Go Snorkelling In Neil Island To Uncover The Vast And Varied Marine Life

Neil Island is a gorgeous island of Andaman and belongs to the Ritchie's Archipelago.

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

An image of a person snorkelling to uncover the vibrant marine life and corals underwater

Photo: Miles Hardacre / Pexels / Image For Representation Only

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

Suggested Read: Things To Do In Neil Island

Levels Of Snorkelling

A man snorkelling alongside a turtle and exploring the underwater marine environment

Photo: Kyle @SubtleCinematics / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only

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

Bharatpur Beach is one of the top tourist destinations in Neil Island due to its soft corals

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

Suggested Read: Andaman And Nicobar Nightlife

2. Neil Island Jetty

A drone shot of Neil Island with its turquoise waters that are ideal for snorkelling

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

The calm blue waters of the Laxmanpur Beach is ideal for water sports and adventure activities

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

Suggested Read: Places To Visit In Andaman And Nicobar In 5 Days

4. Ramnagar Beach

The clear blue skies and tranquil waters of Neil Island with its white-sandy beaches

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

A boat lies on the shoreline of the Neil Island beach and the waters are clear and calm

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.

Suggested Read: Temples In Andaman And Nicobar Islands

Other Factors To Consider

Witness the coral reefs while snorkelling in Neil Island and enjoy a mesmerising trip here

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Children above 10 years of age and adults below 60 years of age can snorkel here, provided their medical condition is good.
Yes, if you are not comfortable going alone for snorkelling, you can hire a guide who will snorkel alongside you. Make sure the guide has a snorkelling certification in Neil Island.
Yes, even beginners can go boat snorkelling with a guide’s company to help you explore marine life.
Yes, your guide can click pictures and videos of you exploring and snorkelling the vibrant marine life. You can also hire a photographer specially for this.
Usually, it takes 15-20 minutes for a one-time dive. You can also go for multiple divess.

Recommended Articles

Leave a Reply

Top Travel Destinations by Month