Lakshadweep — Your ticket to amazing scuba diving sans visa and international flights

Diving among pristine coral reefs teeming with extravagantly coloured fish you’ve only seen in National Geographic shows is something that features on most bucket lists. You’ve probably pushed it further down your list considering your meager savings or the hassles of organizing a trip to a foreign country.

What if I told you, you can do that and more in India at a fraction of the cost you would incur at, say Thailand or Australia? Enter Lakshadweep, a group of islands in the Arabian Sea, off the coast of Kerala.

The Union Territory of Lakshadweep is an archipelago consisting of 39 islands and islets, of which only 11 are inhabited. The coral reefs at Lakshadweep are atolls (a roughly circular ring of reefs surrounding a lagoon or a low-lying island), and they are a part of the largest atoll system in the world.

Getting there

Agatti is the only island with an airport. Air India operates flights to Agatti from Kochi. You could fly to Agatti and arrange for boat/ship transfers to other islands.

Or you could turn this into an ocean adventure and sail on a ship from Kochi or Mangalore. The Society for Promotion of Nature Tourism and Sports (SPORTS) offers island tours wherein you spend the day on an island, and return to the ship at night, with the ship sailing to a different island overnight.

Be sure to visit only via recognized agencies. Moreover, certain islands have very basic facilities so do not go there expecting five-star luxury. This is one of the trade-offs of experiencing a relatively untouched natural environment.

Scuba diving at Lakshadweep

Kadmat, Kavaratti, and Bangaram islands have the best scuba diving sites. PADI-certified instructors at diving centers ensure that you are in safe hands. A scuba diving outing will only set you back by Rs1500-2500/-. You could also earn a diving license at the Laccadives Kadmat Dive School, which offers introductory to advanced courses.

Not brave enough to dive into the depths of the ocean? No fear. On certain islands, the reefs are in knee-deep water, making it easy for you to view the reefs while snorkeling. You could also just take it all in within the confines of a glass-bottomed boat. Or simply lounge on the white sand beaches and marvel at the paradise before your eyes.

The people of Lakshadweep are warm and hospitable by nature. Malayalam and Jeseri (a dialect related to Malayalam) are the principal languages spoken in Lakshadweep. In the Minicoy island, Mahl, a dialect of Maldivian, is spoken due to Minicoy’s proximity to the Maldives.

What’s stopping you from finding your own Nemo?

Also read

8 reasons every Indian woman should travel alone at least once in her life

Going beyond the resorts, 12 incredible adventure & travel experiences in India

This pictorial journey of Karnataka, will make you want to explore this beautiful state!