The
arrowhead-shaped country of India is bordered by the Bay
of Bengal on the east coast and the Arabian Sea on the West.
Climate varies from tropical at the southern tip around
the Gulf of Mannar to semi-tropical on the far northeast
and west borders of Pakistan and Bangladesh. Large resort
on the coast such as in Goa, offers dives as part of their
facilities and small dive operators and clubs can be found
in other coastal town and cities.
India does not have the prolific marine life nor the diversity
found in the nearby East Indies. It does however have extensive
reef systems that are home to many species and some of them
are only found off the Indian coast, including moray eels,
rays such as the enormous Manta and Mobula ray, reef sharks,
schooling fish and colourful reef fish.
The nearby Lakswadweep Islands are famous for their pure
white sandy beaches, schattered idyllic islands and clear
water tropical diving with shark dives and reef walls. Flights
to Agatti Island depart from Cochin and Goa. However the
prime dive areas in all of India are in the Nicobar and
Andaman Islands. Commercial fishing is almost non-existent
in the island groups so large pelagic species are abundant.
Spectacular diving of International standards can be found
in all areas of these island group, but access is limited,
with the best opportunities through the liveboard dive vessel
departing from Thailand such as the Fantasea and Gaea. Visitors
can also flying into Port Blair from most mainland cities
in India.