Best Spots for Underwater Photography in Havelock Island

Havelock Island, officially known as Swaraj Dweep, is a paradise not just above water but especially below it. If you are planning a photography trip to the Andaman Islands, the underwater world of Havelock should be at the top of your list.

Elephant Beach

Elephant Beach is perhaps the most accessible underwater photography spot on the island. The shallow coral gardens here are vibrant and teeming with life — parrotfish, angelfish, and the occasional sea turtle glide among the hard and soft corals. The water clarity regularly exceeds 15 metres of visibility, which makes it exceptional for both snorkellers with action cameras and scuba divers with professional housings.

The best time to visit is between October and May, when the seas are calm and the sun angle is perfectly suited for capturing the golden coral formations in the late morning.

Neil's Cove (Radhanagar Adjacent)

A lesser-known gem, Neil's Cove sits at the southern tip of Havelock and rewards patient photographers with encounters with reef sharks and schools of silver jack fish. The deeper reefs here start at about 12 metres and descend into dramatic drop-offs that create a compelling sense of depth in wide-angle shots.

Gear Tips for Andaman Underwater Shoots

• Use a wide-angle dome port for reef-wide shots and a macro lens for nudibranchs and tiny flounder hiding in the sand.
• Bring two strobes — natural light is beautiful but colour-corrected artificial light reveals the true saturation of Andaman corals.
• Shoot RAW. The post-processing flexibility is crucial when dealing with the slight colour cast from water depth.

Booking a local guide who is also a diver is strongly recommended. Our AndamanLens-verified photographers who specialise in underwater work know the exact tides and seasons that produce the clearest shots.