I'd been dreaming of going SCUBA diving for a year. This November, the stars finally aligned and I found myself on a plane to the obscure Andaman Islands. I had no idea what to expect from this trip - I just knew I wanted to swim with the fishes. Literally, I mean.
The only Indian beaches I'd previously been to were Goa, Bombay, Gokarna and Pondicherry. From these, Goa has been the most synonymous with perfect beach culture - crowded or quiet beaches (depending on your preference), coastal food, party spots, balmy weather, vast open spaces, and, of course, plenty of cheap alcohol.
The only Indian beaches I'd previously been to were Goa, Bombay, Gokarna and Pondicherry. From these, Goa has been the most synonymous with perfect beach culture - crowded or quiet beaches (depending on your preference), coastal food, party spots, balmy weather, vast open spaces, and, of course, plenty of cheap alcohol.
The Andamans isn't all of this. Some of it, but not all of it. Here's what you will not find (or find very little of) in the Andamans.