Table of Contents
- Introduction: Why Andaman is India’s underwater photography capital
- Top islands and dive sites for underwater photography
- Suggested tourist circuits for photographers
- Underwater photography highlights and techniques
- Festivals and seasonal events
- Sample itineraries
- Budget and cost tips
- Practical travel information
- Local experiences: food, shopping, culture
- Tips for families, honeymooners, and friends
- FAQs: Underwater photography in Andaman
- Conclusion
Introduction: Why Andaman is India’s underwater photography capital
Think gin-clear water, blooming soft corals, volcanic pinnacles, and curious reef life. The Andaman & Nicobar Islands offer India’s most photogenic underwater canvases—from Havelock’s signature reefs to remote sites off Barren Island. Whether you’re a first-time shooter with a GoPro or a pro with a full-frame rig, the islands deliver warm water, vibrant subjects, and dependable dive infrastructure.
Peak season generally runs from October to May with the best visibility from November to April. Expect balmy 27–30°C water, vis ranging 10–40 m, and a mix of macro and wide-angle opportunities.
Top islands and dive sites for underwater photography
Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep)
- Lighthouse and Aquarium: Ideal for beginners; hard corals, schooling snapper; good for natural-light wide angle at 8–15 m.
- Johnny’s Gorge and Dixon’s Pinnacle: Advanced sites with schooling barracuda, trevally, giant groupers; excellent for wide-angle with strobes.
- The Wall: Dramatic drop-off, soft corals and fans; great for silhouette and ambient-light shots early morning.
Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep)
- Bharatpur and Junction: Healthy reefs, turtles, blue schools; flattering for reefscapes and turtle portraits.
- Bus Stop: Macro-friendly—nudibranchs, shrimps, pipefish; bring a diopter.
Port Blair and South Andaman
- North Bay and Chidiya Tapu: Easy access, good for Discover Scuba and training; expect macro critters and reef fish portraits.
- Wandoor and Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park (Jolly Buoy, Red Skin): Snorkel-ready clarity in season; superb shallow wide-angle.
Remote and advanced sites
- Cinque Island: Exceptional visibility and dramatic topography; wide-angle playground.
- South Button and Middle Button: Sea fans, schooling fish; classic wide-angle reef scenes.
- Barren Island: Volcanic seascapes, pelagics, black-sand contrasts; advanced only and weather/permit dependent.
Marine life highlights: Hawksbill and green turtles, schooling barracuda and jacks, sweetlips, batfish, cuttlefish, octopus, frogfish, scorpionfish, seahorses, a variety of nudibranchs, and occasional reef sharks and manta encounters.
Suggested tourist circuits for photographers
Classic South Andaman circuit (Beginner to Intermediate)
- Port Blair (1–2 nights) for warm-up dives and logistics.
- Havelock (3–5 nights) for Lighthouse, Aquarium, The Wall, Johnny’s/Dixon’s.
- Neil (2–3 nights) for turtles and macro-friendly sites.
Photographer’s reef-and-remote mix (Intermediate to Advanced)
- Havelock base (4–6 nights) with weather window hunting.
- Day expeditions to Cinque/South Button (permits via operator).
- Optional Barren Island charter if conditions and permits align.
Macro-hunter’s loop
- Port Blair training sites and night dives (crustaceans, cephalopods).
- Neil’s sheltered reefs for nudibranch and critter sessions.
- Havelock shore entries for repeatable macro sets.
Underwater photography highlights and techniques
Best season and conditions
- October–May is best; November–April often has the clearest water.
- Monsoon (June–September) brings rough seas and reduced visibility; many operators scale back.
- Water temperature: 27–30°C; 3 mm wetsuit is usually sufficient.
What to shoot
- Wide-angle: Pinnacles (Dixon’s, Johnny’s), fan gardens, turtle portraits, reefscapes at South Button and Cinque.
- Macro: Nudibranchs, pygmy-like scenes with shrimps/crabs, frogfish, seahorses around Neil and sheltered Havelock sites.
- Behavior: Cleaning stations at pinnacles, cuttlefish mating in late season, hunting lionfish at dusk.
Gear recommendations
- Action cameras: Add red filters or shoot RAW on newer models; keep to shallow reefs for ambient color.
- Mirrorless/DSLR: One wide-angle dome (8–15 mm FF or 7–14 mm APS-C) and one macro setup (60–100 mm macro). Dual strobes strongly recommended.
- Essentials: Vacuum leak tester, spare O-rings, silica gel, fiber optic cables/spares, focus light, reef-safe lanyard.
Settings and technique tips
- Color and exposure: Use manual white balance for ambient shots; for strobe-lit, set WB to 5,500–6,000 K and shoot RAW.
- Backscatter control: Keep strobes wide and pulled back; angle outward; shoot slightly upward for blue-water backgrounds.
- Buoyancy first: Practice neutral hovering before approaching subjects; never rest on coral or sand clouds.
- Night dives: Focus lights on low power; slower approach; emphasize eye highlights on crustaceans and cephalopods.
Ethics and regulations
- Do not touch, chase, or feed marine life; avoid blocking turtles’ ascent.
- Use reef-safe sunscreen and secure dangling gear.
- Some sites within marine parks may require special permits/fees; operators usually arrange these.
- It is illegal to visit tribal reserves or photograph tribal communities; respect all exclusion zones.
Festivals and seasonal events
- Island Tourism Festival (Port Blair, usually January): Cultural shows, crafts—good time to combine topside culture with peak diving conditions.
- Subhash Mela (Havelock, January): Local fairs and food; schedules vary by year.
Sample itineraries
4 days: First-time underwater shooter
- Day 1: Arrive Port Blair; ferry to Havelock; sunset recce and gear checks.
- Day 2: Two training dives (Lighthouse/Aquarium); afternoon edit and rinse routine.
- Day 3: Two boat dives (The Wall + reef); evening night dive for macro.
- Day 4: Morning snorkel session; ferry to Port Blair; depart.
7 days: Mixed wide-angle and macro
- Havelock 4 nights: Pinnacles, The Wall, shore macro.
- Neil 2 nights: Turtles and macro circuits at Bharatpur/Junction.
- Port Blair 1 night buffer for weather/ferry contingencies.
10 days: Advanced with remote add-on
- Havelock 5–6 nights: Weather windows for Dixon’s/Johnny’s repeats.
- 1–2 day expeditions: Cinque/South Button; possible Barren Island charter (conditions/permits).
- Neil 2 nights: Macro wrap-up and night dive.
Budget and cost tips
- Fun dives (certified): Approx. INR 3,500–5,500 per dive; two-dive trips INR 6,500–9,500 including gear.
- Discover Scuba (no certification): INR 3,500–6,500 shore; INR 6,500–8,500 boat with photos sometimes included.
- Underwater photo add-ons: GoPro rental INR 1,000–2,000 per day; private photographer per dive INR 3,000–8,000.
- Courses: Open Water INR 22,000–30,000; Advanced INR 20,000–25,000.
- Accommodation per night: Budget INR 800–2,000; Mid-range INR 3,000–7,000; Luxury INR 10,000–25,000+.
- Save by booking multi-dive packages, traveling shoulder months (Oct/May), and carrying your own small accessories (o-rings, clamps, filters).
Practical travel information
How to reach
- By air: Fly to Port Blair (IXZ) from major Indian cities like Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Delhi.
- By sea: Occasional passenger ships from Chennai/Kolkata/Visakhapatnam (long duration; not common for dive trips).
- Inter-island ferries: Government and private ferries (e.g., Makruzz, Green Ocean) connect Port Blair with Havelock and Neil. Weather can delay or cancel services; keep buffers.
Accommodation options
- Havelock: Dive resorts near Govind Nagar and Vijay Nagar for easy shore entries.
- Neil: Small beach resorts near Bharatpur; quiet vibe ideal for post-dive edits.
- Port Blair: Overnight near the jetty or airport for early ferries and flights.
Estimated costs (per person, per day)
- Budget: INR 4,000–7,000 (hostel/guesthouse, 2 shore dives, GoPro rental, meals).
- Mid-range: INR 8,000–15,000 (resort stay, 2 boat dives, private guide on some dives).
- Premium: INR 18,000–35,000+ (high-end resort, private photographer, remote site expeditions).
Permits and rules
- Marine park and special site permits may apply for locations like Cinque or Barren Island; operators arrange paperwork.
- Restricted areas and tribal reserves are off-limits; photography of tribal communities is illegal.
- Always dive with licensed operators; check current regulations with your dive center and the Andaman administration.
Connectivity and money
- Internet and mobile networks can be patchy on islands; download backups and firmware before arrival.
- ATMs are mostly in Port Blair and Havelock; carry enough cash for smaller shops. UPI acceptance varies.
Local experiences: food, shopping, culture
Food
- Fresh seafood: Grilled fish, lobster, crab curry; try local Andamani masalas.
- Vegetarian staples: Coastal thalis, coconut-based curries, seasonal fruits.
- Post-dive bites: Bakeries and beachside cafés in Havelock and Neil.
Shopping
- Legally sourced handicrafts and souvenirs at Sagarika Government Emporium in Port Blair.
- Avoid buying shells/coral; collecting marine souvenirs is prohibited.
Culture
- Diverse communities with Bengali, Tamil, and Nicobari influences.
- Respect local customs and environmental guidelines; keep beaches clean and plastic-free.
Tips for families, honeymooners, and friends
Families
- Opt for calm, shallow sites (North Bay, Lighthouse) and snorkel sessions with a guide.
- Choose resorts with easy beach access and rinse facilities for gear.
Honeymooners
- Plan golden-hour snorkels or private boat trips to sheltered reefs for couple portraits.
- Consider an evening bioluminescence kayak (seasonal) for topside photo fun.
Friends and groups
- Book private boats to align dive profiles for shooters; split roles (spotter, model, shooter) for better images.
- Schedule a dedicated macro day and a wide-angle day to avoid lens-change rushes.
Packing checklist (photo-specific)
- Camera body, housing, ports, strobes, arms/clamps, fiber optic or sync cords.
- Spare O-rings, lubricants, silica gel, microfiber cloths, vacuum pump.
- Batteries and chargers (lithium batteries in cabin luggage), multi-plug adapter, hard drives/SSD.
- Reef-safe sunscreen, 3 mm wetsuit, mask with corrective lenses if needed.
Safety and environmental guidance
- Maintain perfect buoyancy; keep fins high; never touch coral or fauna.
- Heed briefings on currents at advanced sites like Dixon’s/Johnny’s; AOW and experience recommended.
- Log weather buffers into your flight schedule to avoid missed connections.
FAQs: Underwater photography in Andaman
Q: What is the best time for underwater photography in the Andamans?
A: November to April generally offers the best visibility and calmer seas, though October and May can also be excellent with fewer crowds.
Q: Do I need special permits to shoot underwater?
A: Standard recreational diving needs no special photo permit. Certain marine parks and remote sites (e.g., Cinque, Barren) require permits/fees arranged by licensed operators.
Q: Can beginners get good underwater photos here?
A: Yes. Shallow, well-lit reefs like Lighthouse, Aquarium, and Bharatpur are ideal for GoPros and entry-level rigs. Many operators offer Discover Scuba with photo packages.
Q: Is DSLR/mirrorless housing rental available?
A: Limited to rare. Bring your own housing and accessories. GoPro rentals are common; private in-water photographers are available with prior booking.
Q: Are liveaboards available in the Andamans?
A: Options are limited and subject to regulations. Most photographers base on Havelock/Neil and join day boats or special charters for remote sites.
Conclusion
Warm clear water, thriving reefs, and a spread of beginner-friendly bays to advanced pinnacles make the Andamans a standout for underwater photography in India. Base yourself on Havelock and Neil, target peak season for visibility, plan a mix of wide-angle and macro days, and let licensed operators handle permits for remote sites. With thoughtful technique, ethical practices, and smart logistics, you’ll return with a portfolio that captures the islands’ vibrant marine life and seascapes.
