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Snorkeling In India: 5 Great Reasons to Go There Now
With its white-sand beaches and tropical islands, India is a must-visit snorkeling destination, but it doesn’t get the attention it deserves. There are isolated coral reefs, numerous shipwrecks, remote atolls, and shallow coral gardens that host an eye-popping array of marine life. With India recently opening its borders to fully vaccinated travelers, now is the time to explore this incredible destination before the rest of the world finds out.
1. Choose from numerous idyllic destinations.
With over 8000 kilometers of coastline and 1382 islands nestled in the Indian Ocean, India has a huge variety of destinations and world-class snorkeling spots. The best time to visit India’s top destinations varies, meaning you can find somewhere in India to indulge your inner mermaid at almost any time of year.
The Andaman Islands are surrounded by bright blue waters and fringed with isolated coral reefs, making them one of the best places to go snorkeling in India. It is a tropical paradise destination with thriving mangroves that support diverse marine life and extraordinary birdlife.
Havelock Island and Neil Island are two of the most exceptional snorkeling spots in the Andaman Islands and are regularly rated as two of the best places for scuba diving in India.
2. Snorkel among vibrant marine life in crystal-clear waters.
Sitting in the warm Indian Ocean, India’s snorkeling sites host a dazzling array of life, including abundant tropical reef fish, lionfish, moray eels and prized critters. Manta rays, whales and dolphins are also seen in India’s waters.
Sea turtles are regularly spotted cruising the reefs and nest at many of India’s islands, including at the Lakshadweep archipelago.
Kadmat Island (Cardamom Island) in Lakshadweep is all about turquoise seas, white sand beaches and encounters with numerous sea turtles. With healthy seagrass beds and coral reefs to explore, it is a mecca for marine life. Make sure you leave time to visit this impossibly idyllic island.
3. Explore endless golden beaches and castaway islands.
India’s islands are easily on a par with better-known island destinations such as the Maldives and Mauritius. There are swathes of golden and white sand beaches to explore, plus numerous untouched coral reefs and remote atolls.
Bangaram Atoll is entirely surrounded by coral reefs and the continuous nature of the reef makes it one of the most interesting places to snorkel at Lakshadweep. As well as gorgeous corals, Bangaram hosts Princess Royal, a famous 200-year-old shipwreck that attracts divers from around the world.
Sitting on the west coast of India by the Arabian Sea, Goa is known for its long beaches and lively nightlife. But if you step back from the bustling bars, you will find picturesque snorkeling sites and a destination rich in culture and history.
There are several snorkeling spots to choose from at Goa, with Grande Island being one of the most popular. The water can be cloudy around Goa but the shallow coral gardens, abundant fish life, and underwater shipwrecks make up for it.
4. Visit the chic ‘French Capital of India’.
Puducherry’s crystal-clear waters are enough to attract any keen snorkeler to explore this well-known French colonial settlement and the surrounding area.
Above water, Puducherry is a quaint destination with a French Quarter of bougainvillea-lined streets, colorful colonial villas, and sophisticated boutiques. You could easily while away a couple of days there.
Below water is equally as eye-catching, with a huge range of marine environments along Puducherry’s vast coastline. There are unexplored coral reefs and shipwrecks, plus famous dive sites that also offer great snorkeling.
Aravind Wall at Puducherry is a popular snorkeling spot that is renowned for its diverse marine life. As well as numerous vibrant reef fish, there are lionfish, eels, rays, parrotfish, and crustaceans. If you visit during February or March, you might even see a passing whale shark.
5. See the second tallest Shiva statue in the world.
Netrani Island (Pigeon Island) is one of India’s best-known snorkeling spots and sits off the famous temple town of Murdeshwar. Shaped like a heart, it is also known as ‘the heart of India’s diving’ and offers world-class snorkeling with excellent conditions.
There are rarely any currents at Netrani, making it an ideal destination for snorkelers who like easy conditions or want to earn their Open Water Diver certification.
Start your days by exploring Netrani’s diverse coral landscapes then visit the fascinating Murdeshwar temple, which hosts the second largest Shiva statue in the world. At 123 feet (37 meters) tall, the statue is an impressive sight.
When is the best time to go snorkeling in India?
The best time to go snorkeling in India depends on which area of India you are visiting:
- Andaman Islands: November to April.
- Lakshadweep: October to May.
- Goa: October to May.
- Puducherry: February to April, September to November.
- Netrani Island: October to May.
Kathryn Curzon, a shark conservationist and dive travel writer for SSI (Scuba Schools International), wrote this article.