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Scuba Diving in Andaman and Nicobar

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Andaman and Nicobar Scuba Diving FAQs

When is the best time to do Scuba Diving in the Andamans?

For certified divers, we recommend them to visit Andaman from December to early May, as that is the peak season. Otherwise, you can always visit Andaman from September to November. This time period offers massive schools of fishes and excellent views of reefs and marine cultures. If you are a beginner diver or just want to come for training, the sites that the diving schools offer are open all year long and accessible all the time.

Is Scuba Diving safe on the Andamans?

Yes, scuba diving in Andaman is extremely safe because it is done entirely under the guidance of professional divers. The operators are certified who'll give proper training to every diver, be it experienced or newbie. They will provide all the safety equipment during the diving.

Which are the best places to do Scuba Diving in the Andamans?

There are famous spots  in Andaman for scuba diving. Havelock Island is the best place.

Lighthouse- Best for night diving, it is best for night diving for PADI/SSI certified divers. One can come across hard and soft corals, along with interesting water beings like Humpback Parrotfish, Octopus, Fusiliers, and other underwater marines.

Mac Point- This is famous to spot Dugongs and rugged hard corals which actually add on to the beauty.

Barracuda City- An unexplored destination for scuba diving in Andaman. Swim with the turtles, and explore the deep secrets of marine wonderland. Bala Reef, Little Andaman Island: This is the perfect spot to witness varied kinds of corals, of different hues. It indeed is much like picture-perfect down under.

There are many more such places for scuba diving in Andaman and nearby. The price for this adventure starts from INR 2500 and goes up to INR 6500 and more. One should add this activity to their bucket list if planning for Andaman vacationing.

Can a non swimmer Dive in the Andamans?

You will have to the basics of swimming to be able to dive in the waters and keep yourself drowned. There are training programs that makes you adept with the diving culture and no-swimmers are asked to participate in that before diving into real waters.

Can someone do scuba diving who hasn’t done it before?

Yes, of course. This is the whole purpose of scuba diving training. Sign yourself up and enjoy the mystics of undersea. Newbie divers will be given proper training by experts to get knowledge about the diving.

Is there any age limit to do Scuba in the Andamans?

Yes. Children below 10 are not allowed under water, young teens are always provided with personal guide while diving. However, there is no upper age limit as long as you are fit and pass the medical questionnaire.

Who can dive?

There is an age restriction for scuba diving. The water adventure service in Andaman and tour operating company encourage anyone above the age of 10 to participate in scuba diving. There are special options for children between the ages 8-10. You should be physically fit, and more importantly, have a zeal for adventure.

Are there any prerequisites to scuba diving?

No. if you are medically fit and properly trained, you will be allowed to practice scuba diving. Pass the medical questionnaire and get a preliminary training and you are good to go.

Is learning to dive difficult?

Learning scuba diving isn’t as difficult as you may imagine. Frankly, it’s quite easy, especially if you are comfortable in water. Take up an entry level course that will teach you pool diving, open water dives and grow your knowledge on water tactics. The courses are generally performance based and you proceed as per your learning skills.

How long does it take to become a certified scuba diver?

There is no specific course duration. The courses are generally performance based so you earn your certification as quickly as you are able to learn the scuba diving procedures.

PADI Scuba Diver Course- In 3 days of duration, one can get water skills and 2 open water dives with maximum depth of 12 meters/40 feet. The license is valid worldwide. For this course, you need to carry certain swimming knowledge.

Open Water Diver- This will allow to learn underwater photography skills, night diving and deep diving. With the duration of 1-2 days, you can be Certified Open Water Diver. Minimum age is 10 years.

Advanced Open Water Diver (1-2 days)- The course is designed to experience deeper dives for 18-30 meters/60-100 meters. Minimum age is 12 years.

Master Scuba Diver- For 15 days, one will learn about Advanced Open Water- Rescue Diver and Minimum 50 logged dives.

How old do I have to be to become a certified diver?

There are a number of varieties of certification. A young diver must be at least 10 years of age to get the Junior Open Water Diving Certification and he/she should be accompanied by a certified parent, guidance or a professional diver. Young divers are not allowed to dive more than a depth of 12meters or 40 feet. 12 to 14 year olds should also be accompanied by a certified adult. When the young diver reaches age 15, his junior certification is upgraded to a regular Open Water Diver certification.

Are there any special qualifications or considerations to participate in a scuba class?

Scuba diving is generally open to all individuals. With considerable fitness and a thrill for adventure, operator take anyone who wants to experience the beauty of underwater. You, though, will have to fill a medical questionnaire. If we find anything of concern you will have to get a clean chit from physicians.

Do I have to be a great swimmer to be certified as a PADI Open Water Diver?

It is not necessary to be an excellent swimmer. A fairly good swimmer, who can swim a length of 200m without any break and has the ability to float, will be considered. But if you’ve no idea about swimming, the scuba diving professional will help in learning.

What equipment do I need before I take scuba lessons?

The scuba diving service offering course provides gears like scuba regulator and tank, mask, snorkel, fins, Dive watch, dive light, scuba gear bags and dive knife. All these equipments will be provided under the fees.

How much money does it costs to do scuba diving in the Andamans?

It varies according to the scuba diving instructor or the school through which you are taking your scuba diving lessons. There are several certified schools and diving coaches who conduct scuba diving for tourism purposes. On an average a 2 day 4 diving package may cost you around Rs. 10,500. Some travel operator which includes these activities in Andaman package at a good price.

What modes of payment will be accepted by the diving centers?

Almost all the noted and certified diving centres take credit and debit cards. If you have problem with them, then cash is always an open option.

I want to be a diver, but I can’t afford the course. What do I do?

Don’t worry yourself. Most scuba diving schools provide internship programs that allow you to work towards your goal of undertaking the Instructor Development Course. These will give you the opportunity to work alongside international and highly qualified professional divers and learn from them.

Check out about tour packages of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

How are the medical facilities in Andaman?

The medical facilities in Andaman,is fairly decent, however, it depends on where you are at Andaman. Port Blair and Havelock have some good hospitals and healthcare centers. GB Pant Hospital, INHS Dhanvantari, Chakraborty Hospital, Pillar Health Center, ACE Hospital and few others.

What are the most common injuries or sickness associated with diving?

Well, scuba diving causes pain in your ear and on your face while you are trying to decent in the water. These are the minor common problems. It happens to almost everyone. However, the major ones include barotraumas to the lungs and decompression sickness. These can be handled with proper training and guidance from a certified diving trainer.

My ears hurt when I dive to the bottom of a pool. Won’t they hurt when I scuba dive?

They will hurt, but there’s a simple explanation. Your ear hurts because of the water pressure on your ear drum. When you will be doing your scuba diving course you will be taught some tricks on how to equalize the pressure with the surrounding.

I need vision correction. Is that a problem?

It isn’t a problem as wearing soft contact lenses don’t pose any problem while you dive. However, if you are a hard contact lens user, we recommend you to use gas permeable lenses. Prescribe to your eye doctor for more information on this issue.

What are the medical conditions that impede diving?

Any medical conditions related to your respiratory organs and your cardio vascular system that may render you senseless and lag your response or cut it off altogether, is considered to be a red signal by us. We regret to inform you, but you won’t be able to take a diving course. There are several common contraindications which the schools look for in their diving students. They are asthma, epilepsy, diabetes and heart disease. If you have any of these, we recommend you to consult a doctor before diving.

It is generally not recommended for people with the following conditions to scuba dive:

•People who suffer from breathing problems.

•People with ear problems and those who had an ear surgery in the last 12 months.

•People suffering from cold, flu or congestion. We recommended that people with a cold should not take decongestion medication in order to dive, this will create a problem underwater, as this can wear off and create chaos while ascending to the surface.

There are several other reasons for which a diving student will be asked to prescribe a doctor. They are:

•If you have a history of heart or lung disease

•If you use prescription or non-prescription medications

•If you suffer from shortness of breath

•If you are having repeated trouble clearing air spaces (equalization)

•If you experience unexplained loss of consciousness or “blackout”

•If you had suffered from of nausea or vomiting recently.

Are there any special concerns that women need to be aware of?

No, nothing as such guidelines are provided specifically for women, but it must be noted that pregnant women are not allowed to dive.

What if it rains?

Rain never affects your diving activities. Rain falls on the surface and hence, when you are in sea, 12-15m deep, it will not affect your diving in any way possible. Also, rain does not alter your visibility in the ocean.

What does the diver’s Never-to-do checklist look like?

It’s a simple checklist, but the diving schools are extremely strict with it.

•Never drink and dive, as intoxication can put a diver in a very dangerous and compromised position. An intoxicated diver won’t be able to make sane judgment and rational decision jeopardizing his safety in water.

•Don’t dive in a full stomach, schools says that you should wait for at least two hours after your meal to dive. Diving in full stomach or after a heavy meal will make it uneasy for you to move in the water, there is a possibility of acquiring cramps and making it impossible for you to breathe.

•It is a strict rule to never conceal any kind of medical conditions that you are aware of yourself.

Is there a decompression chamber on Havelock?

Sadly, there aren’t any decompression chambers in Havelock in Andamans. We strongly recommend that you check with your diving insurance company to know if there is any decompression chamber.

In the movies and on TV, divers are always running into sharks or eels. Should I be concerned about marine animals?

This is interesting. You must keep in mind that like land animals, most marine animals are passive and timid. They rarely attack you. Some animals do bite and/or sting, but only if you touch them. The divers are not a natural prey for sharks, so they rarely or never attack. There are many scuba divers who actually seek for an encounter with sharks, just for the experience and the thrill that come with it.

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