If you’reading this, you’ve probably never been scuba diving before, but are curious about it. Are you a little anxious? Not sure what to expect? That’s what we’re here for. We’re going to tell scuba beginners what to expect, and make sure you’re comfortable at every step.
Each of the below options are designed for first-timers, to help you experience scuba diving and decide if you like it. Think of it like a trailer for scuba beginners, with your first scuba course being the movie.
In this post, we’re talking about the scuba diving options in Havelock Island in the Andamans. If you want a spectacular first scuba experience, this is where you should go. The water is beautiful, clear and gentle, and the underwater life is rich and diverse. There are bright coral reefs, lots of different species of fish, and plenty to see. And after your dives are over, there’s a gorgeous beach to explore.
1. TRY DIVE IN HAVELOCK (SHORE DIVE)
This is the ‘lite’ version of the most basic scuba experience, and is suitable for scuba beginners who don’t have time or are really unsure about how much they’ll enjoy scuba diving.
The Try Dive takes place at Nemo Reef on Havelock Island. This is often called ‘The Classroom’ because it is perfect for first-timers. The water is gentle, with a sandy bottom, no currents and good visibility. There’s a good variety of small fish to see here, from clownfish (Nemo fish), parrotfish, damselfish, seahorses, and more.
Here’s what a Try Dive at Nemo Reef involves:
– One session of shallow water training of about 20-25 minutes
– One dive of about 25 minutes: Once you’re ready and feeling confident, you’ll walk with your instructor into deeper water for your dive. You’ll be able to go as deep as 16-39 feet, but it depends on how comfortable you are. Your instructor is with you all the way and will keep checking with you to see how you are.
Fact check:
Total time taken: 2 hrs
Training time: 20 mins
Dive: 25 mins
Max depth: 16-39 feet, depending on how comfortable you are
Location: Nemo Reef, Havelock
Cost: INR 3500
BOOK YOUR TRY DIVE NOW..
2. TRY DIVE IN HAVELOCK (BOAT DIVE)
Why should you do a boat dive? A boat dive gives you the benefit of heading farther out into the sea to see more pristine underwater life. Near the shore, thanks to human disturbance, the coral reefs are smaller and less colourful than out in the open sea. The fish that live closer to the shore and feed on these reefs are also smaller and less vibrant, which means your dive experience is very different.
On this Try Dive from a boat, you spend the same amount of time in the water, but you will get the full scuba experience, enjoy a boat ride, and get to dive at a superb location with lots to see. .
The Try Dive takes place at Govind Nagar Beach on Havelock Island. The diving conditions are great for beginners, with calm water, sandy bottom, and no currents. You’ll get to see a variety of sea life, from shrimps and clownfish to sea horses and butterfly fish.
Here’s what a boat Try Dive at Havelock involves:
– One session of shallow water training of about 20-25 minutes
– One dive of about 25 minutes: Once you’re ready and feeling confident, you’ll board a boat and sail into deeper water for your dive. You’ll enjoy a boat ride to a gorgeous location and will dive to a maximum depth of 16-39 feet, but this depends on your comfort level.
Fact check:
Total time taken: 3-4 hrs
Training time: 20-25 mins
Dive: 25 mins
Max depth: 16-39 feet, depending on how comfortable you are
Location: Govind Nagar, Havelock
Cost: INR 5900
BOOK YOUR PADI TRY DIVE (BOAT) NOW.
3. PADI DISCOVER SCUBA DIVE (SHORE DIVE)
If you think a 20-minute dive is too short, you’re right – you’re going to love it so much that you’ll want more! The PADI Discover Scuba Diving (DSD) option is the most basic certification you can get. It’s a more advanced version of the Try Dive, because you’ll learn the skills you need to be a certified diver, and you’ll get to do a longer dive.
This PADI DSD Shore Dive takes place at Nemo Reef too, from the shore. At the end of your dive, you’ll get a PADI certificate that you can use if you want to pursue your first real scuba diving course.
Here’s what a PADI DSD from the shore involves:
– One session of shallow water training of about 20-25 minutes
– One dive of about 45 minutes: Once you’re ready and feeling confident, you’ll walk with your instructor into deeper water for your dive. You’ll be able to go as deep as 16-39 feet, but it depends on how comfortable you are. Because of the longer duration of the dive, you’re more likely to go deeper than on a Try Dive. Your instructor will be with you, and will ask you to try out different skills underwater.
Fact check:
Total time taken: 2 hrs
Training time: 20 mins
Dive: 45 mins
Max depth: 16-39 feet
Location: Nemo Reef, Havelock
Cost: INR 5310
BOOK YOUR PADI DISCOVER SCUBA DIVE NOW.
4. PADI DISCOVER SCUBA DIVE (BOAT DIVE)
The boat version of the PADI DSD gives you the full scuba diver experience for the morning, even as scuba beginners. You’ll learn all the same skills as the shore version of the PADI DSD, and will dive for the same time, but you’ll do it from a boat, not from the shore. The underwater world at a dive site in the open sea is naturally much more exciting, with bigger coral reefs and more interesting marine life, and you’ll have the whole morning to explore it. If you have the time and the inclination, you should definitely do this.
Here’s what a PADI DSD from a boat involves:
– One session of shallow water training of about 20-25 minutes
– One dive of about 45 minutes: When you’re ready, you’ll hop aboad a small boat and head out with your instructor, dive crew and other divers. The dive spot is chosen based on the weather, tide, water conditions, and your comfort level. You’ll get to do a thrilling dive in open water, under constant supervision of your instructor.
Fact check:
Total time taken: 3 hrs
Training time: 20 mins
Dive: 45 mins
Max depth: 16-39 feet
Location: Will be decided on dive day
Cost: INR 7670
BOOK YOUR PADI DSD NOW.
And this is just the beginning. If you like your first scuba experience, you can sign up for your first scuba course and join the worldwide community of scuba divers.
Related reading:
- Scuba diving in the Andamans (and other adventures too!)
- Scuba 101: Understanding scuba gear
- FAQs that all scuba diving beginners want answered
Scuba beginners, if you have a question about scuba diving, feel free to get in touch. You can chat with us on our website or message us on Facebook or Instagram. Remember, when you’re planning your next adventure outing, there are no stupid questions. We’re India’s most talkative adventure advisors, and we’re here to answer all your questions, big and small.