 5 clownfish species and giant Tridacna clams in one dive. 5-min speedboat, 15-20 m visibility, non-swimmers welcome, 1-on-1 instructor.

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Optional Add-Ons

Tribe Gate Pro Upgrade

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

+₹1,000

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Things to Know

Max depth for beginners programs is 12 meters

Minimum age 10 years (8+ for the Try Dive Cadet, shallow water only) · no upper age limit, doctor’s sign-off only if your medical form needs it

Booking confirmation sent via WhatsApp within 30 minutes

Cancel 72+ hours before: full refund of what you paid (minus 5% fee + GST). Inside 72 hours: no refund

No refunds for bookings between 15 Dec and 15 Jan

Read Terms & Conditions · Refund policy

Secure payment RAID Certified & Expert Instructors 10+ years experience 4.9★ rated

About the Tribe Gate Boat Dive in Havelock

Tribe Gate is a submerged oval seamount five minutes by boat from Havelock's main dive base. The reef rises from the sandy seabed in concentric shelves from 3 to 15 metres. It has all five clownfish species found in Andaman waters, and more giant Tridacna clams than any other local dive site. The full topography, marine life list and GPS position are on the Tribe Gate dive site guide.

The other reason people pick Tribe Gate is the Pavona coral ruins, the bleached skeletal remains of a reef that died in the 2010 Indo-Pacific bleaching event. Moray eels live in the crevices now, nudibranchs sit on the pillars, and two-spot snappers school overhead. Most guests surface talking about that part rather than the clams.

Total Duration

1.5 to 2 Hours

Underwater Time

30 min | 45 min (Pro)

Max Depth

15 Metres

Visibility

15 to 20+ Metres

Difficulty

Beginner, Non-Swimmers OK

Access

Boat Dive, 5 Min from Jetty

Standard vs Pro: The standard dive is 30 minutes underwater with GoPro photos and videos. Upgrade to Pro (+₹1,000) for an extra 15 minutes underwater (45 min total), plus 10 extra GoPro photos and 2 extra videos, covering the deeper Pavona ruins and the full oval reef circuit.

What's Included in Your Tribe Gate Dive

Turn up at the jetty and we handle the rest, including the boat, the gear and your GoPro footage. Tribe Gate is one of seven sites you can choose when you book boat diving in Havelock.

Included in All Packages

Speedboat transfer to Tribe Gate, 5 minutes each way
One-on-one certified RAID instructor for your entire dive
GoPro photos & videos of your dive, delivered to your phone
30-minute theory session and shallow training before descent
Full scuba equipment: BCD, regulator, wetsuit, mask, fins, tank
Safety briefing and medical declaration form

Tribe Gate 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
Full oval reef circuit including the deep Pavona ruins section
Extended time around the Tridacna clam beds and anemone gardens

What to Bring

Swimwear, worn under your wetsuit
Towel and dry change of clothes
Reef-safe sunscreen only
Water and a light snack for the boat
Any relevant medical information (ears, asthma, heart conditions)

Your Experience, Step by Step

Step 1 · ~30 Min

Briefing & Equipment

Meet your instructor at the dive centre. Theory session on breathing, equalisation, and hand signals. Equipment fitted and checked. Medical form completed. Boat briefing for first-timers.

Step 2 · 5 Min

Speedboat to Tribe Gate

Short boat ride across calm water to the mooring buoy at Tribe Gate. Surface briefing on descent procedure and what to expect on the reef.

Step 3 · 30 to 45 Min

The Dive

Descend along the mooring line. Your instructor guides you around the oval reef: anemones with clownfish, giant Tridacna clams, schooling fish, and the Pavona coral ruins. GoPro captures everything.

Step 4 · 1 to 2 Hrs After

Photos & Videos Delivered

GoPro content transferred to your phone via WhatsApp or USB after the boat returns. Ready to share before you've even changed out of your wetsuit.

Not suitable for: Anyone with active ear infections, recent surgery, or uncontrolled asthma on the day. Pregnant guests are advised not to dive. Not sure? Call us before booking, we'd rather advise you correctly first.

Marine Life at Tribe Gate: What You'll See

Most beginner dive sites give you coral and a few reef fish. Tribe Gate gives you two things no other site near Havelock has together: all five Andaman clownfish species in one dive, and the highest density of giant Tridacna clams on any reef here.

What You Are Most Likely to See

All 5 Andaman Clownfish Species: ocellaris, Clark's, saddle, skunk, and tomato anemonefish, all living in their anemone beds around the reef
Giant Tridacna Clams: the world's largest living clam; Tribe Gate has more than any other Andaman site. They snap shut when your shadow passes over them
Humphead Parrotfish: big enough to hear before you see them, because they crunch the coral as they feed
Giant Grouper: slow movers that often come closer than you expect
Moray Eels: white-eyed and dark species living in the Pavona ruins

Schools & Reef Fish

Two-spot snapper clouds: dense formations around the Pavona ruins
Pickhandle barracuda: juvenile schools circling the reef top at 3 to 4 m
Fusiliers: fast-moving silver schools
Sergeant major damsels: particularly active during the safety stop
Trevally, unicornfish, longnose butterflyfish, angelfish pairs
Triggerfish, surgeonfish, rabbitfish, pufferfish, boxfish

The Pavona Ruins: A Dive Within a Dive

What they are: Bleached skeletal structures of Pavona coral that died in the 2010 Indo-Pacific bleaching event, now full of macro life
Nudibranchs: Phyllidia and Halgerda species on the pillars, and the reason macro photographers ask for this site
Octopus: dens in the cavities of the ruins, so it pays to hang back and watch one spot
Stonefish & Scorpionfish: almost invisible against the skeletal coral, so your instructor will point them out
Cardinal fish: hover in dense clusters inside cavities
Lionfish: not on every dive, but they drift through the ruins

Occasional Sightings

Turtles: occasional visitors to the reef top
Marble rays & eagle rays: cross the sandy bottom at depth
Reef sharks: rare but sighted at Tribe Gate
Banded sea kraits: docile sea snakes; maintain distance
Cuttlefish & squid: particularly active at dusk

Best Season for Marine Life

November to May: peak conditions, 15 to 20 m+ visibility, maximum fish activity
September to October: post-monsoon spawn recovery, so more fish and fewer boats
June to August: Tribe Gate stays accessible during monsoon (sheltered); fish spawn season means unusual aggregations for experienced divers

Tribe Gate Dive Site: Depth, Visibility and Conditions

Tribe Gate, also known locally as Oval Reef, is an isolated submerged seamount 3km off Beach No. 3, in a sheltered channel between Havelock Island and John Lawrence Island. The boat takes five minutes from the main dive base, and there is a fixed mooring buoy so nobody has to drop anchor on the reef. Because the reef is a closed oval, you go down the mooring line, follow the edge round and come back up the same line.

Location

Site: 3km offshore from Beach No. 3, Govind Nagar, Swaraj Dweep
GPS: 12.036121° N, 93.007259° E
Boat time: 5 minutes by speedboat from the dive base
Also known as: Oval Reef
Mooring: Fixed mooring buoy, no anchor, reef protected

Conditions

Current: Low to mild; occasionally moderate but manageable
Visibility: 15 to 20 m+ year-round; peaks at 18 to 20 m+ from December to May
Water temperature: 26 to 29°C year-round
Sea conditions: Sheltered; accessible even during monsoon season
Entry: Descent via mooring line, structured and easy for beginners

Best Time to Dive

November to May: peak season, calm seas and clear water
March to May: the flattest sea of the year, and the fewest boats of the peak months
September to October: good post-monsoon diving with plenty of fish
June to August: still accessible (sheltered site); more variable conditions
Note: visibility depends more on tides than rain at Tribe Gate, because offshore conditions stay consistent

Depth Profile

3 to 4 m Reef top: anemones, young barracuda, clownfish

4 to 8 m Coral shelves: clams, fish schools, gentle slope

8 to 12 m Pavona ruins: macro life, moray eels, groupers

12 to 15 m Sandy bottom edge: rays, garden eels, depth limit

Why We Use This Site for First Dives

Oval reef shape: the boundary is obvious underwater, so your instructor can circle the site and bring you back to the mooring
Pavona coral ruins: dead coral from 2010 that has since filled up with macro life
Giant clam density: more Tridacna clams per square metre than any other dive site in the Andamans
Diveable most of the year: the channel is sheltered, so Tribe Gate stays open on days when the outer boat sites are shut for weather

Tribe Gate Scuba Diving: Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Tribe Gate is a primary training site for first-time and non-certified divers. The average depth is 5 to 8 metres and your instructor is physically with you throughout the entire dive. The mooring line gives a clear reference point for both descent and ascent. No swimming ability is required or assessed.

Both include GoPro photos and videos of your dive. The standard package (₹4,500) is 30 minutes underwater. The Pro upgrade (+₹1,000 = ₹5,500) gives you an extra 15 minutes underwater, 45 minutes total, plus 10 extra photos and 2 extra videos. The extended time lets you cover the full oval reef including the deeper Pavona ruins section, the Tridacna clam beds, and the complete anemone garden circuit.

Almost certainly. Tribe Gate has the highest density of Tridacna giant clams of any dive site in the Andamans, and they're distributed throughout the reef at multiple depths. Your instructor knows exactly where they are. They close up fast when your shadow crosses them, which is worth watching from close range.

The main difference is access: Tribe Gate requires a 5-minute speedboat ride to reach the reef, while Nemo Beach is a direct shore entry from the beach. Tribe Gate is an isolated seamount with different marine life, notably the giant clams and all five clownfish species, and offers better visibility (15 to 20 m against 10 to 15 m). Both work for beginners. Tribe Gate simply shows you more, so on a good-weather day it is the one to pick for a first dive.

October to May is the recommended window, with November to February offering the busiest season and March to May providing the calmest seas and best visibility (18 to 20 m+). Tribe Gate is one of the few sites accessible year-round due to its sheltered position, so even monsoon-season dives are possible, and post-monsoon months (September to October) bring a lot of fish back onto the reef after the spawn. Visibility at Tribe Gate is more influenced by tides than rainfall, so even overcast days can produce clear water.

The Pavona ruins are the remains of a coral formation devastated in the 2010 Indo-Pacific bleaching event. Over 14 years, the skeletal structures have been colonised by an entirely different ecosystem: nudibranchs, moray eels, octopus, cardinal fish, and dense snapper clouds. The ruins now hold more life than the reef immediately beside them, which is not something a standard beginner dive in Andaman gives you.

The listed price of ₹4,500 (standard) or ₹5,500 (Pro) is inclusive of GST, so the amount you see is the amount you pay. Your invoice shows the GST breakdown.

Loved by Travelers

Guest reviews of Frogman Adventures, Havelock Island

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

4.9/5

2,023 reviews

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sonali kumaritoday

Must try .. awesome experience.. supportive staff .. thnku
Shailesh Dyesterday

Our visit to Havelock (Govind nagar Beach) with Frogman for scuba diving and snorkeling was an absolutely amazing experience. Everything was organized very well by Mr. Suchit Sir, who was present throughout the entire experience and made sure we were comfortable and safe at all times.
The team was extremely professional, supportive, and friendly. Safety was clearly their top priority, which made the whole experience even more enjoyable. Underwater, we saw beautiful corals and a wide variety of colorful fish in the deep sea it was truly a different and unforgettable world.
I sincerely thank the entire Frogman team and everyone who supported us during the activity. I would highly recommend Frogman to anyone visiting for scuba diving or snorkeling. Keep up the great work, guys!
Thank you, Frogman 🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸!
Shraddha Rathodyesterday

It was an amazing experience for us.All the instructors and divers were patient teachers. They took us to exact spots where we got to see many corals and fishes.🥳
Dhruvi Rathodyesterday

It's very wonderful. They show a different world that exists under our water in Havelock with Frogman. The staff is very experienced and helpful. Great time.
Prashant Kumar2 days ago

For Professional and cool scuba experience , these guys are awesome :)
Ranjani H G Vakoda2 days ago

We took early morning slot and the view was too good. Divers Bhaskar and Neelkanta took us for scuba diving in Andaman with Frogman. It was definitely a beginner friendly diving experience. Had an amazing time.
Sreya Ann Pius3 days ago

I’ve been scuba diving three times, and this was my second dive with Frogman. Once again, it was an amazing experience! Everything was absolutely worth every penny, and I couldn’t have asked for a better diving experience. Highly recommend Frogman to anyone looking to explore the underwater world. Definitely an experience worth having!
Jyoti Sharma3 days ago

best experience
Shishupal Tayade3 days ago

Nice place for scuba diving. Instructor is very nice. Nice trained persons..My experience is very nice. I will try again to come such a nice place.
Raj Mangal3 days ago

This is such a nice place for scuba diving and other under water activities. Staffs are very comparative and very helpful.
Thanks a lot of all frogman teams.
Rahul Arya3 days ago

I highly recommend scuba diving in Havelock Island with Frogman. The trainers are well trained and handled everything well if you have any kind of fear.
Anagha Nadig4 days ago

It was a first time experience for me and I don’t know to swim the whole process was so easy and simple. It was so wonderful to see the marine life. Instructors were really good. Nilkan and Dinesh were highly experienced.

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 52 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Getaway37242087056 
 
 
 
 Verified Great experience!
It was a great experience! I’m scared of water but Neelkanth and James made sure we had a seamless and memorable time.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Vaibhav B 
 
 
 
 Verified Excellent Experience
It was an excellent experience. The trainers were very good.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Coastal03225447858 
 
 
 
 Verified Lighthouse scuba diving experience
It was a great experience. Instructors were patient enough to explain everything thoroughly. The divers also made us feel comfortable underwater and kept checking on us to see if all was okay. They showed beautiful scenic views. We enjoyed it very much. Would definitely recommend to others.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   tiredofwhat 
 
 
 
 Verified Happy about the decision to do scuba with Frogman
What an experience! We as a family enjoyed every bit of this activity. We did the lighthouse scuba dive. Never had the experience this close with the variety of fishes and corels. Must do while in Havelock and frogman makes scuba diving comfortable and relaxing. Founder Suchit is very professional and the instructors and divers are also very professional. They all know their responsibilities and passion. Neelkant, Ketan, Rubin and other divers were very patient and explained everything (does and don't) underwater. The team really makes u comfortable and tries to push themselves and us for an excellent experience. If time permits, will book this dive again. If not for sure next time.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Aditya P 
 
 
 
 Verified Fantastic first experience in scuba diving.
We had a wonderful experience with Frogman. We had Neelkanth and Ketan sir as our diving instructors. It was our first time trying it out. The pre-training was very clear. In the first 10 minutes open sea, I even had a panic reaction, but Neelkanth sir calmly got me to the surface and explained my mistake patiently, and we went back underwater, and it went all superbly well!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Sagar N 
 
 
 
 Verified Scuba diving
Amazing experience, Would recommend
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Sandeep K 
 
 
 
 Verified scuba with frogman
Awful experience...the divers are so good.Plzz try frogman once u never disappoint
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Quest60314418233 
 
 
 
 Verified Review of my scuba dive experience with frogman adventure
Experience was very good and the price was Good and the instructors were very responsible and it was the best experience of my life . A 10/10 life time experience ❤️
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   jayeshb08 
 
 
 
 Verified Best Scuba Experience with Frogman
It would highly recommend this business to go without any hesitation. We were 3 people and each one had 1 instructor with them. We got a 5 min training before the dive and then explored the underwater world. Saw fishes and corals and safety was well taken care off.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Srujan K 
 
 
 
 Verified Amazing deep dive experience
Amazing deep dive experience with Frogman in Havelock Island! 🌊🤿 The instructors were professional, friendly, and made me feel completely safe. The underwater views were absolutely breathtaking with beautiful corals and marine life. Highly recommended for anyone visiting Havelock! ✨

Tribe Gate Scuba Diving Price and What You Get

Tribe Gate scuba diving costs ₹4,500 per person for the standard dive, inclusive of GST. That covers the speedboat both ways, all scuba equipment, a certified instructor who stays one-to-one with you for the whole dive, a theory and shallow-water session before you descend, and GoPro photos and videos sent to your phone the same day. The Pro upgrade adds ₹1,000, so ₹5,500 in all, for 45 minutes underwater instead of 30 plus 10 extra photos and 2 extra videos. No certification is needed, non-swimmers are welcome, and the minimum age is 10 with no upper age limit. You only need a doctor’s sign-off if you answer yes on the medical form.

The 30 minutes is time in the water, not time on the boat. Because Tribe Gate is only five minutes from the jetty, the whole outing takes about 1.5 to 2 hours door to door, which is the shortest boat dive we run. That matters more than it sounds: guests who are nervous about seasickness spend almost no time crossing open water, and the short run makes Tribe Gate easy to fit around a ferry or a flight on the same day.

Who Tribe Gate Suits, and Who Should Pick a Different Site

Tribe Gate is a first dive for most of the people who book it. The reef starts at 3 metres, the mooring line gives you something to hold on the way down, and the oval shape means your instructor can circle the whole site and come back to the same point. If you have never dived before and you want the richest reef you can see without a certification, this is the site to pick.

It is not the cheapest way to try scuba in Havelock. If the budget matters more than the marine life, Nemo Beach shore diving is ₹3,500 and you walk in from the sand instead of taking a boat. If you are already certified, you do not need an intro dive at all: book fun dives from ₹3,000 and you can go deeper than the 12 metres a beginner is held to. And if you want to see several reefs rather than one, boat diving in Havelock covers seven sites with Tribe Gate among them.

When to Book a Tribe Gate Dive

The season runs October to May, and March to May usually gives the flattest sea and the clearest water. Tribe Gate is unusual among the boat sites because it sits in a sheltered channel between Havelock and John Lawrence Island, so it stays diveable on days when the outer reefs are closed for weather. Visibility here tracks the tide more closely than the rainfall, which is why an overcast morning can still give you 15 to 20 metres.

Morning slots fill first and the water is usually calmest before midday, so book a day or two ahead in peak season if you can. One thing to plan for at the end of your trip: leave at least 18 to 24 hours between your last dive and your flight out of Port Blair. If you want the full depth profile, GPS position and marine life list before you decide, the Tribe Gate dive site guide has it, and the Havelock dive sites index compares every reef we run.