Sri Vijaya Puram, The Andaman and Nicobar Administration has identified eight new scuba diving sites in Mayabunder and Diglipur to promote sustainable tourism and expand adventure water sports in the North and Middle Andaman region, officials said on Monday. The Directorate of Information, Publicity and Tourism (IP&T), in collaboration with Scuba Schools International (SSI), identified the new sites as part of its efforts to diversify tourism products and position North and Middle Andaman as an emerging destination for adventure tourism. The newly identified dive sites are North of Sound Island Rock, Marker 077, Bochang in Mayabunder, and Hiran Tikery, Landfall East, House Reef at Ross and Smith, Paget Island and Landfall South in Diglipur. According to officials, the sites offer opportunities for recreational scuba diving, allowing visitors to explore the region’s coral reefs, marine biodiversity and underwater ecosystems while adhering to environmental safeguards. The initiative fulfils a long-pending demand of tourism stakeholders and boat operators in North and Middle Andaman and is expected to boost tourist arrivals, generate employment opportunities for local youth and strengthen the local tourism economy. Officials said four scuba diving sites in Diglipur were earlier notified in May this year after obtaining the consent of the Forest Department and were incorporated into the Scuba Diving Guidelines. With the addition of the new locations, a total of 12 scuba diving sites are now available in North and Middle Andaman. The administration has invited eligible scuba diving centres and operators to register for conducting diving activities in Mayabunder and Diglipur in accordance with the notified Scuba Diving Guidelines. Officials said all scuba diving operations would be conducted in strict compliance with prescribed safety protocols, statutory requirements and environmental safeguards to ensure the conservation of the Islands’ fragile marine ecosystem while promoting responsible and sustainable tourism. Go to Source
