Jolly Buoy Island – South Andaman Dive Site

16m Max

15-40m Vis

boat

Site Overview

Jolly Buoy Island is the crown jewel of the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park and widely regarded as the most beautiful dive site in South Andaman offering extraordinary pristine coral biodiversity in calm protected waters that create the perfect environment for divers of all experience levels to explore one of India finest reef ecosystems. The fringing reef surrounds the tiny uninhabited island extending from 3 meters along the shore to a maximum depth of 16 meters across spectacular coral gardens, sandy channels, and bommie formations that support the healthiest coral communities found anywhere in the Andaman Islands due to strict Marine National Park protection and minimal human impact. The site is renowned for its extraordinary coral diversity with massive table corals, staghorn formations, brain corals, and gorgonian sea fans creating an underwater garden of remarkable beauty and biodiversity. Hawksbill turtles forage peacefully on the reef slopes while schools of parrotfish graze on the coral substrate in impressive numbers. Blacktip reef sharks patrol the deeper channels and blue spotted stingrays rest on the open sand between coral formations. The crystal clear water and pristine coral conditions create visibility regularly exceeding 30 meters making Jolly Buoy Island the best site for underwater photography and marine biodiversity observation in the entire South Andaman region and a must-visit destination for any diver exploring the Andaman Islands.

Dive Briefing

"A typical dive at Jolly Buoy Island begins with entry from the dive boat at the shallowest point of the reef crest at approximately 3 to 5 meters allowing divers to orient themselves over the spectacular coral gardens before beginning the gentle descent along the fringing reef slope. Once oriented divers should swim slowly across the coral gardens and sandy channels maintaining excellent buoyancy control to protect the extraordinarily pristine coral formations that have been carefully preserved through Marine National Park protection. The most productive depth zone is between 6 and 14 meters where the highest concentration of coral biodiversity, reef fish, and turtle encounters are found among the coral bommies and sandy channels. Navigate along the reef slope watching for hawksbill turtles foraging on the bommies, schools of parrotfish grazing on the coral substrate, and blacktip reef sharks patrolling the deeper channels between reef formations. Check the coral bommies carefully for juvenile fish, nudibranchs, and the extraordinary diversity of invertebrate species that thrive in the protected Marine National Park environment. The shallow depth profile allows extended bottom time with no decompression concerns making this site ideal for photography dives, marine biodiversity surveys, and relaxed exploration of one of India most pristine reef systems. Conclude the dive in the shallowest coral gardens enjoying the abundant marine life before completing a safety stop at 5 meters and surfacing near the dive boat."