Snorkeling in the Andaman Islands: Discover the Underwater World of Havelock Island

2 days ago

7 min read

There is another world beneath the surface of the Andaman Sea.

From the moment you put your face in the water, the beaches of the Andaman Islands become something completely different. Schools of small reef fish flicker through the coral, anemones sway gently in the current, and colourful parrotfish, butterflyfish and wrasses move between the reef formations.

For many visitors, snorkeling in the Andaman Islands is one of the most memorable things to do during a holiday here. And if you are staying on Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep), you are particularly well placed to explore the remarkable marine life surrounding the island.

At Emerald Gecko Resort, we believe that the best snorkeling experience is not necessarily the busiest or most obvious one. It is about finding the right conditions, choosing a responsible operator and having enough time to enjoy the reef without feeling rushed.

Why go snorkeling in the Andaman Islands?

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are surrounded by some of India's most important coral reef ecosystems. Coral reefs provide habitat for an extraordinary variety of marine life and are among the most biologically diverse ecosystems in the ocean.

You don't need to be an experienced diver to appreciate them.

Snorkeling allows you to explore the shallow reef environment simply by floating on the surface. In good conditions, you may see:

Colourful reef fish
Parrotfish grazing on the reef
Butterflyfish and angelfish
Schools of smaller tropical fish
Hard corals and different coral formations
Sea anemones and, occasionally, anemonefish
Giant clams and other reef creatures
Sea turtles, if you're lucky
Cuttlefish and other fascinating marine life
Octopus hiding among rocks and coral
Dolphins occasionally passing through deeper water

Of course, nature doesn't work to a timetable. You can never guarantee what you will see on a particular snorkeling trip — and that is part of the magic.

Snorkeling on Havelock Island – or should we say Swaraj Dweep?

Havelock Island is now officially known as Swaraj Dweep, although the old name remains very widely used by travellers searching for information about the Andaman Islands.

For visitors planning a trip, this means you will often see both terms:

Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep), Andaman Islands

The island is one of the best bases for experiencing the marine environment of the Andaman Sea, with coral reefs, mangroves, sandy beaches and numerous opportunities for snorkeling and diving.

Popular places such as Elephant Beach are known for their shallow water and easy access to coral areas, making them particularly attractive to first-time snorkelers.

But there is another option that we think is worth considering.

Why we prefer a private snorkeling trip

Elephant Beach is a beautiful place and an easy introduction to snorkeling. However, it is also one of the busiest water-sports destinations on Havelock Island.

If your idea of snorkeling is quietly floating over a reef, listening to nothing but your breathing and the sound of the sea, a crowded activity beach may not give you the experience you imagined.

Instead, consider arranging a private snorkeling trip with a reputable local boat operator.

A private trip can offer several advantages:

More time in the water

Rather than following a fixed schedule with a large group, a private boat gives you more flexibility to spend time at the sites that are best on that particular day.

Smaller groups

Fewer people in the water means less disturbance to marine life and a more relaxed experience for everyone.

Better choice of snorkeling locations

Sea conditions, tides, visibility and weather can change from day to day. An experienced local operator can choose suitable locations rather than simply taking every boat to the same popular spot.

A more personal experience

A good snorkeling guide can point out things you might otherwise swim straight past — a camouflaged octopus, a tiny nudibranch, a moray eel hiding in a crevice or a school of fish moving across the reef.

And perhaps most importantly, a responsible operator should put the health of the reef and the safety of guests ahead of simply completing another trip.

What happened to the coral reefs?

You may have heard that coral reefs around the world have been experiencing increasing stress from rising ocean temperatures.

The Andaman Islands have not been immune.

During the 2023–24 global coral bleaching event, the Government of India reported bleaching in parts of the Andaman region, particularly South Andaman, associated with increased sea-surface temperatures and the El Niño effect.

Coral bleaching can look alarming. When corals become stressed by unusually warm water, they can lose the microscopic algae living within their tissues, causing them to turn pale or white.

But bleaching does not automatically mean that a coral reef has died.

If temperatures return to normal and conditions improve, corals can recover.

There is encouraging news from the Andaman Islands. Government monitoring reported that around 15–18% of reefs in South Andaman experienced bleaching during 2023–24, while most of the affected reefs subsequently recovered. Continued studies are being carried out to monitor their condition.

This is an important distinction.

When you go snorkeling around Havelock Island today, you may see areas of healthy, growing coral alongside patches that have experienced stress or damage. Coral recovery is not instantaneous — a reef is a living ecosystem that changes over time.

That makes responsible tourism even more important.

How you can help protect Andaman's coral reefs

The best thing a snorkeler can do is remarkably simple:

Look, don't touch.

Never stand on coral, even if it appears to be dead.

Don't hold onto coral to steady yourself.

Don't chase turtles, fish or other marine animals.

Don't remove shells, coral fragments or anything else from the sea.

Avoid kicking the reef with your fins.

And use reef-friendly sunscreen practices where possible — ideally applying sunscreen well before entering the water and considering protective clothing such as a rash guard.

These may seem like small actions, but thousands of visitors entering the same shallow reef can have a significant cumulative impact.

Choose your snorkeling operator carefully

Not all snorkeling trips are the same.

When arranging a snorkeling trip from Havelock Island, ask a few simple questions:

Is the boat properly registered and equipped for passengers?

How many people will be on the boat?

Will there be a trained snorkeling guide?

Does the operator follow local marine and water-sports regulations?

Will they avoid standing on or touching coral?

Do they choose locations according to sea conditions and reef health?

The Andaman & Nicobar Administration publishes specific guidelines for water sports and diving operations, reflecting the importance of safe and responsible marine tourism in the islands.

At Emerald Gecko, we would much rather see our guests have a slower, more thoughtful experience with a responsible operator than simply tick "snorkeling" off a holiday checklist.

Please contact our guest relations manager at +91-7583891379 to book your snorkeling trip with a reputable company. DiveIndia, Barefoot Scuba are also very good scuba diving operators who do offer their boats for rental for private snorkeling trips.

What about Elephant Beach?

Elephant Beach remains one of the best-known places for snorkeling in Havelock Island. Its shallow reef and easy access make it particularly suitable for people trying snorkeling for the first time.

But if you are looking for a more peaceful experience, we recommend asking about a private snorkeling excursion rather than automatically booking the standard shared Elephant Beach trip.

The aim isn't to say that Elephant Beach is somewhere you shouldn't visit.

It is simply to recognise that the most popular snorkeling location isn't necessarily the best snorkeling experience for everyone.

If your priority is seeing the reef, enjoying the sea and spending quality time underwater, a smaller private excursion can be a much more rewarding way to experience the Andaman Islands.

When is the best time for snorkeling in the Andaman Islands?

Sea conditions are an important part of choosing when to snorkel.

The generally calmer tourist season from around October through May tends to offer better conditions for many marine activities, although weather and sea conditions can change quickly.

Morning trips are often a good choice because winds can increase later in the day, but your local boat operator should always make the final decision based on actual conditions.

And remember: clear water doesn't necessarily mean a healthy reef, and cloudy water doesn't mean there is nothing worth seeing.

The ocean is constantly changing.

Snorkeling is about more than the perfect photograph

It's easy to think of snorkeling as an opportunity to collect the perfect underwater photograph.

But the most memorable moments are often the ones you weren't expecting.

A turtle gliding silently beneath you.

A school of fish suddenly changing direction.

A tiny creature hiding perfectly against a piece of coral.

The moment you realise that the "rock" you were looking at is actually an octopus.

Or simply floating above a healthy reef and watching an entire ecosystem carry on with its day.

That is what makes snorkeling in the Andaman Islands so special.

You are not simply looking at an underwater attraction.

You are visiting a living ecosystem.

Experience the Andaman Islands responsibly

The Andaman Islands are changing. Climate change, warming seas, tourism and other pressures mean that protecting the islands' natural environment is more important than ever.

But there is also plenty of reason for optimism.

The resilience shown by many coral reefs after bleaching demonstrates that recovery is possible when conditions improve. Scientists and government agencies continue to monitor coral health and work on conservation and restoration initiatives in the Andaman Islands.

As visitors, we can be part of that story.

Choose responsible operators.

Keep your distance from marine life.

Never touch or stand on coral.

Take only photographs.

Leave only bubbles.

And give yourself enough time to slow down and appreciate the extraordinary underwater world surrounding Havelock Island.

Staying at Emerald Gecko Resort

If you're planning a Havelock Island holiday, Emerald Gecko Resort is a relaxed base from which to explore the beaches, forests and marine environment of Swaraj Dweep.

Ask us about arranging experiences with reputable local operators and planning your island adventures around the weather, sea conditions and your interests.

Because the best Andaman Islands tourism experiences aren't always the ones with the biggest crowds.

Sometimes, they're the ones where you have the time to stop, float, look down — and discover an entire world beneath you.

Come and explore island life, above and below the water.