Scuba Diving in Andaman & Nicobar Islands: SSI Advanced Adventurer Certification
After our Open Water certification (detailed in my previous blog), we had a few more days to explore Andaman. But the scuba diving experience was so incredible that we scrapped our plans, changed our itineraries, and decided to go for the Advanced Adventurer Certification as well.
The Adventure Continues
The Advanced Adventurer Certification involves five dives over three days. You can also squeeze it into two days, which is what we did to leave at least a day for exploring Andaman. The certification allows you to try five specialties before committing to any one. We selected the following:
- Perfect Buoyancy: The most crucial skill in scuba diving, essential for smooth dives.
- Navigation Diving: Learning to use a compass underwater so you never get lost.
- Night Diving: Diving after sunset — it sounded thrilling!
- Photo & Video: I really selected this to save on GoPro rental fees.
- Deep Dive: Diving up to 30 meters deep.
Day 1: Perfect Buoyancy, Navigation Diving, and Night Diving
This was a hectic day! Having three dives back-to-back meant we wouldn’t get the recommended 24-hour gap before the next day’s dives. But I didn’t want to skip the night dive or miss out on an extra day in Andaman, so we went ahead.
Our day started at 10:30 AM with theory sessions on Perfect Buoyancy and Navigation. For navigation, we practiced using the compass on land, then repeated the exercise underwater.
At 11:30, we headed to the boat for our dives at The Aquarium and Turtle Beach. We practiced our skills and navigated back to the boat using the compass. The more we dove, the deeper we went, encountering a variety of marine life: jellyfish, clownfish, starfish, stingrays, and more.
After a quick lunch at The Full Moon Café, we reported back to the dive shop by 5:30 PM for the night dive. We began just before sunset at Nemo Reef, a familiar site, making the night dive a bit less intimidating. As the sun set, it became pitch dark. Armed with torches, we could only see where we pointed them. My buddy, Diya, was too scared and stuck close to the instructor. The silence and darkness were eerie but fascinating. At one point, I almost got lost, but Diya spotted me and pulled me back.
The day ended with new and thrilling experiences.
Day 2: Photo & Video and Deep Dive
We started early, reporting to the dive shop by 6:30 AM. Our instructor gave us tips on underwater photography and videography, and we set off.
The photo & video session was relaxing. We roamed around, took tons of pictures and videos, and simply enjoyed ourselves underwater.
Next up was the deep dive. We were a bit anxious about diving up to 30 meters, as deeper dives mean higher air consumption and shorter dive times.
We jumped in, and the first thing we saw was a baby shark! It was my first time seeing a shark. We also encountered a huge network of barracudas swimming in circles. All our fears vanished. The dive was as easy as the others, but far more beautiful. The visibility was better, and we saw a lot more species, including octopuses mating — a rare sight.
Day 3: Free Day at Havelock Island
After the intense diving sessions, we dedicated this day to relaxation and exploring the beauty of Havelock Island. We woke up early to catch the stunning sunrise, then went back to sleep for some much-needed rest.
Later, we dressed up and headed to Radhanagar Beach, often touted as one of the prettiest beaches in the world. We spent the day lounging on the beach, listening to music, and taking fun pictures. The sunset at Radhanagar was absolutely mesmerizing, painting the sky with vibrant hues.
In the evening, we returned to our resort, feeling refreshed and content. The next morning, we left for Port Blair, marking the end of an unforgettable adventure in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Achievement Unlocked: SSI Advanced Adventurer Certificate
On our last dive, the most senior instructor joined us to evaluate our skills. After repeating a few exercises underwater, we were done! We earned the SSI Advanced Adventurer Certificate.
You might think an Open Water certification is enough. Yes, it can be, but if you want to experience deeper diving (which, in my opinion, enhances your diving experience tenfold), you should opt for the Advanced Adventurer certification. My sister even cried after the deep dive because it was so amazing. The underwater world is a different, mesmerizing place worth exploring.
