Sisters Island – Cinque & Passage Island Dive Site

25m Max

15-35m Vis

boat

Site Overview

Sisters Island is a beautiful offshore reef dive site in the Cinque and Passage Island region offering a more relaxed diving experience than the dramatic pinnacle and grotto sites while still delivering excellent coral biodiversity and reliable marine encounters in the clear Andaman Sea waters south of Port Blair. The reef slope descends from 5 meters along the shallow reef crest to a maximum depth of 25 meters across a series of coral bommies, wall sections, and sandy channels that create diverse habitats supporting healthy coral communities and abundant reef fish populations. Hawksbill turtles are regularly encountered foraging on the reef slope while whitetip reef sharks rest on sandy ledges at the base of the wall sections. Giant moray eels occupy every available crevice in the coral bommies with some individuals reaching impressive sizes of over 2 meters in length. Napoleon wrasse occasionally cruise the shallower reef slopes investigating the coral formations while schools of barracuda flash through the blue water above the reef crest. The moderate currents bring nutrients that sustain the rich coral communities and attract diverse reef fish creating an endlessly fascinating underwater landscape that rewards patient exploration. The combination of healthy coral ecosystems, reliable turtle and shark encounters, and more accessible conditions than the neighboring pinnacle sites makes Sisters Island an excellent intermediate dive site for divers visiting the Cinque and Passage Island region.

Dive Briefing

"A typical dive at Sisters Island begins with entry from the dive boat at the shallowest reef crest at approximately 5 meters allowing divers to orient themselves and assess the current direction before beginning the descent along the offshore reef slope. Once established on the reef divers should swim along the slope at 12 to 22 meters depth where the highest concentration of marine life is found among the coral bommies and wall sections while maintaining excellent buoyancy control to protect the coral formations. The most productive depth zone is between 14 and 22 meters where hawksbill turtles, whitetip reef sharks, and giant moray eels are most commonly encountered foraging and resting on the reef formations. Navigate along the slope watching for hawksbill turtles on the bommie tops, whitetip reef sharks on the sandy ledges, and giant moray eels extending from every available crevice in the coral bommies. Check the bommie overhangs carefully for sheltering napoleon wrasse, juvenile fish, and other reef species. The current typically flows along the slope creating gentle drift diving conditions that bring nutrients and allow effortless exploration of multiple reef sections during a single dive. Conclude the dive on the shallower reef crest enjoying the abundant coral gardens before completing a safety stop at 5 meters deploying your DSMB before surfacing near the dive boat."