Diving around the Andaman Islands
The Andamans are in Indian territorial waters but due to the fact that they are far closer to Thailand ( with Phuket some 450 kilometers to the south east) than to India itself (with the mainland well over 1000 kilometers to the northeast), diving here has, so far, mostly been pioneered by long-range live-aboards from Koh Phuket.
The forward program of Koh Phuket dive operators are continually being thrown into doubt by the obfuscations of Indian bureaucracy, and it would be a brave soul indeed who was willing to predict a date when regular cruises will take place.
Covering an area of just over 8,000 squire kilometers, there are at least 500 islands, islets and rocky fairly mountainous and blanketed with dense rain-forest. A high proportion of these forests are protected, with a confusing network of
Andaman Tribal Reserves, six National Parks and Coastal Belts, and no less than 94 wildlife sanctuaries.
Diving around the Andaman Islands
Many of the islands are surrounded by fringing reefs, often hundred meters wide and separated from the shore by a lagoon of similar width. There are also more steeply sloping reef walls, and coral pinnacles or knolls. Divers can follow around steeply undulating hills of raven black volcanic lava, which makes for some unusual diving. There are plenty of steeply sloping and shallow reefs suitable for snorkeling.
Large pelagics are plentiful in these waters, as are a variety of sharks: large schools of hammerheads often patrol the waters away from the reefs and Grey, Whitetip, nurse and Leopard sharks are found closer inshore. Silvertip and Ocean Whitetip sharks also sometimes appear out of the deep blue beyond. Species not usually seen in Thai waters (such as Bumphead Parrotfish and Napoleon Wrasse) are frequently seen here.
Another feature of the Andaman Islands are the impressive cleaning stations where Giant barracuda hover silently waiting for their teeth to be picked. Enormous manta Rays are also often seen, sometimes by the dozen.
|
