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Scuba Diving in Havelock Island in the Andamans was my primary reason to visit the Islands. On my birthday in 2015, I gifted my self Advanced Open Water Diver Certification from Andaman and Nicobar Islands. I got completely AQUADDICTED post my first dive in Lakshadweep Islands. I took this passion of mine to next level by getting myself an Open Water Diver Certification from Gili Islands. I had heard a lot from my SCUBA instructor friends about Andaman sea hiding many marine gems in its vast expanse. I inquired about good sites in Andaman Islands and chose Havelock Island for my advanced course and few fun dives.  Diving sites around Havelock Island Out of a total of 5 specialty dives, deep diving and underwater navigation are mandatory. I had to choose any of the 3 dives from wreck diving, night diving, search and recovery, drift diving, boat diving, underwater naturalist, Fish Identification, Nitrox/Enriched Air, Shark AWARE conservation multilevel and computer diving, peak performance buoyancy, underwater photography and videography. Navigation is one of the most important skill one needs for underwater diving. Even after the training, I still suck with Navigation Diving. My body kept shooting up and down while diving during my Open Water Diver certification in Gili Islands. To keep myself better streamlined in water, I took up Peak Performance Buoyancy Diving. Heights and depths have always thrilled me. I was looking forward to the Deep Dive. I was not too much in favor of Night Dive, but my instructor persuaded me to try that once to witness creatures that come out in the night, which are different to those seen in the daytime. Night Dive gets scary as you can't see anything beyond the light of your torch and you don't even know the dive site (even though you should dive in the night only in the sites you have dived earlier). The planktons glowed in the dark (bioluminescence) and it felt like the stars had come down in the ocean to glamorize the dive for me. And because I had to write this blog, I had taken up Underwater Photography Dive as well. I have a lot to learn for underwater photography.  The mornings that start with a giant stride dip in the middle of the ocean can't be any less motivating for me, specially when I have to navigate through beautiful creatures in the most peaceful location of the earth, instead of navigating through traffic jams on my way to office!  Giant Stride entry into the giant Andaman Sea  Using line to descend Diving Sites near Havelock Island: Diving sites around Havelock Island JOHNY'S GEORGE: 30 metersMy first deep dive left a mark in my mind as it was the first time I had spotted 2 sharks - White Tip Shark. While I swam across this giant aquarium, I also spotted Giant Groupers, Snappers, Sweet Lips, Trevally and soft corals.  The abundance - Scuba Diving in Andaman Islands  Shoal of sweet lips - Scuba Diving in Andaman Islands MINERVA'S LEDGE: 18 metersIt is a vast site, a plateau of colorful corals and abundant marine life. I spent more time photographing the beauty around me. The fish kept running away and I kept chasing them to picture them. I spotted Red tooth Triggerfish, Clown Triggerfish, Longfin Bannerfish, Emperor Angelfish, Yellow masked Angelfish  School of Longfin Bannerfish - Scuba Diving in Andaman Islands  Soft coral - Scuba Diving in Andaman Islands DIXON'S PINNACLE: 30 metersThis is the best dive site near Havelock Island. It is a group of 3 pinnacles surrounded with Barracuda, Scorpion Fish, Giant Groupers, Giant Trevally, Bat fish, Glass fish and perched with beautiful Big Barrel Sponges. The feeling of descending towards the pinnacle and diving around it was the highlight.  Scuba Diving in Andaman Islands  Dixon's Pinnacle - Scuba Diving in Andaman Islands
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Author
Namaste! I'm Medhavi Davda.
I travel to Evolve.. In Nature, I confide.. I find my calling in the Himalayas.. In the Oceans, I meditate.. A High-Altitude Trekker & PADI certified SCUBA Diver, I love exploring the heights and depths of the planet with my regular doses of mountains and oceans. Discovering myself & life through nature, adventures, travels, sports and dance has been an addiction since my existence! Quite fond of the natural & cultural diversity of India, I've travelled extensively in my own country before exploring international destinations. I had left my 9+ yrs of career in Software Industry in a quest to make a living out of my passions. I packed my basics in my car (gave away the rest) and lived in different parts of Himachal Pradesh for 16 months. This invaluable time taught me to experience life from a broader perspective. I'm currently living in Mumbai to work with an Adventure Travel company as a product manager for Scuba Diving. I continue living a minimalistic life. RavenousLegs on InstagramRavenousLegs on FaceBookRavenousLegs on TwitterRecent PostsTravel to Sri Lanka amid economic crisis? Media and Reality: My first-hand experience
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