Overview
Explore Barren Island on a full-day scuba diving trip from Havelock, designed for certified divers. The experience combines a long open-sea boat journey with two guided fun dives around the island’s volcanic underwater terrain.
Barren Island is around 140 km from Havelock, with underwater sites featuring volcanic rock, walls, coral, sand chutes and boulders. The trip takes about 8–10 hours, including around 3.5 hours of boat travel each way in suitable conditions.
Each dive lasts around 30 minutes, with a hot lunch and refreshments between dives. The usual depth is 18–30 metres. Deeper 30–40 metre sections may be available for suitable Advanced Open Water divers with 20+ logged dives.
Marine life may include tuna, giant trevally, jacks, fusiliers, snappers, rays and other reef species. Manta rays and reef sharks are possible but not guaranteed. Visibility can reach around 25–40 metres in good conditions.
A recognised Open Water Diver certification is required. Advanced Open Water is recommended for deeper dives, and a refresher is advised if you have not dived for over 12 months.
Scuba equipment, safety gear, certified divemaster, GoPro photos/videos and permit assistance are provided. The permit fee is separate. Divers cannot land on the island, and the trip may change or be cancelled due to weather, sea conditions or volcanic activity.
Itinerary
- Day 1
Barren Island Scuba Diving
- Early morning pickup from the Havelock hotel.
- Transfer to the jetty and complete the boat briefing.
- Begin the approximately 3.5-hour open-sea crossing.
- Reach the Barren Island dive area.
- Prepare equipment and complete the first guided fun dive.
- Return to the boat for surface interval and lunch.
- Conduct the second guided dive at another suitable site.
- Begin the return journey to Havelock.
- Hotel drop after reaching the island.
Difficulty and fitness
Good fitness for long boat travel and current-assisted diving.
- Maintain regular swimming/cardio activity and be comfortable with open-water diving.
What to bring
Ensure your certification and recent-diving experience meet the operator's requirements. If your last dive was more than 12 months ago, complete a refresher before this trip. Prepare for a long open-sea boat journey and carry motion-sickness medication if needed.
Essentials
- Dive certification card
- Dive log if available
- Swimwear
- Towel and dry clothes
- Reef-safe sunscreen
- Sunglasses and sunhat
- Motion-sickness medication if required
- Government photo ID
Getting there
Hotel pickup in Havelock before sunrise; transfer to the departure jetty.
Reach Havelock Island/Swaraj Dweep by scheduled marine transport. The operator provides hotel pickup and transfers guests to the departure jetty. The boat journey to Barren Island takes approximately 3.5 hours each way in calm conditions.
Trip details
Included
- Return private dive boat
- 2 guided fun dives
- Full scuba equipment
- Tanks and weights
- Certified divemaster
- Hot lunch and drinks
- GoPro photos/videos
- Hotel pickup/drop
- Safety equipment
- Permit assistance
Not included
- Forest Department permit fee
- Personal expenses
- Dive certification/refresher course
- Anything not listed under inclusions
Before you book
- This is not a beginner or discovery dive.
- Minimum certification: recognised Open Water Diver.
- Advanced Open Water is recommended for deeper drift sections.
- 20+ logged dives are required for the 30–40 m deep drift sites.
- Divers who have not dived for more than 12 months should complete a refresher.
- No flying is recommended within 18 hours after the final dive.
- Barren Island is a protected volcanic environment; landing is prohibited.
- Marine-life sightings are natural and cannot be guaranteed.
- The trip depends on calm enough sea conditions.
Safety notes
- Open Water certification is mandatory.
- Follow the divemaster's instructions throughout both dives.
- Current can increase around parts of the volcanic wall.
- Maintain appropriate depth and buoyancy control.
- Stay with the dive group.
- Do not touch or collect marine life.
- The trip operates only when sea conditions are suitable.
- The operator may cancel or modify the trip because of weather, sea state or volcanic activity.
Participant requirements
Name, age, certification, logged dives, last dive date and medical declaration.
Your operator
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