Mantas

in Andaman Islands!

Liveaboard trip 06/04 –17/04 2008

Andaman Dive Safari

Mermaid I

50 meters visibility, 400 meter deep walls, lots of Manta Rays, smoking volcanos and Paneer Butter Masala Dosas. Interested anyone?

This was the maiden voyage to the Andaman Islands for Mermaid 1, so everybody was quite excited about the whole thing.
Even though the Andamans belong to India, they are actually much closer to Burma. During the crossing from Phuket, we got entertained big-time by hundreds and hundreds of Dolphins, pods of Pilot Whales and even a family of Killer Whales just next to the boat!

After a day’s diving in the south, we headed out to Invisible Bank, in the middle of nowhere. Apart from a flat rock just breaking the surface, there’s nothing for 5-6 hours in any direction. We had Grey Reef Sharks, Whitetip Sharks, many big Napoleonfish and plenty of Nursesharks, seven of them together in one small cave!

Barren Island was next. An active volcano, with smoke still coming out since the last outbreak in 2004. Massive lavaflows runs straight out into the sea, creating a very special underwater scenario. Stunning visibility, gorgeous soft corals, seemingly bottomless walls and plenty of fish. The first Mantas of the trip also made an appearance here.

Cruising further north, we reached Narcondam Island, another volcano, however not particularly active at the moment. Having said that, we had several dives with bubbles coming up from the hot sand! Manta Rays on almost every dive here, schools of Jackfish, Unicornfish, Bumphead Parrotfish, Surgeonfish and Barracudas, lots and lots of Purple Fire Gobies, just to mention a few of the sightings. Again, fantastic visibility and beautiful coral gardens.

At Campbell Shoal, another submerged bank, we felt like diving in a huge aquarium. Zillions of colourful fish; Anthias, Butterflyfish, Snappers, Bannerfish, Fusilliers as well as big Napoleonfish, Nursesharks, Batfish and Turtles. And we saw the first of the rare Indian Ocean Spinecheek Anemonefish (which, by the way, look like regular Ocellaris, with your camera’s white balance slightly off...).

We ended this trip with a splendid dive at South Button’s healthy reefs, and a relaxed afternoon at the absolute best beach in the Andamans – Havelock Island!

So what about the Paneer Butter Masala Dosas? Well, to enjoy these delicacies, you have to visit the local restaurant ”Annapurna” at the top of the hill in Port Blair, Andaman Islands. Bon appétit!

PJ Widestrand

Video-Pro
Mermaid I

Liveaboard diving Thailand, Myanmar, Bali - Komodo and the Andaman Islands.