7-Day Andaman Scuba Diving & Adventure Island Itinerary

For travelers who want more than a beach holiday, the Andaman Islands offer some of India's best scuba diving, sea kayaking, and deep-sea fishing, all set against reefs that rival Southeast Asia. This 7-day itinerary extends the classic Port Blair-Havelock-Neil loop with dedicated diving days and an adventure-focused detour, ideal for anyone chasing PADI certification or just wanting more time underwater. Before booking, browse our overview of scuba diving in Andaman: best islands and dive sites to understand which reefs suit your skill level.

Route Overview

Day 1: Arrival in Port Blair

Fly into Veer Savarkar International Airport via Chennai or Kolkata. Spend the afternoon at the Cellular Jail National Memorial, understanding the site's role in India's freedom struggle, and stay for the evening Light and Sound Show. Have an early dinner and rest, since the coming days are physically demanding. For more on the city's colonial-era sites, see our Viper Island Andaman guide, a short boat ride from Port Blair worth combining with your jail visit if time permits.

Day 2: Port Blair to Havelock — Dive Center Check-In

Take the morning ferry to Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep), a 2-3 hour crossing. Check into a resort near Beach No. 3 or Beach No. 5, close to the island's main PADI dive centers. Spend the afternoon on a dive briefing and medical questionnaire if you're pursuing Open Water certification, or do a relaxed swim at Radhanagar Beach if you're already certified and diving as a fun-diver instead. Our scuba diving in Andaman: best islands and dive sites guide breaks down which sites suit which experience level.

Days 3-4: PADI Open Water Certification

Havelock is one of the best places in India to get certified, with warm 27-29°C water, decent visibility (10-20 meters depending on season), and an abundance of marine life including clownfish, lionfish, moray eels, and reef sharks at deeper sites. Day 3 covers confined water skills in shallow water followed by your first two open-water dives, typically at beginner-friendly sites like Nemo Reef or Lighthouse. Day 4 continues with two more open-water dives at sites like Aquarium or Turtle Bay, completing the four qualifying dives needed for certification, plus classroom sessions and the final exam. If you're already certified, use these two days instead for fun dives at deeper, more advanced sites like Dixon's Pinnacle or Seduction Point, which offer better chances of spotting reef sharks and larger pelagic fish.

Day 5: Elephant Beach Adventure Day

Take a break from tank diving and spend a full day at Elephant Beach, reached by speedboat or a 40-minute jungle trek. Try sea walking, where a diving helmet keeps you breathing normally while you walk along the shallow seabed among coral and fish without needing swim skills — a popular option for non-swimmers. Sea kayaking through the mangrove-fringed channels near the beach is another highlight, offering a quieter, closer look at the coastline than a speedboat allows. Snorkeling gear is available for rent right on the beach for a final look at the shallow coral gardens before you leave Havelock. Our snorkeling in Andaman guide covers the best shallow-water sites for those not diving, and the Havelock Island Andaman overview is worth reading before you finalize your resort location on the island.

Day 6: Havelock to Neil Island — Deep-Sea Fishing

Ferry to Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep) in the morning, a 1-1.5 hour crossing. In the afternoon, head out on a deep-sea fishing charter — Neil and Port Blair are the two main hubs for this in the Andamans, targeting species like barracuda, trevally, and grouper in the open waters beyond the reef. Read our deep-sea fishing in Andaman Islands guide for what to expect and how to book a charter. In the evening, catch the sunset at Laxmanpur Beach, where a natural coral bridge is exposed at low tide.

Day 7: Neil Island to Port Blair — Departure

Take the morning ferry back to Port Blair, roughly 2 hours. If your flight is in the evening, spend a few hours at the Samudrika Naval Marine Museum to see preserved coral and shell specimens, or relax at Corbyn's Cove Beach near the airport before heading to Veer Savarkar Airport.

Budget Estimate

This adventure-focused itinerary costs more than a standard beach trip due to diving fees. Flights from a major Indian city run INR 8,000-20,000 round trip. A PADI Open Water certification course costs INR 22,000-28,000, inclusive of equipment, four dives, and course materials. Add resort stays (INR 2,500-5,000/night mid-range), ferries (INR 1,200-1,800 per sector), sea walking (INR 3,000-3,500), and a half-day deep-sea fishing charter (INR 4,000-7,000 per person in a shared group). All told, a mid-range 7-day trip with certification runs INR 45,000-60,000 per person; skipping certification and doing fun dives instead brings this down to roughly INR 32,000-42,000.

Practical Tips

Book your dive course in advance during peak season (December-January), as certified instructors and boat slots fill up quickly. Avoid flying within 18-24 hours of your last dive, due to decompression risk — factor this into your Day 7 departure if you dive right up to Day 6. The best visibility and calmest seas are from November to April; avoid the May-September monsoon window when many dive operators pause instruction dives altogether. Bring a reusable dive log and your own mask if you have one, though rental gear at Havelock's dive shops is generally well-maintained. Reef-safe sunscreen is required in most marine areas.

What to Pack for a Diving-Focused Trip

Beyond standard beach essentials, bring your PADI logbook if you already have open water dives elsewhere, along with any personal dive gear you own such as a mask, fins, or dive computer, since rental sizes can be limited for smaller frames. A dry bag is essential for boat transfers between the jetty and dive sites, and reef-safe, mineral-based sunscreen is required at most dive centers to avoid coral damage. Carry a printed copy of your medical fitness declaration if you have any pre-existing conditions, since dive centers require this before certifying you for open water dives. A basic first aid kit with motion sickness tablets is also worth packing, as choppy crossings between Havelock and Neil Island can be uncomfortable for some travelers.

Conclusion

Seven days gives you enough time to genuinely learn to dive rather than just sample it, while still leaving room for sea kayaking, sea walking, and deep-sea fishing across Havelock and Neil Island. It's a physically active version of the classic Andaman loop, built for travelers who want to leave the islands with a certification card and a serious collection of underwater memories.