Located in the beautiful Andaman Islands of India about 137 kilometers from Port Blair, Barren Island is the only confirmed active volcano in South Asia. Uninhabited by humans and truly barren topside, with only a small population of goats and a few other hardy species, it is surrounded by warm blue water and offers some truly spectacular dive sites with exceptional marine life that bear witness to the fact that commercial fishing has never happened here. Here are five of the best – some say they’re India’s best kept secrets.
Black Magic
Named for the beautiful black volcanic sands that create the perfect canvas for the brilliantly colored yellow and red sponges, pulsating and seemingly glowing soft corals in shades of brilliant pink and purple, and all the schooling tropical fish that live in the area, this site is home to a wealth of marine life including some huge bumphead parrotfish, lovely dartfish, aurora shrimp gobies, and even banded sea kraits. Big coral boulders offer even more visual appeal, and nearby caves beckon with promises of even more incredible sights to come. Watch for manta rays as you explore this shallow ridge, and don’t forget to pause and watch the garden eels for a few moments.
Purple Haze
Featuring a spectacular field of purple soft coral that extends for as far as the eye can see, and home to large pelagics and manta rays that habitually visit a cleaning station located here, this is the one site you’ve got to see while you’re diving Barren Island. Watch for such visitors as dog-tooth tuna and big eye trevally, not to mention the occasional reef shark. Swirling masses of yellow butterfly fish, beautiful blue tangs, and rainbow colored parrotfish add even more magic to the site, as do the neon colored sand divers, with their busily captivating antics. Keep an eye out for whale sharks here – they have been known to frequent this site and others on the east side of the island.
The Cave
Actually one of several caves here, this volcanic cave features steep walls and is covered in clusters of white stinging hydroids, purple and pink soft coral, and lovely bouquets of blue and red sponges. Look for colorful nudibranchs and other invertebrates; they’re fairly easy to spot against the dark colored substrate. Simply hanging in the entrance and peering out into the deep, endless blue beyond is an unforgettable experience; watch for passing sharks and the occasional turtle; if you’re lucky, you may even encounter a few manta rays. Inside, the cavern is large, mysterious, and completely awe inspiring; it is incredible to think about the fact that you’re diving so close to the heart of an active volcano.
Lava Flow
With steep sides and a proliferation of fish life including loads of huge pelagics that come up from the depths below, Lava Flow is an incredible site. Look for schooling oriental sweetlips with their dizzying striped patterns here; and keep an eye out for giant napoleons and even clusters of mobula rays passing in the blue. Peek up above the waterline for a look at the volcano’s peak above, and you’ll be able to see that this massive slide of lava extends all the way into the water from the smoldering cinder cone. Every creature you find at this site is highlighted against the dark volcanic backdrop; if you like taking photos, this is a great place to do it.
The Wall
While most of the sites around the island afford a good view into endless blue, this one is simply breathtaking. A few coral-covered ledges break up the wall’s descent into the depths beyond; other than that, you’re flying free along with huge schools of barracuda, massive kingfish, jacks and tuna, and an endless array of tropical fish. The wall itself is decorated with a splendid tapestry of enormous black coral trees, magnificent gorgonians, pulsating soft corals, and gigantic bouquets of sponge. Watch for turtles and white tip, black tip, and grey sharks as you make your way along the wall - some of them are quite impressive.
The best way to see Barren Island is to visit on a liveaboard, from which you can enjoy as many dives as possible, while you get a good look at the volcano and even hear it booming as it belches steam and ash on occasion. Most sites around the island feature varied terrain with steep walls and canyons, and visibility is routinely 50 meters or better, affording a spectacular view of the sites and all the marine life that inhabits them. While it takes some effort to book and make this trip, it is one you’ll never forget.