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One of the major reasons tourists visit Havelock Island is to go snorkelling. This island has amazing beaches with white sand and colourful coral reefs. These coral reefs are visible in shallow waters, as close as 1 metre. Snorkelling in Havelock Island is an adventurous experience filled with enticing marine life like seahorses, butterfly fish, bright green parrot fish, different varieties of anemone fish, and more. Tourists can experience a soothing and calm ambience when witnessing the vibrant coral life and sea creatures. Even non-swimmers can go snorkelling here for a majestic underwater experience. Thus, snorkelling on Havelock Island is an adventure-laden experience for tourists.
Factors That Affect Snorkelling In Havelock Island
Photo: Jayashree Subramanian / Wikimedia Commons
- Water currents
- Visibility underwater
- Safety
- Presence of fish and corals
- Underwater ecosystem
- Reachability
Suggested Read: Adventure Sports In Andaman
Levels Of Snorkelling
Photo: tourdilombok / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
There are two types of snorkelling: Shore Snorkelling and Boat Snorkelling.
Shore Snorkelling: This is done from the beach, at shallow reefs located only 50–100 metres away from the shoreline. Beginners and non-swimmers can easily try this variation.
Boat Snorkelling: Boat snorkelling takes you to a dive site away from the shore. You can snorkel into deeper reefs where visibility is good and marine life and corals are in abundance.
You can also choose single-point or multiple-point snorkelling, wherein in the former you can explore a single reef, and in the latter you can snorkel on more than one reef.
Popular Spots For Snorkelling In Havelock Island
Havelock Island is known for its pristine beaches and clear waters, which are ideal for snorkelling. Some of the best places to go snorkelling here are:
1. Elephant Beach
Photo: ABHISHEK CHAKRABORTY / Unsplash
Elephant Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches on Havelock Island. It is a tropical paradise with crystal-clear blue waters and a vibrant marine life. Tourists can spot playful turtles and beautiful fish here while snorkelling underwater. You might get to enjoy the sight of a sea turtle eating the seagrass and the corals. Other creatures tourists can spot here include a reef shark and slugs on the rocks. This beach is also ideal for beginners as the water is of shallow depth.
Cost/Person: ₹1000 onwards
Suggested Read: Things To Do In Havelock Island
2. Turtle Beach
Photo: Wexor Tmg / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Turtle beach has a shallow reef located at the shoreline, and is one of the most popular sites for snorkelling in Havelock Island. The shallow part of this beach starts at 2 metres and goes up to 10 metres. The water here is crystal-clear and offers good visibility, so you can spot a variety of marine species. The water current is also mild, making it perfect for snorkelling. At this beach, you can enjoy spotting live species of staghorn coral reefs and unique species of fish while snorkelling.
Cost/Person: ₹1000
3. Radhanagar Beach
Photo: Shristi Shreyasi / Wikimedia Commons
Radhanagar beach is the 7th most beautiful beach in the world. This beach has a pristine stretch of sand backed by turquoise, clear waters and dense forests. Its beauty and marine diversity attracts a lot of tourists who want to go snorkelling. You can spot several sea creatures here like dolphins, turtles, coral reefs, and a variety of fish. There is a beautiful lagoon called Neil’s Cove near this beach that has transparent water, which offers an excellent view of the colourful fish.
Cost/Person: ₹6600 onwards
Suggested Read: Water Sports In Havelock Island
4. Kalapathar Beach
Photo: Mvbellad / Wikimedia Commons
Kalapathar is another gorgeous beach on Havelock Island that has clear and shallow water, making it ideal for snorkelling. It has vibrant coral reefs and diverse marine life, such as sea creatures, turtles, fish, starfish, and sea urchins. It is advisable to stay near the shores at this beach and to be careful of the rocks and jellyfish here while snorkelling. Besides snorkelling, you can also go windsurfing, water-skiing, and sea walking on this beach. For your own safety, make sure you have a guide with you when exploring these activities.
Cost/Person: ₹600 onwards
5. Nemo Reef
Photo: Nymishanandini / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Snorkelling at Nemo Reef offers an extraordinary experience as you can witness a sloping topography. Tourists can go snorkelling on the shallow profile of the reef. It has white sand and a baby reef that splits into two long fringing reefs. The corals here are simply breathtaking and perfect for an underwater adventure. Some common marine sightings here are reef fish, octopus, frogfish, shrimp, moray eel, scorpion fish, and many more.
Cost/Person: ₹500
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6. Tribe Gate
Photo: John Cahil Rom / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
Tribe Gate is located near Havelock Island and has an oval-shaped reef. It is popular for multiple species of fish found here, along with sea anemones. Tourists who snorkel here witness the abundant species of marine animals like groupers, butterfly fish, mackerels, squids, batfish, and sea cucumbers. The water currents at Tribe Gate are mild, which are ideal for snorkelling. The crystal-clear waters here also offer excellent visibility. The shallow part of the reef starts at 4 metres and drops down to 12 metres.
Cost/Person: ₹700
Best Time To Visit
The best time for snorkelling in Havelock Island is from November to March. The water is calm and the weather is pleasant during this time. Tourists can also spot the exotic underwater marine life of this island due to the high visibility.
Suggested Read: Scuba Diving In Havelock Island
Snorkelling is the best way to leisurely explore the underwater life of Havelock Island. The waters here offer sharp visibility of the various corals and majestic sea creatures. Snorkelling in Havelock Island is an activity that you must not miss. The beaches here are divine and the water is calm. You should plan a holiday to Havelock Island with TripXL soon and enjoy snorkelling on this island.
Cover Photo: Arpandhar / Wikimedia Commons
