Learn to Dive in India India’s Highlights India is a wonderful place to scuba dive. It has over 8000km of coastlines but diving is usually reserved for a few locations. The reason being, a lot of the reefs have been damaged and lack marine life. With that being said, there are some amazing places in India to scuba dive. The Lakshadweep archipelago is rarely visited but has similar diving conditions to the Maldives. Both Andaman and Nicobar Islands are often visited by Thai liveaboards. Pondicherry located on the eastern coast has coral reefs and amazing marine creatures including the occasional whale shark. Goa has quite a few dive centers and is a great place to learn how to dive. When is the best time to go diving in India? There are parts of India that you can dive at any time of year. Depending on the location, the best time of year to dive varies. Lakshadweep is from May to November while Andaman and Nicobar Islands is from November to April. Goa has the best diving from October to May. Water Temperature: Between 20°C and 30°C depending on the location. Currents: Mild to strong Visibility: It varies depending on location, but usually between 5 and 20 meters. India’s best dive sites Ooh La La, Narcondam, Andamans What a name for a dive site. Ooh La La features beautiful hard and soft coral. It is home to Napoleon wrasses, eagle rays and even whitetip sharks. Dixon’s Pinnacle, Havelock Island, Andamans This dive site features three rock pinnacles that are covered in both hard and soft coral. During this dive, groupers, manta rays and turtles can be spotted. Manta Point, Bangaram, Lakshadweep Islands Considered to be the Maldives of India, this spot features crystal clear water and a vibrant coral reef. Manta rays can be spotted between November and December. About the country India has the second largest population in the world after China. It is divided into 29 states and has 23 official languages. Traveling from state to state, gives travelers an insight into the diverse history and cultures of this unique country. For those that love Yoga, it will be interesting to note that India is both the birthplace of Yoga and Ayurveda. Indian food is the oldest cuisine in the world and differs from state to state. A dish cooked one way, could taste completely different in an alternative state. Food is central to daily life so be sure to sample the local cuisine as you travel. Getting to India Most visitors will fly to India but there are overland borders from Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Bhutan. There are direct flights from Australia, North America, and Europe. Most international flights arrive in Delhi or Mumbai. You can easily get to a different city with a domestic flight.