Life’s biggest adventure is to explore the unknown and discover the undiscovered destination on this planet. Adventure lovers set out into the wild and face the challenges as they come. More than half of the earth is covered in water and the life underneath the sea is still undiscovered and unexplored. The adventure seekers that love water also adore the sport of scuba diving. The pleasures of floating in the deep blue seas or the thrill of diving under the ocean are unparallel joys.
Scuba Diving is a start of discovering a whole new world of the underwater. Even in the history there have been cases where man has shown curiosity about the life existing in the sea. A very famous Indian epic Ramayan has a mention of the same. There are several imaginary creatures which are inspired by the creatures residing inside the sea.
Scuba diving for that matter comes from Europeans who basically were taken in by the long coastline of India and the white sandy beaches. Snorkelling too is a great sport which is another discovery of the whites. The Indians too have started discovering the thrill associated with these water sports.
The Indian coastlines spread over more than a thousand kilometres. The Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal all surround India from three different directions. Hence it is not surprising to know that the country is made up of some of the most beautiful beaches of the world. The other more alluring things about the Indian coastlines and beaches is the mangroves, backwater, cliff peninsulas, Cluster of islands and the highlight- the marine life. There are several diving sites open to the tourists and several still remain unexplored.
The waves hitting the rocks and the splashing of the same on the coral reefs is one of the most stunning and exciting experience. The waters in the lagoons wash away the white sands with the water splashing on the shores and are dotted with palm trees. This is purely a sight of untouched nature and the one which should not be missed.
The underwater is very different than what one view on land. Everything filters through the blue colour of the sea. It is colourful and vibrant. It is untamed and variously structured forming patterns which are interesting to observe. Corals in the ocean are the most attractive part of an underwater dive. They are of many varieties, colours and shapes. There are thousands of them living right under the sea! They range from small hydroids to tall sea fans, from languidly waving sea anemones to jellyfish.
India has gained popularity as a scuba-diving and snorkelling destination of the world. Certain spots in the Indian subcontinent are worth visiting if one is a fan of scuba diving and other sports activities.
Havelock
In Andaman and Nicobar islands is one of the most popular water sports adventure hotspot. This is one of the very few inhabited islands of this union territory. The place is scarcely populated and hence it still has the natural charm. The white sandy beaches tucked with palm groves along the shore and dotted with coral reefs, this place is one of the more popular destinations. Tourists throng this place during vacations, mainly foreigners who love doing their own thing. Although prior permission is needed to come here, they go through ordeal to experience the richness of the ocean.
Havelock is basically inhabited by Bengali’s who settled here ages ago. It is spread in an area of 100 sq km and lies 54 km away from Port Blair which can be accessible through road, sea and even air.
Havelock has many other water related activities going on like there is Radha Nagar beach on Havelock which has been voted as the best beach in Asia by Time Magazine. Havelock island is also a place where one can indulge in hiking, fishing, kayaking and sailing.
Lakshwadeep
The other most popular scuba diving destination in India is Lakshadweep. It is not as popular with tourists but it has slowly started becoming known for its pristine beauty and untamed nature. Scuba diving is a great experience here when the colourful corals, the tropical fishes, the bluish-greenish sea bed and the crystal clear water everywhere.
Netrani islands
Netrani Islands are located off coast of Karnataka. It is located near the Arabian Sea Precisely situated 10 nauticle miles from the temple town of Murudeshwara. This place is yet another favourite for scuba diving and snorkelling. The waters are crystal clear and so are ideal for diving. The visibility range here is between 15-20 metres.
Here one can find a variety of sea life like schools of Barracuda, Snappers, Jacks, Indian Banner fish, Red tooth trigger fish, large shark- like Cobia, Honeycomb Moray Eels, Groupers, Puffer fish, Napoleon Wrasse.
Goa
Goa also has several beaches but for scuba diving it is not so muc preferred. It is more known for its water sport activities.
