Best scuba diving destinations from India — Andaman, Maldives, Thailand and beyond
By Aarav Sharma (Priya Sharma is an adventure travel writer and certified PADI diver who has explored outdoor destinations across four continents. Based in Mumbai, she specialises in helping Indian travellers plan their first international adventure trips — from visa logistics and flight connections to gear decisions and altitude prep.) · Published · 11 min read
From the Andamans to the Red Sea, here are the scuba diving destinations that make the most sense for Indian travellers in terms of flight connections, visa ease, cost and dive quality.
Quick answer
The Andaman Islands are the easiest and cheapest scuba destination for Indians — direct flights from Chennai and Kolkata, no visa needed, and PADI courses from roughly INR 20,000 to INR 35,000. For international diving, Thailand (Koh Tao, Similan Islands) offers the best value with visa-free entry for Indians as of 2026, while the Maldives gives you world-class reef diving with a visa-on-arrival. Egypt's Red Sea (Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada) is the most underrated option — superb visibility, affordable once you arrive, though flights require a connection via Dubai or Cairo.
Andaman Islands — the obvious first choice
Havelock Island (officially Swaraj Dweep) is India's premier dive destination. The waters around Havelock, Neil Island and the outer reefs offer visibility of 15 to 30 metres from October to May, healthy coral systems, manta rays in season and a relaxed pace that suits first-time divers. PADI Open Water courses run roughly INR 20,000 to INR 35,000 depending on the dive centre and season, which is substantially cheaper than equivalent courses in Thailand or the Maldives.
Flights to Port Blair operate daily from Chennai and Kolkata, with seasonal connections from Delhi and Bengaluru. The Chennai-Port Blair sector is roughly 2 hours and fares typically range from INR 4,000 to INR 10,000 one-way depending on season. From Port Blair, a government ferry or private speedboat takes you to Havelock in 90 minutes to 2.5 hours.
The dive season runs October to May. June to September sees rough seas and most dive centres shut down or operate limited schedules. If you are planning a first scuba trip as an Indian traveller, the Andamans in November or February are hard to beat on value.
Thailand — Koh Tao and the Similan Islands
Koh Tao in the Gulf of Thailand is the world's cheapest place to get PADI certified — courses run roughly THB 9,000 to THB 12,000 (INR 22,000 to INR 30,000 at current rates). The island is small, dive-focused and has an enormous concentration of dive centres competing on price. Water visibility is decent (10 to 25 metres) from March to October.
The Similan Islands off Thailand's Andaman coast are a tier above Koh Tao for dive quality — pristine reefs, whale shark sightings in season, and visibility regularly exceeding 30 metres. Similans are accessible only via liveaboard or day trips from Khao Lak, and the season is November to April. Liveaboard trips typically cost THB 15,000 to THB 30,000 for 2 to 4 days.
Getting there: direct flights operate from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai to Bangkok on multiple carriers. For Koh Tao, fly to Koh Samui (via Bangkok domestic) or take a bus-ferry combo from Bangkok. For the Similans, fly to Phuket and transfer to Khao Lak by road (roughly 90 minutes). Thailand offers visa-free entry for Indian passport holders as of 2026 — check the latest conditions on the Thai immigration website before booking.
Maldives — luxury diving with visa-on-arrival
The Maldives needs no introduction for reef diving — the atolls offer some of the best coral systems in the Indian Ocean, regular manta and whale shark encounters, and water visibility of 20 to 40 metres. The practical advantage for Indians is the visa-on-arrival (30-day free tourist visa) and direct flights from multiple Indian cities.
Direct flights to Male operate from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kochi. Flight time is 3 to 4.5 hours depending on origin. The cost challenge is accommodation — the Maldives is structurally expensive. Budget guesthouses on local islands (Maafushi, Thulusdhoo, Fulidhoo) have made diving more accessible, with dive packages running roughly USD 50 to USD 80 per dive. A PADI Open Water course in the Maldives runs USD 400 to USD 600, which is roughly double the Andaman price but includes diving in genuinely world-class conditions.
For Indian travellers on a tighter budget, a local-island stay on Maafushi with a 3-day dive package is the most cost-effective way to experience Maldivian diving without the resort markup.
Egypt's Red Sea — the underrated option
Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada on Egypt's Red Sea coast offer some of the world's best dive conditions — warm water year-round, visibility frequently exceeding 30 metres, spectacular wreck dives (the SS Thistlegorm is a bucket-list site), and coral walls that rival anything in Southeast Asia. Costs on the ground are low by international standards — a 2-dive day trip runs roughly USD 40 to USD 70, and PADI courses are USD 250 to USD 400.
The catch for Indians is getting there. There are no direct flights from India to Sharm El Sheikh or Hurghada. The most practical routing is via Dubai (4 to 5 hours from Indian metros to Dubai, then 3 to 4 hours to Sharm) or via Cairo (fly to Cairo, then a domestic flight or bus to the Red Sea coast). Indians need a visa for Egypt — the e-visa process has been available but can be inconsistent; check the Egyptian embassy website for current status. Some travellers report smoother processing through the Sinai entry permit for Sharm El Sheikh specifically.
Despite the routing complexity, the Red Sea is worth considering for experienced divers who want a different marine environment from the Indo-Pacific norm.
Certification, costs and what to budget
A PADI Open Water certification is the global standard entry point for scuba diving. The course takes 3 to 4 days and includes theory, confined water (pool) sessions and 4 open water dives. Costs vary dramatically by location:
- Andamans: INR 20,000 to INR 35,000
- Thailand (Koh Tao): INR 22,000 to INR 30,000
- Maldives: INR 33,000 to INR 50,000
- Egypt: INR 20,000 to INR 33,000
These are course-only costs. Add flights, accommodation, food and equipment rental (typically included in the course fee but verify). A realistic all-in budget for a 5-night dive trip from an Indian metro is roughly INR 40,000 to INR 70,000 for the Andamans, INR 60,000 to INR 1,00,000 for Thailand, INR 80,000 to INR 1,50,000 for the Maldives (local island), and INR 90,000 to INR 1,40,000 for Egypt.
If you are comparing options, search fares on FlightGPT for your specific dates — the flight cost is usually the biggest variable in the total budget.
Safety and medical considerations
Scuba diving has real medical requirements. You will need to fill out a medical questionnaire before any course, and conditions like asthma, heart disease, epilepsy and recent surgery may require a doctor's clearance. Do not dive within 18 to 24 hours of flying — this is a decompression sickness risk, not a suggestion. Plan your return flight accordingly.
Travel insurance that covers scuba diving is essential. Standard travel insurance policies often exclude adventure sports or cap diving depth at 10 to 18 metres. Look for policies that explicitly cover recreational scuba to 30 or 40 metres — DAN (Divers Alert Network) insurance is the industry standard, and Indian providers like Bajaj Allianz and ICICI Lombard offer adventure sport riders. See our guide on adventure travel insurance for detailed comparisons.
Frequently asked questions
Is scuba diving safe for beginners?
Yes, with proper training and a reputable dive centre. The PADI Open Water course is designed for complete beginners and has an excellent safety record. Follow the training, do not skip medical checks, and never dive beyond your certification level.
Can non-swimmers learn scuba diving?
You need basic water comfort and the ability to float or tread water for 10 minutes. You do not need to be a strong swimmer, but you cannot be afraid of being in deep water. Most dive centres will assess your comfort level on day one.
Which is the cheapest scuba destination from India?
The Andaman Islands, by a clear margin. No visa costs, domestic flights, and course fees roughly 30 to 50 percent lower than international alternatives.