Tourists Advised to Avail Services of Registered Scuba Dive Centres  

Port Blair, Feb 2: Andaman and Nicobar Islands have emerged as one of the best destinations in the region for scuba diving activity. To promote the scuba diving in the Islands and to ensure the safety of the tourists as well, the Administration has notified scuba diving guidelines on 02.04.2014 in the Gazette of A&N Administration. Under these guidelines the registration of all diving centres with the Directorate of Tourism has been made mandatory. As of now the following diving centres have got permanent registration.

M/s. DIVE INDIA SCUBA AND RESORTS PVT.LTD., Havelock;

M/s. ANDAMAN BUBBLES PVT. LTD., Havelock;

M/s. OCEAN TRIBE SCUBA PVT. LTD., Havelock;

M/s. INDIA SCUBA EXPLORES, Neil Island;

M/s. DOONGI DIVES PRIVATE LIMITED, Havelock

M/s. BAREFOOT SCUBA, Havelock.

Apart from these the following diving centres have temporary shore dive permission; validity of each dive centre is mentioned against each dive centre. 

M/s. Dive Mantra, Haddo, Port Blair: valid up to 05/03/2015;

M/s. Blue Planet, Havelock: valid up to 26/02/2015;

M/s. Gold India Divers, Havelock- valid up to 28/02/2015;

M/s. Andaman Dive Club, Havelock- valid up to 17/02/2015;

M/s. Eco Divers, Havelock- valid up to 30/03/2015

M/s. Ocean Pearl Dive Centre, Havelock- valid up to 13/02/2015

The tourists & other people are advised to take the services of above diving centres only. They have also been requested to inform to the Directorate of Tourism (Ph no: 03192-230933) if they find any diving centre other than above operating in the Islands.

Displaying of rates for various scuba diving activities alongwith services offered and timings, display of emergency action plan and emergency contact numbers at the diving centre, briefing the customers about the safe medical conditions for diving and ensuring the fitness of diving instructors and dive masters are mandatory on the part of Dive Centres.

Solitary Diving is also not permitted under any circumstances. All dive centres have been advised to comply with the same without fail. Further every Scuba Dive operator shall accord utmost priority for all safety related issues, failing which he/she shall be held responsible and accountable, a communication from the Joint Director (Tourism), A&N Administration said here today.