Destination: The Andaman Islands (India)

Located approximately 800 kilometers northwest of Phuket, there are actually two island chains here: The Andaman Islands and the Nicobar Islands are a huge area extending north from Sumatra, all the way to the Bay of Bengal. India governs both. After a 50 year period of virtual isolation from the outside world the Indian government in 1993 made the decision to allow limited, environmentally conscious tourism development including scuba diving and yachting and boat charters. The Andaman Islands are one of the world’s most remote diving destinations and weeks can be spent sailing and diving around the islands (click for a dive site map). The Nicobar Islands remain closed to outsiders due to the attempts to protect the indigenous tribes from disease and harm, and thankfully, this scenario is unlikely to change any time soon. 

Subscribe to our Mai Pen Rai Journal