8 New Dive Sites Just Opened Up in North Andaman - Here's What It Actually Means for Your Trip

For years, "diving in the Andamans" has meant one thing: get to Swaraj Dweep (Havelock), do a fun dive at Nemo Reef or a certification course off Elephant Beach, and go home. That is about to stop being the whole story.

In 2026 the Andaman & Nicobar Administration quietly did something that matters far more to divers than any new resort launch: it identified and notified a fresh set of dive sites in North and Middle Andaman - the part of the archipelago most tourists never reach. Twelve sites in total across two announcements, in waters off Diglipur and Mayabunder that until now were dived by almost nobody.

We run ferries, boats, cabs and activities across these islands every day, so let us be straight with you about what this means, what it does not mean yet, and whether it is worth reshaping your trip around.

What actually changed: eight new dive sites in Mayabunder and Diglipur

On 4 July 2026, the Directorate of Information, Publicity & Tourism (IP&T), working with Scuba School International (SSI), announced eight newly assessed dive sites in North and Middle Andaman. Three sit off Mayabunder; five off Diglipur.

Across the eight, depths run from roughly 1 to 40 metres - which is the interesting bit. That range covers a nervous first-timer standing waist-deep off a sandbar and a properly experienced diver going deep on a wall, in the same cluster of islands. The Administration has invited eligible dive centres and operators to register to run activities at these sites under its notified Scuba Diving Guidelines, with the usual safety and environmental conditions attached.

Before that: four sites off Ross & Smith in May

This did not come out of nowhere. On 19 May 2026 the same directorate launched four dive sites clustered around Ross & Smith Islands and Ross Island in Diglipur, roughly 320 km north of Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair):

• A shore-entry site off the Ross & Smith coastline - 2 to 12 m, no boat needed, aimed squarely at beginners and training dives. Bright, clear and forgiving.

• A boat site northeast of the Ross & Smith sandbar - 3 to 11 m, brain and staghorn coral gardens with anemone clusters. Built for certification dives.

• A small wall off Ross Island - starts around 8 to 10 m and drops down a vertical face to roughly 21 m. For divers with some logged experience.

• A craggy wall and slope - 8 to 31 m, the deepest of the four, advanced divers only, with manta rays and eagle rays reported.

Put the two announcements together and North Andaman goes from a place with essentially no formal dive infrastructure to a region with a dozen assessed sites and a real progression path from first breath underwater to advanced.

North Andaman vs Swaraj Dweep: an honest comparison

We are not going to tell you to skip Swaraj Dweep. For most first-time visitors it is still the right call. Here is the actual trade-off:

The part most articles will leave out

A site being notified is not the same as a site being bookable tomorrow. Three things worth knowing before you rearrange your itinerary:

1. Operator coverage is thin. The Administration has invited dive centres to register - that process takes time. In Diglipur and Mayabunder you may find one operator, or none on the dates you want. Always confirm a specific dive centre and specific dates before you book flights around it.

2. Getting there is the real cost. Not money - hours. The Andaman Trunk Road run north is long, involves the Baratang convoy timings, and is not a drive you want to do twice in one day.

3. Weather governs everything. These are open, exposed northern waters. Visibility and sea state in the shoulder months can shut a boat dive down with no notice. Build slack days into a North Andaman diving trip, and do not plan your last dive for the morning of your flight.

How to actually reach Diglipur and Mayabunder

There are three realistic routes north from Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair):

• By road on the Andaman Trunk Road. Government and private buses run to Rangat, Mayabunder and Diglipur. A private cab is far more comfortable and lets you stop at the Baratang limestone caves and mud volcanoes on the way - this is the option most of our customers choose, and it turns the journey into part of the trip. Arrange it through Adventigo cabs.

• By government boat. The Directorate of Shipping Services runs weekday sailings to Rangat, Mayabunder and Diglipur. Cheap, slow, and seats are contested by residents - book in person, well ahead.

• By air. Pawan Hans helicopter services operate on weekdays, and there is a seaplane service to Diglipur. Both are weather-dependent and capacity-limited, so treat them as a bonus rather than a plan.

Note that the fast private ferries you have read about - the ones running Sri Vijaya Puram to Swaraj Dweep and Shaheed Dweep (Neil Island) - do not go north. North Andaman is road-and-government-boat country. That is exactly why it is empty.

When to go

Peak season across the islands is October to May; June to September is monsoon. For North Andaman specifically, weight your planning toward the middle of that window - roughly November to March - when northern seas settle down and visibility is at its most reliable. If you are chasing the Ross & Smith sandbar as well, check tide timings before you fix the day; the sandbar connecting the two islands only appears at low tide.

What it costs, and what we can book for you today

We are not going to publish dive prices for sites where operators are still registering - that is exactly how travellers end up quoted one number online and charged another on the beach. What we can tell you plainly is how our own pricing works.

Every rate you see on Adventigo is GST-inclusive. The price you see is the price you pay. Most Andaman operators quote ex-GST and add it at the end, which is why our number sometimes looks higher until you reach someone else's payment screen. The two exceptions on ferries are the operator's fuel surcharge and the Rs 50 port service fee - both are collected from you and passed straight through to the ferry operator, with nothing added by us.

Start with activities and water sports, boat charters, two-wheeler rentals, or let the itinerary planner lay out the days for you.

A realistic 7-day North Andaman diving trip

1. Day 1: Land at Sri Vijaya Puram. Cellular Jail in the evening, early night.

2. Day 2: Cab north on the ATR. Baratang caves and mud volcanoes en route, overnight at Rangat or Mayabunder.

3. Day 3: Mayabunder - dive if an operator is running, otherwise Avis Island and the mangroves.

4. Day 4: On to Diglipur. Afternoon at Ross & Smith, tide permitting.

5. Day 5: Diving day - shore dive at the Ross & Smith house reef, boat dive if conditions allow.

6. Day 6: Buffer day. Saddle Peak trek, Kalipur beach, or a second dive if Day 5 was blown out.

7. Day 7: Return south. Overnight at Sri Vijaya Puram before your flight - never fly the same day you dive.

Frequently asked questions

Can a complete beginner dive in Diglipur?
Yes. The shore-entry site off Ross & Smith runs from about 2 to 12 metres and was assessed specifically with beginners and training dives in mind. The constraint is operator availability, not the water.

Are these sites open for booking right now?
They are notified, and dive centres have been invited to register to operate at them. Availability in any given week depends on which operator is running. Message us on WhatsApp and we will tell you honestly what is actually operating on your dates.

Is there a direct ferry from Sri Vijaya Puram to Diglipur?
There is a government boat service on weekdays. There is no fast private ferry north - the private fleet serves Swaraj Dweep and Shaheed Dweep only.

How long does the road journey take?
Plan on the better part of a day each way, including the Baratang crossing. Break it at Rangat or Mayabunder rather than pushing through to Diglipur in one go.

Do I need a permit?
Indian nationals do not need a permit for the main islands. Rules for foreign nationals and for restricted areas change from time to time, so check the current requirements before you travel.

Should I skip Havelock for this?
If it is your first Andaman trip, no. Do Swaraj Dweep and Shaheed Dweep properly. Save North Andaman for the trip where you already know the islands and want them to yourself.

Planning a North Andaman trip?

We live here, and we will tell you when something is not ready yet rather than sell you a booking you will regret. Ferries, activities, cabs, boat charters and two-wheelers are all bookable in one place on Adventigo - GST included, no hidden charges.

Walk in at our office at Chattam, Haddo, Sri Vijaya Puram, or call and WhatsApp us on +91 81167 67666. Our desk is open 10am to 6pm, and WhatsApp is monitored outside those hours with a reply the next morning.