Neil Island is a beautiful island of Andaman that is surrounded by forests. It is one of the famous places to go snorkelling because it has the most well-preserved coral population. The beaches on this island have white sand and crystal-clear waters. Snorkelling in Neil Island helps tourists explore and swim along the schools of fish and admire the marine beauty. These coral reefs and underwater formations are untouched by human activities. Tourists come here to witness the beauty of majestic sea creatures like fish, turtles, dolphins, and more. Get your adrenaline pumping at this gorgeous island by snorkelling here.
Factors That Affect Snorkelling In Neil Island
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While deciding the ideal place to snorkel, it is important to know that snorkelling depends on certain factors. These factors are instrumental in choosing the right spot for snorkelling.
- Visual clarity under the water
- Ocean currents
- Climate
- Security
- Presence of marine life
- Coral formations
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Levels Of Snorkelling
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A guide can help you with boat diving and shore snorkelling, and can inform you of the depth of snorkelling in Neil Island.
Boat Snorkelling: Tourists are taken inside the ocean to view the underwater marine life and corals. On reaching the location, divers can go snorkelling to get visuals of the majestic sea life.
Snorkelling: In this, the tourists can snorkel near the beach. They cannot go very deep into the ocean to witness the sea life from the shallow waters of the beach.
Popular Destinations For Snorkelling On Neil Island
1. Bharatpur Beach
Photo: Biswajit Majumdar / Wikimedia Commons
Bharatpur Beach is one of the most attractive and sandy beaches of Neil Island. This beach is considered an ideal place for adventure lovers with its vibrant marine life and turquoise waters. The crystal-clear waters of this beach continue for up to 500 metres into the ocean. Tourists can enjoy excellent visibility here to witness hard and soft corals, underwater gardens, and marine species like parrotfish, angelfish, clownfish, and more.
How To Reach: 1.3 km away from Neil Island Jetty
Timings: 8:30 AM – 5 PM
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2. Neil Island Jetty
Photo: Vishal Jadav / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
The Neil Island Jetty is another good place on Neil Island for tourists to go snorkelling. The water here is not very deep, thus making the colourful corals and sea creatures easily visible. This jetty has a vibrant underwater world with lots of tropical fish, octopuses, playful rays, and more. This place is a perfect blend of natural beauty and rich diverse formations of marine life that will delight all nature lovers.
Location: Neil Island Jetty
Timings: 24*7
3. Laxmanpur Beach
Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg / Wikimedia Commons
Laxmanpur Beach is a popular diving and snorkelling spot on Neil Island. The water here is calm and shallow and is brimming with colourful aquatic species. Its coral population is well-preserved and a treat to witness when snorkelling here. The main attraction of this beach is the presence of the friendly sea cow dugong, which feeds on the seagrass. Come here to witness the stunning coral reef and marine creatures.
Location: Neil Island Jetty
Timings: 8:30 AM – 3 PM
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4. Ramnagar Beach
Photo: Rajat29 / Wikimedia Commons
Ramnagar Beach is one of the few places where you can witness turtles nesting in their natural habitat. This secluded beach is best for people who want to snorkel without any distractions. The water here is clear and calm and offers great visibility of a rich marine life. The coral reef here is S-shaped and there are also small lagoons here that are perfect for snorkelling. If you swim a bit further in the ocean you can witness several points that have live corals.Tourists can also spot the Olive Ridley turtles at this beach.
Location: Ramnagar Beach, Andaman
Timings: 8:30 AM – 3 PM
Best Time To Visit
Photo: Sakshi Mohapekar / Unsplash
The best time for snorkelling in Neil Island is from December to May. The water at this time is clear and calm. The visibility is also at its best, making it perfect to see the corals and marine life thriving under the water.
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Other Factors To Consider
Photo:Aliven Sarkar / Wikimedia Commons
Here are some factors that you must take care of while planning a snorkelling trip to Neil Island. It is important to know this information beforehand:
Price Of Snorkelling
The price of snorkelling in Neil Island starts from ₹500 per person. It also depends on the diving site and the duration of snorkelling. On the whole, the snorkelling charges here are very nominal and pocket-friendly.
Snorkelling in Neil Island is recommended for people who love to explore the varied underwater life. This island has some beautiful spots that offer an insight into the majestic underwater world. You can explore these vibrant and rich hard and soft coral reefs and make lifelong memories. While snorkelling, you can also spot marine creatures like dugongs, octopuses, playful rays, and more. So plan a vacation with TripXL to witness this magical world.
Cover Photo: Buiobuione / Wikimedia Commons