A Sigh of Relief in Havelock – The Spiritual Draw of Scuba Diving in Andaman

Havelock had been long talked about in India\'s backpacking community. Some referred to it as the last island paradise of the country. Others merely said it was home. But beneath its white sand beaches and hammock-strewn guesthouses existed an experience few hadn\'t anticipated to transform them: Scuba Diving in Andaman. Scuba diving in Havelock wasn\'t taken as a thrill activity here. It was presented more in the nature of an invitation—one that many didn\'t even realize they had until they reached 18 meters underwater. Dive centers, some owned by long-established expats, others by eager locals, hummed with excitement each morning. Tourists gulped black coffee while rolling into wetsuits. Instructors readied equipment, their lingo interspersed with excitement and confidence. For first-time divers, jitters generally disappeared once in the water. The reefs of Havelock were some of the healthiest in South Asia. Turtles used to drive by slowly, and angelfish, moray eels, and reef sharks glided in sync with the sea. Scuba Diving in Andaman was not merely looking; it was being part of a world that had always existed, waiting patiently. Most tourists enrolled in PADI Scuba Dive Courses in Andaman Islands without having any experience. Learning in Havelock seemed less daunting. Courses were divided into manageable pieces. Pool time was conducted in the lagoon shallows, and instructors were as patient as monks. Advanced courses advanced divers even more—both in ability and in attitude. One such diver was a Pune schoolteacher who had traveled to Havelock on a 4-day holiday and ended up staying there for 6 weeks. She had only planned to make one dive. But something in the blue captured her heart. Soon, she had done her Open Water, then her Advanced, and then enrolled for the Dive Master course. Her tale was not unusual. Havelock had a knack of drawing people in gradually and never releasing them.