5 Places To Stay In The Andamans For A Snorkelling And Diving Holiday

The Andamans are best experienced with a little salt water in your plans. Beneath the turquoise surface of the Bay of Bengal, coral gardens shelter shoals of fish, while rocky formations and underwater drop-offs offer a different world for scuba divers. Back on land, forest-fringed paths lead to beaches where the day's biggest decision might be whether to swim again before sunset.

For most travellers planning a snorkelling or diving holiday, Swaraj Dweep (Havelock Island) is a natural starting point, with its established dive centres and access to popular marine sites. Shaheed Dweep (Neil Island), meanwhile, offers a slower pace and inviting shallow waters around Bharatpur Beach. The right accommodation can make it easier to arrange excursions, start early for boat dives, and return to a comfortable base after a day at sea.

Octopus Garden Dive Resort, Havelock Island

Octopus Garden, a boutique dive resort on Havelock is built around underwater exploration, with accommodation, a dive operation and an in-house café bringing the essentials of an island holiday together. Its introductory diving programme includes basic preparation, followed by a closely supervised dive over coral reefs, making it a potential starting point for first-timers who want guided scuba diving.

The relaxed setup also suits travellers who would rather spend their time thinking about the next dive than organising every detail of the day. Ask the team about current snorkelling excursions and suitable sites before booking, particularly if you are travelling with people who have different levels of swimming or diving experience.

The Information

Address: Beach No. 5, Havelock, South Andamans, Andaman & Nicobar Islands 744 211

Tariff: Prices are available upon request through their official website. Room rates vary by accommodation type, travel dates and availability.

Contact: +91 76950 56336; info@octopusgarden.in

Website: octopusgarden. in

How to get the best deal on the hotel: Enquire about stay-and-dive packages and whether introductory diving or other activities can be booked alongside accommodation. Compare the inclusions with a room-only rate before paying.

Things to do nearby: Explore Havelock's beaches, arrange a snorkelling excursion, or ask the resort about guided diving options suited to your experience level.

SeaShell Havelock, Havelock Island

SeaShell Havelock pairs a beachside setting with the comforts of a full-service resort. Its accommodation includes wooden Nicobari-inspired cottages, while facilities such as a swimming pool, spa services and dining make it an appealing choice for travellers who want to alternate time in the water with slower afternoons on land.

The resort highlights diving near Nemo Reef among its experiences. That makes it worth considering for travellers who want to organise underwater activities while keeping a comfortable base on the island. Nemo Reef is a popular diving location, but snorkelling conditions and access can vary; check with local operators about the day's conditions rather than assuming every site is suitable for surface swimming. The appeal here lies in flexibility. You can plan a morning in the sea, return for a leisurely meal and leave the rest of the day open to the island's beaches and forested interior.

The Information

Address: No-02, Swaraj Dweep, Beach, Govind Nagar, Havelock Island, Andaman and Nicobar Islands 744211.

Tariff: The current rates for the Andaman Bungalow start from INR 21,600 per night. Rates vary by accommodation type, travel dates and availability.

Contact: +91-3192-282227 / +91-99332-39625

Website: seashellhotels.net/havelockisland

How to get the best deal on the hotel: Check the resort's official offers and ask whether a multi-night stay or package provides better value. Compare breakfast, transfers and activity inclusions instead of looking at the nightly rate alone.

Things to do nearby: Ask about diving near Nemo Reef, visit Radhanagar Beach, explore other island beaches and arrange a guided snorkelling trip through a local operator.

Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Andamans

On Radhanagar Beach No. 7, Taj Exotica Resort & Spa occupies 46.5 acres of beachfront land, with 72 villas raised on stilts amid tropical greenery. The resort's architecture and setting offer a different perspective on the Andamans. Rather than a conventional hotel overlooking the water, it is a retreat where the surrounding rainforest is as much a part of the experience as the coast.

This is a choice for travellers who want to combine marine adventures with a more expansive resort holiday. The property offers beach access, dining, an infinity-edge swimming pool and the J Wellness Circle spa. Water-based experiences can be arranged, with specific activities and conditions best confirmed with the resort before arrival. Radhanagar is a highlight in its own right, especially for beach walks and sunsets. For snorkelling and scuba diving, plan excursions with qualified local operators and check the distance, departure point and transfers involved before deciding how to structure your stay.

The Information

Address: Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Andamans, Radhanagar Beach Number 7, Andamans, Andamans, 744211, India

Tariff: The current prices for the Deluxe Villa start from approximately INR 37,530 per night, while those for the Grand Luxury Villa go up to INR 80,280 per night. Premium resort rates vary considerably by villa category, season and package.

Contact: +91 95319 90002; +91 3192 283333. Email: exotica.andamans@tajhotels.com.

Website: tajhotels.com

How to get the best deal on the hotel: Check the hotel's official offers, including breakfast-inclusive rates, and compare the total cost of the villa, meals, ferry tickets and transfers. Ask whether a longer stay or advance booking offers better value for your dates.

Things to do nearby: Spend time at Radhanagar Beach, arrange a guided marine excursion, explore the island's other beaches and return for a spa treatment or dinner at the resort.

Orient Legend Resort, Havelock Island

For travellers who would rather spend their budget on island experiences than on a large luxury resort, Orient Legend offers a simpler base near Beach No. 5. Its independent air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned cottages are set around garden views, with the beach approximately 50 metres away. An in-house restaurant and the option to rent two-wheelers or bicycles add practical convenience.

The resort lists snorkelling trips and scuba diving among its services, alongside tours around Havelock, including trips to Radhanagar and Elephant Beach. This makes it a useful option for travellers who want to build their days around excursions rather than spend most of their holiday within the property. As with any activity-led stay, confirm departure points, equipment, transport and weather-related cancellation terms before booking.

The Information

Address: Govind Nagar, Beach No.5, Havelock, Andaman and Nicobar Islands 744211.

Tariff: Rates range from INR 2,300 to INR 2,800 per night. Rates depend on the cottage category, air-conditioning and travel dates.

Contact: +91 094342 91008, +91 9531961616; info@havelockbeachresort.in.

Website: havelockbeachresort.in

How to get the best deal on the hotel: Compare air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned cottages, and ask about accommodation-plus-excursion packages. Confirm the total cost of transfers, equipment and boat trips before making a booking.

Things to do nearby: Visit Beach No. 5, arrange snorkelling or scuba diving, and plan day trips to Radhanagar Beach and Elephant Beach.

Deep Sea Resort, Neil Island

Havelock may command much of the diving conversation, but Neil Island, officially Shaheed Dweep, makes a compelling alternative for travellers who prefer a slower itinerary. Deep Sea Resort, in the Sitapur area, offers cottage and room categories in a setting that lends itself to beach-hopping and time outdoors. The property also lists airport pick-up services, though travellers should confirm the precise transfer arrangements for their arrival and ferry schedule.

The island's appeal lies in the variety of its coastline. Bharatpur Beach is known for shallow water and coral reefs, making it a popular spot for snorkelling and glass-bottom boat rides when conditions permit. Sitapur Beach is associated with sunrise views, while Laxmanpur Beach is known for its natural rock formations, best explored with attention to tides. Staying on Neil allows you to approach the underwater world at a gentler pace, with time for short excursions and unhurried evenings. Check the resort's current activity arrangements and ask local operators about visibility, sea conditions and the most suitable snorkelling sites during your visit.

The Information

Address: SH6, Sitapur, Ram Nagar, Shaheed Dweep (Neil Island), Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Tariff: The current rates for the Standard Cottage range from approximately INR 3,000 to INR 7,000 per night, depending on meal inclusion and occupancy. Rates vary by room or cottage category, occupancy and season. Contact the property for current prices.

Contact: +91 70639 80454 / +91 94760 35134; deepsearesortneil@gmail.com.

Website: deepsearesortandaman.com

How to get the best deal on the hotel: Ask about multi-night rates and whether transfers or activities can be bundled with the stay. Compare the package total with separate bookings and confirm how pick-up works from the island's jetty.

Things to do nearby: Snorkel at Bharatpur Beach when conditions are suitable, watch the sunrise at Sitapur Beach, explore Laxmanpur Beach's natural rock formations at low tide and take a glass-bottom boat ride.

A good snorkelling holiday depends as much on timing and sea conditions as on the room you choose. The Andamans are generally visited for water activities during the calmer season, commonly from around October to May, but weather and visibility can change. Confirm conditions locally, especially if your itinerary depends on a particular boat excursion. Havelock has a well-established network of dive operators; Neil offers a quieter alternative with accessible marine experiences around Bharatpur Beach. Inter-island transfers affect check-in times and excursion schedules, so confirm ferry timings before finalising hotel nights.

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