There is so much said about the beauty of Lakshadweep Islands. But there is also a lot said about the difficulty of getting there given the elaborate entry permit process. As a diver, all tropical destinations are on the bucket list for me. But I thought, how much more beautiful can Lakshadweep be compared to the Andamans? I did not know until I went there that the answer is SIGNIFICANTLY.
A few months back I randomly received an Instagram text from a diver in Lakshadweep. He saw my posts from previous dive trips and dropped in a text saying I should come dive with them in Lakshadweep. I did not give it much thought because of the entry process and costs involved and told him that I would definitely plan it at a later point of time. He then gave me some much needed motivation saying that the dive centre there helps with the entry permit and the cost of diving and travelling within the islands is significantly cheaper than almost all dive destinations. He was right. It is one of the cheapest diving destinations in India and easily also the best one in the country.
Credits: Ratheesh Ramdas
As someone who loves the ocean and also the colour blue, I can never get enough of crystal clear turquoise waters. I will stare at them in awe with a drool on my face no matter how many times I see them (will probably also jump straight in with no second thought). Lakshadweep was full of staggering beaches and blue waters. From the time my flight landed in Agatti to the moment it took off, I was accompanied by these waters throughout.
I decided that I will be doing my Deep Specialty Course and also a lot of fun dives to improve my skills and feel more confident in water. Since I had already seen sharks, I thought the marine life here would not really surprise me. I have never been more wrong in my life. On my very first day there I spotted two massive turtles from the jetty while I was waiting for my boat! That’s when I realised how much more scuba diving around these islands has to offer. The days that followed exceeded my expectations with sightings of eagle rays, sharks, schools of fish, countless turtles and mobula rays!
Credits: Ratheesh Ramdas
Lakshadweep’s waters are extremely rich in terms of coral reefs and marine life. Being a protected area, the reefs here are a lot more pristine and the waters offer high visibility on almost all days during season time. Unlike most dive sites in India which are flat or gentle slopes, Lakshadweep is home to coral walls and steep slopes that stand out in the most astonishing fashion. The walls are decorated with carnation tree corals which light up the reef with colour and are absolutely delightful to see during a dive. Turtles are a regular on all dives here. I did not know that turtles could grow as big as me until I saw one the size of me on one of my dives!
Credits: Ratheesh Ramdas
What made my diving in Lakshadweep even more exciting was a night dive. I had never gone on a night dive before and was super excited to see what the underwater world is like in the dark. First, there was so much bioluminescence when we dived in. The water under us lit up with the movement of our fins and I knew it was only going to get better. We were diving at a dive site called Wall of Wonder, a truly fitting name for the reef. One might think, what can you really see during a night dive? A tonne of things you can’t see during the day! We got to see some very interesting looking fish in the wall, a lot of resting turtles, and some colourful squid. The carnations corals also glittered from the light in our torch. I would say Christmas came a little early underwater!
Credits: Ratheesh Ramdas
A dive trip to the Lakshadweep Islands is probably a diver’s dream come true. Not a dull moment diving here, with sharks and rays greeting you on all days! The islands are fragile and are a biodiversity hotspot for this very reason. If you ask me, there is no other place I would rather be diving in India!
