Andaman Islands · India · Reef
Barren Island
Coral reef below the Indian subcontinent's only active volcano
Photo: Holobionics · CC BY-SA 4.0
Barren Island sits alone in the Andaman Sea, about 138 km northeast of Port Blair, and carries the only confirmed active volcano in the Indian subcontinent. The diving is on its northern side, where an extensive reef runs from the rock face down to the depths under layers of thick branching coral. The island is a restricted area and boats keep their distance, so it is seen from the water rather than ashore.
Where it is and how deep
12.2833° N, 93.8667° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
Boats work the northern side of the island, where the reef runs from the rock face straight down to the depths. The recreational profile tops out at 23 m, so most of the dive is spent moving along the coral rather than chasing depth. Layers of thick branching coral cover the slope, broken by the basalt formations the island's volcanic origin leaves underwater.
Reef fish hold over the coral, and reef sharks, stingrays and sea snakes are on PADI's list for the site; nudibranchs are the reason to slow down on the shallower stretches. Manta rays are reported in the clear water around the island, though nothing here is guaranteed. The dive ends back on the boat: Barren Island is a restricted area, so the surface interval is spent on deck watching the volcano rather than ashore.
Background
Barren Island holds the only confirmed active volcano in the Indian subcontinent. Its first recorded eruption dates back to 1787, and the volcano has been in an almost constant state of eruption since January 2022. The island is a restricted area within the Andaman Islands and boats are required to keep a safe distance, so the volcano is watched from the water — by liveaboard, or on boats run by scuba operators based at Swaraj Island.
Marine life and season
- Manta rays
- Reef sharks
- Stingrays
- Sea snakes
- Nudibranchs
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Off-season | Off-season | Off-season | Off-season | Fair | Good | Prime |
Season follows Andaman Islands: SW monsoon (Jun-Sep) brings rough seas and heavy rain that close most operators; the Dec-Apr dry season gives the best visibility and calmest boat rides.
Know before you go
- The volcano has been in an almost constant state of eruption since January 2022, and access is restricted during periods of unrest.
- Barren Island is a restricted area within the Andaman Islands and boats are required to keep a safe distance, so dives are run entirely from the boat.
- The site is 138 km of open sea northeast of Port Blair, so the trip needs settled weather and divers who are comfortable on a long crossing.
Photos from Barren Island
Rohitjahnavi · CC BY-SA 3.0
Dive videos
Beneath Barren Island (Scuba Diving) · stormzsystem on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is the diving at Barren Island?+
The maximum depth on the site is 23 m. The reef carries on below that, from the island's rock face down to the depths, but the recreational dive stays on the upper coral.
Can you go ashore on Barren Island?+
Barren Island is a restricted area within the Andaman Islands and boats are required to keep a safe distance, so the site is dived from a liveaboard or from a boat run by scuba operators based at Swaraj Island.
Sources
- Barren Island (Andaman Islands) — Wikipedia
- Barren Island dive site — PADI
- Andaman and Nicobar Islands — Wikivoyage
Photo credits
- A red feather star crinoid perched on branching coral on the reef at Barren Island by Holobionics, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Barren Island's volcanic cone rising above the sea, seen from a boat with haze around the summit by Rohitjahnavi, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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