The Andaman Islands S/Y Oriental Siren
If you want to really discover something new, then an adventure to dive on remote islands is it. Explore the Andaman and swim, snorkel or dive to discover this unique place.
The Andaman Islands are in Indian territorial waters, but due to the fact that they are far closer to Thailand (with Phuket some 450 miles to the southeast) than to India itself (with the mainland well over 1000 km to the northwest), diving here has, so far been pioneered by long-range liveaboard dive boats, such as the P/y Siren!
From the 500 islands, islets and rocky outcrops in the archipelago that cover an area of about 8,000 sq km, only 26 islands are inhabited and are best discovered by liveaboard diving. The larger islands are fairly mountainous and blanketed with dense rainforest. A high proportion of these forests are protected with a confusing network of Tribal Reserves, six National Parks and Coastal Belts, and no less than 94 wildlife sanctuaries.
Many of the islands in the Andaman area are surrounded by fringing reefs, really only accessible by liveaboard diving. The reefs are often several hundred metres wide and separated from the shore by a lagoon of similar width. There are also more steeply sloping reef walls & coral pinnacles or knolls. Divers can follow around the undulating hills of raven black volcanic lava, which makes for some unusual diving. There are also plenty of shallow reefs suitable for snorkeling.
Large pelagics are plentiful in these waters such as sharks, large schools of hammerheads often patrol the Andaman waters away from the reefs, Grey, Whitetip, Nurse and Leopard sharks are found closer inshore, and Silvertip and Oceanic Whitetips are sometimes glimpsed.
Another feature of diving the Andaman Islands are the impressive cleaning stations where giant barracuda hover silently, waiting for their teeth to be picked. Enormous manta rays, bumphead parrotfish and napoleon wrasse are also often seen, sometimes by the dozen.
The 34 metre S/Y Siren has been designed and built on the island of Sulawesi. She is a traditional Indonesian ‘gaft-rigged Phinisi’ handcrafted from ironwood and teak. Thus she has been custom-made with all the luxury facilities for the modern diver. In particular, this luxury vessel has been specialized for the Underwater Photographer and Videographer
Aboard the S/Y Siren we welcome up to 16 guests aboard each trip. This ensures abundant space for all guests. However, she has the facilities and ample room to host up to 18 guests on special charters.
How to get there:
For the Andaman Trips – The P/Y Siren departs from and return to Port Blair. Please do confirm departure and arrival times for each particular trip.
