How to do the Andamans Right – By Aditi Sharma

5 Activities You Shouldn’t Miss In The Archipelago

With its salt-suffused air, majestic green and blue landscapes, and pristine white-sand beaches, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is, hands down, one of the top travel destinations in the whole of India, and for all the right reasons. The Indian archipelago is tucked in the blue waters of the Bay of Bengal and is famed all over the world for both its rich underwater life and massive historical significance.

The humid air of Port Blair would bear hug you as soon as you step out of your flight. Once you land, gear up for one of the best travel adventures of your life. Not only is the Andaman’s known for its pristine beauty, but also for several fun water sports activities you can relish on these islands. Prepare to win some bragging rights among your friends and family.
If you’re planning on visiting the Islands, here are 5 activities with their respective prices that you need to add to your Andaman travel itinerary. Okay enough foreplay, let’s dive into the ultimate Andaman travel guide!

Scuba-Diving
Price: ₹7500 per person
Best Place: Havelock Island, Neil Island

Scuba Diving is an excellent way of exploring the depths of the ocean, and witnessing exotic underwater life at close quarters. Be it vibrant fishes in different shapes, colours, and sizes, or blooming corals, the rich marine life of the Andaman’s would indeed make the life on the land up above seem a bit boring. It’s too exhilarating to miss! So, if you’re planning to visit the Andamans, this activity MUST be on your bucket list! ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’ has already given us the basic training, now it’s time to try out the real deal.

If you’re a beginner, you can try out the PADI Discover Scuba Diving (DSD) by partnering with any of the notable Scuba Diving centres operating in Andaman. I partnered with DiveIndia centre, which pioneered diving in the region. While there are several towns and Islands where you can try diving, including Neil Island and Port Blair, I would suggest you do your first dive in Havelock Island. Before you go diving, ensure that you don’t suffer from any underlying medical condition, which could make diving a bit tricky. As a safe measure, the diving centre would ask you to fill up a medical form, so you don’t struggle underwater in any way. If you’re as fit as a fiddle, trust me, this would become one of the best experiences of your life.

Parasailing
Price: ₹3000-3500
Best Place: Rajiv Gandhi Sports Complex (Port Blair), Elephanta Beach

If you’re not afraid of heights, there is no good reason for you to not try parasailing while you’re in the Archipelago. Parasailing is a thrilling way to get a good look at the Islands from a bird’s view. The take-off might feel a bit daunting, but once you’re up above, it’s all smooth sailing from there, literally.
For this activity, you’d have to speedboat your way off the shore. The chilly wind and blues of the water are a perfect prelude to a rip-roaring activity such as parasailing. The best part is, people of all ages above 6 could try this activity. It is one of the safest water sport activities on the Islands. While I took a crack at parasailing at the Rajiv Gandhi Sports Complex in Port Blair, the Elephanta beach at the Havelock Island is also an ideal place for parasailing.

Sea Walk:
Price: ₹3500
Place: Elephanta Beach, Havelock Island


Sea Walk is another way to explore the depths of the ocean. While for scuba diving, you’d have to train a bit, and get used to the scuba diving gear, in Sea Walk, you won’t have to go through the hassle of learning how to breathe underwater. The catch is, the crew won’t take you too far into the ocean, but it’s still a fun way to familiarize yourself with exotic marine life and colorful corals underwater. It’s a perfect activity for those who can’t swim for the life of them. It’s also pretty safe.

All you would have to do is don a helmet and you’re good to go. Again, if you have some underlying medical condition, or if you’ve recently undergone surgery, you might be prohibited from sea walking, or you may require your physician’s permission. The rules for this are the same as diving. So better come with a permission slip from your doc!

Snorkeling:
Price: ₹1000
Place: North Bay Island

Snorkeling is the safest and the most hassle-free way of getting a peek inside the ocean, and getting a taste of underwater life. No restrictions on age, and no need to convince your doc to let you snorkel either! In this activity, you’d have to don a diving mask and swim on the surface of the ocean while dipping just your face under the water to see what lies in the deep.
The best part about this activity is, if you feel any discomfort, you could simply pull your head out of the water, and take long breaths to gain your composure. Once you feel quite like yourself again, you can give an “ok” to your instructor, and resume snorkeling without a hitch! There are a plethora of spots where you can snorkel, including Neil Island, Havelock Island, and Port Blair. North Bay island is where I tried snorkeling and had an excellent time fraternizing with the exquisite aquatic fauna.

Must Read: Things to Do In Andaman and Nicobar

Jet-Ski:
Price: ₹600-₹1000
Place: Port Blair, Havelock Island

Jet-Skiing is a riveting way to travel across the ocean surface and relish the blue landscape at an ultra-fast speed. Jet-ski is a superfast motorcycle that can be used to travel across the water. While the motorcycle would be operated largely by the rider behind you, you could also take a crack at driving the vehicle once you become comfortable with the speed and the drift of the jet ski.

It is also one of the most inexpensive water sports activities to do when you travel to the Andaman and again, people of most ages could enjoy cruising through the ocean on the jet ski. You could try this activity either in Rajiv Gandhi sports complex, in Port Blair or Elephanta beach in Havelock Island. If you ask me, go for the former to avoid the crowd that Elephanta invites each day.

Author
Aditi Sharma

I’m doing life with coffee in one hand, and my travel itinerary in the other. I also love books.
Follow her on Instagram – @thatsditi

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