Things To Do In Havelock

Havelock Island is known for its beautiful white sand beaches, colourful coral reefs and its thick mangrove forests. It is amazing, how a tiny island such as Havelock can offer so many things to do. Starting from sun-bathing on its soft sands to plunging into its tranquil waters, the island has many activities in store for those who want to indulge. Read on to find out the details about the things to do in Havelock.

Scuba Diving is one of the most popular activities in Havelock. There are a number of diving schools offering courses for beginners. The most popular among them are the Andaman Dive Club, Andaman Bubbles, Barefoot Scuba, Dive India and Doongi Dives. All centres have nearly the same rates and operate on all the known dive sites. The course usually consists of a training session, whereby you get accustomed to the gear and the water. The dive centres provide all the necessary gear and you will be guided by a trained instructor. Once you are ready for the dive, speed boats are used to get to the dive site. The next part is pure magic. For about half an hour you will be among the majestic marine empire, with schools of fishes and corals all around you. The centres often provide divers with underwater photographers to capture their underwater adventure.

Havelock is blessed with many dive sites and depending on the site you will be able to see seahorses, parrotfish, scorpion fish, dolphins, rays, eels, turtles and if you are lucky may be even sharks! Among the popular dive locations are the Lighthouse, The Aquarium, Pilot Reef, Dixons Pinnacle, Jackson’s Bar and Johnny’s gorge. Every dive site has a unique landscape, some rocky, some populated with corals and some swarming with colourful fishes. Whichever site you choose the experience is bound to be memorable.

When it comes to experiencing the beauty underwater, scuba diving is not the only option. One of the cheapest, safest and easiest of options is snorkeling. Havelock is blessed with beautiful underwater scenery that doesn’t require you to go too far from the shore. Radhanagar Beach is the most popular snorkeling spot, with corals and exotic marine life so close to the shore. The same can be said of the Elephant Beach, which has a coral reef so close that the site is really very shallow; this means you don’t have to be a swimmer to enjoy this spot. There are many sites further away into the sea and you can almost always hire boats to reach these locations. Some such sites are South Button, the lighthouse and tamarind camp. The best part about snorkeling in Havelock is that you can take your gear and swim off the coasts of any beach and you are sure to find some beautiful fish or sea turtle or walls of corals.

The Elephant Beach and Havelock Jetty are lined with boats that can be hired. After all, there is no better way to experience the beauty of the island. People usually take boats to different points like the lighthouse, or the aquarium from where they can dive. Tourists also go on game fishing trips with local organizers, which is an exciting activity in itself. The boats can also be hired to visit the uninhabited islands near Havelock. Perhaps the most adventurous of them all is Kayaking. It is best suited for six people and you can easily find a centre to train you with basic kayaking techniques. The Kayaks can be taken through the beautiful mangroves of Havelock that is truly a sight to behold. These activities like most are heavily dependent on the weather so it is best avoided during the monsoon.

The island, though small, has many secrets hidden within it. A multitude of birds and animals wander within the tropical forests. One popular trek route begins from the elephant beach. More often than not the resorts organize treks for their residents but if you are interested in exploring all your options, Barefoot Eco Tours arrange quite a few interesting treks. An interesting fact about Havelock is that it has its own confluence point and it can be an interesting trek if you go confluence hunting.

A little ahead of elephant beach lays a spot that is perfect for sea walking. The site is about 10 meters deep and is rich in all sorts of marine life. You can take a boat from Havelock Jetty to Elephant beach, where you will receive the equipment and a basic training in shallow waters. Then you will be taken to the site, where much like Scuba Diving you will be accompanied by a photographer to capture your underwater moments with aquatic plants and fishes. You will usually receive a good half hour to explore the world under water. You can book sea walking at Sea Link Adventures and at Experience Andamans.