We are located on Havelock Island in the Andamans, India. To get to the Andamans you will need to go through Port Blair, the capital city of the Andaman Islands. The quickest and easiest way is to fly. Quite a few airlines offer daily flights from both Chennai and Kolkata and the flying time is about 2 hours.
Jet airways: www.jetairways.com
Jet Lite: www.jetlite.com
Indian Airlines: www.indianairlines.in
Kingfisher: www.flykingfisher.com
It is also possible to get to Port Blair by ship, with departures from Kolkata, Chennai and Vishakapatnam. Although far cheaper than flying, the crossings are long 3-5 days, and with only basic amenities on board, and possibilities for rough seas, the journey can be a little tiring.
For information on ship schedules visit www.and.nic.in/spsch/sailing.htm or call +01 22 2292 2431.
Once you’ve arrived in Port Blair, it’s a 2 to 3 hour ferry ride to Havelock. Ferries leave from the Phoenix Bay jetty twice a day. One in the morning at 0630 hrs and one in the afternoon at 1400 hrs. (ferry times are subject to change) Most flights into Port Blair arrive in enough time for you to catch the afternoon ferry. In theory tickets have to be purchased a day in advance, but if you arrive at the Phoenix Bay jetty a half hour before the ferry departs, you might be able to get a ticket.
Once in Havelock our dive shop is located right next to Wild Orchid on beach No. 5 about a 5 minute auto-rickshaw ride from the jetty.
Foreign visitors require an Indian visa which can be obtained through your embassy. You will also need a Special Restricted Permit to visit the Andaman Islands. The permits are obtainable on arrival by both sea and air. They’re simple to get, it consists of filling out a little bit of paperwork when you arrive, takes maybe 10- 20 minutes and is free of charge. The permit is valid for 30 days and will give you permission to visit only certain parts of the Andamans. You can also apply for one through your embassy, while applying for your India visa. But you will still have paperwork to fill out when you arrive. We think it is much simpler and recommend applying for the permit on arrival.
Indian passport holders do not need any permits to visit the Andamans
Andaman bubbles can assist you with all your travel arrangements in India, from flights to hotel reservations. We will meet you at the airport in Port Blair, arrange transfers to the jetty, organize ferry tickets, and once in Havelock, transfer you to your resort. Please contact us for more information about this service and leave the entire running to us.
