Andaman recommendations?

[billt4sf]

I am looking to spec out a trip to the Andamans as part of our year in Bali.

What I think I know is that you have to fly (from Bali) to Chennai, India, then back to the Andamans. I guess you fly into Port Blair, then ferry over to Havelock Is? Haven't spec'ed this out yet, any comments would be welcome.

Any recommendations for dive ops there? Dive India?

Thanks,

Bill

 

[Madacub]

Hi Bill, I was there in Dec 2012, stayed at SilverSand and dived with Andaman Bubbles. I was in touch with Dive India as well, but I've forgotten why I chose Andaman Bubbles. In any case, I can recommend SilverSand as well as Andaman Bubbles. Yes, you will have to fly to Chennai and then to Port Blair, then ferry to Havelock. It's a pretty good ferry. (Whole lot better than the three I've taken in the Philippines, and not over crowded or anything....). I think there is some more minor additional visa on arrival type formality in the Andaman Islands, even though you are already in India and went through all that in Chennai.

Topside, Port Blair is probably good for a day or so, I enjoyed Ross Island very much, some deer and peacock running around, lots of old ruins with trees growing intermingling with the ruins etc.

By the way, why are you thinking about going there? The diving was okay. But if you are staying in Bali, and having access to all of Indo, the PI and Sipadan etc, .... why the Andamans? Of course, if you are in Bali for a full year on vacation, and planning a trip to India, then an add on to the Andamans is just fine.

Hope this helps.

ps Maybe the mods should move this to the Asia section.

 

[Luko]

I would select Dive India who have been the pioneers of diving Havelock and invented most of the best divespots around the island. Dixon and Johnny (named 2 of the main sites), for instance are DiveIndia's diveguides.To the answer "why have (Bill) selected Andamans?" I would reply that I would have picked a sidetrip to Havelock too if I were to stay a year in Bali, there are not so many AFFORDABLE places in Indo pacific (that means outside Raja Ampat or Palau) where you can come across so many schools of fish like Dixon's pinnacle and Johnny's gorge. Sipadan is mainly cudas and jackfish, in the Andamans cudas and jackfish schools are frequent too, add on top of that snappers, sweetlips, big surgeonfish schools, and all sorts of big reef fish taht you come close too.... and that's not that frequent in South Asia!

 

[Madacub]

Hi Luko, looks like you had a better experience in Havelock than I did. When were you there?

 

[Luko]

2007, might have changed but I hardly believe open sea pinnacles 25m deep can change that much, especially when there is not intensive fishing around.
Did you dive Dixon's pinnacle and Johnny's gorge? I also read a report of someone diving with silversands who never went to Dixon's pinnacle... I wonder where he's been diving then...

 

[Madacub]

Hi Luko, I was there with non-diving family and dived for just 3 days. I did not keep a log, but I do remember going out a fair bit on one day, possibly to a pinnacle. By the way, I'd like to get detailed info from you regarding Banda. I wanted to go there last year, but only got to Ambon; travel to the Bandas is not too reliable I think, but I am really keen on it. I'll start another thread or PM, if you don't mind.