Sri Vijaya Puram, May 16: The Directorate of Information, Publicity and Tourism, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, has identified four new scuba diving sites in the Diglipur region as part of efforts to expand adventure tourism activities in North and Middle Andaman district.
The initiative aims to diversify leisure and recreational water sports activities and promote marine tourism in the region.
Authorities stated that the newly identified dive sites are expected to provide additional opportunities for scuba diving operators and attract tourists interested in underwater exploration and marine adventure activities.
The Diglipur region, particularly areas around Ross and Smith Islands, is known for its marine biodiversity, coral ecosystems and clear coastal waters, making it suitable for scuba diving activities.
The identified dive locations include both shore diving and boat diving sites.
The first site, located near Ross and Smith Islands, has been identified for shore diving activities with a depth range between two and 12 metres.
A second boat diving site has been identified northeast of Ross and Smith Islands with depths ranging from three to 11 metres.
The third site, referred to as “Small Wall off Ross Island”, is a boat diving location with depths ranging from eight to 21 metres.
Another site identified as “Wall of Craggy/Gentle Slope” offers diving depths between eight and 31 metres and has also been designated for boat diving activities.
According to the Tourism Department, the identification of these scuba diving sites has been undertaken in response to long-standing demands from tourism operators and boat owners in North and Middle Andaman, who have been advocating for the expansion of scuba diving and adventure tourism activities in the Diglipur region to attract more visitors and promote the area as a major tourism destination.
Adventure tourism activities such as scuba diving have witnessed increasing interest among domestic and international tourists visiting the Islands.
This initiative is expected to support tourism-related economic activities in the region while creating additional opportunities for registered dive operators and associated service providers.
Tourism operators, scuba diving centres and authorized dive professionals have now been invited to register for conducting scuba diving activities in the Diglipur region in accordance with the prescribed operational, environmental and safety guidelines laid down by the Administration. All operators will be required to follow established safety protocols, ensure proper use of certified diving equipment and maintain necessary permissions and trained personnel while conducting activities at the newly identified dive sites.
The diving activities in the identified areas will be regulated under existing tourism and safety protocols to ensure environmental protection and visitor safety.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands continue to remain one of India’s major marine tourism destinations, with scuba diving, snorkelling and other water-based adventure activities attracting visitors throughout the year.
