Pilot Reef

Havelock Island, Andaman And Nicobar Islands, Indiareef22 m maxbeginner

Conditions & tides

Channel site — tidal current funnels through here and can run fast, changing quickly with the tide. It is usually strongest around mid-tide and eases near the slack windows below. Dive with a local operator who knows the timing.

Pilot ReefHavelock Island

Fair · 4/5

conditions visualisation

Fair4/5

Some chop right now — best window today 6 AM–4 PM.

Wind11 kn E

Current~0.3 kn SW · model

Swell

0.4 m · 6s · SE

Water

30 °C

Max depth

22 m

Conditions through the day

4 AM4 PM

Calmest current near slack — 14:00 & 02:45 local

Sunrise 05:12 · Sunset 16:50 local

Show details

Tide · local

Outlook — select a day for full conditions

On-face swell 0.4 m — the component of the swell aimed at this site’s exposed face. Strong-current reef: plan a drift and enter near the slack windows above. Current is a regional model value (Copernicus, ~9 km grid) — a guide to the area, not a precise reef measurement. Imagery © Esri · not depth or visibility.

Scored by DiveConnect's site-physics model

Marine forecast via Copernicus Marine. Score is a rule-based guide from swell/wind vs. the site's exposure — always dive your own assessment.

Dived here today? How were conditions vs. what we showed?

About this site

Pilot Reef is a large flat reef near the entrance of the shipping channel, about 6 km north-east of Havelock in the Andaman Islands. Depths run from about 8 to 22 m, and current is light.

Corals. The reef has diverse coral life, including brain coral, gorgonians, table coral, staghorn and whip coral, with small clusters of anemones. Bannerfish, butterflyfish and angelfish live on the corals and rocks, along with fusiliers and surgeonfish.

A family of resident leopard sharks is often seen lounging on the sandy banks, alongside marble rays. Trumpetfish, octopuses, big stingrays, trevally, scorpionfish, turtles and sea snakes have been recorded. A whitetip reef shark or a young manta ray is possible. The listed sightings are reef fish, hard coral, manta ray, leopard shark and trumpetfish, and the reef is described as sprawling.

AI-written site guide

Marine life here

Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.

Marble rayMarble rayReported here · unconfirmed
Reef sharkReef sharkReported here · unconfirmed
Manta rayManta rayConfirmed present · 3 independent sources
FusilierFusilierConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
Boring Giant ClamTridacna croceaReported here · unconfirmed
Tawny Hermit CrabCoenobita rugosusReported here · unconfirmed
Common Box CrabCalappa hepaticaReported here · unconfirmed
Ornate SandgobyIstigobius ornatusReported here · unconfirmed
Blue ButtonPorpita porpitaReported here · unconfirmed
common hairy crabPilumnus vespertilioReported here · unconfirmed
Ocellaris AnemonefishAmphiprion ocellarisReported here · unconfirmed
Leopard / zebra sharkLeopard / zebra sharkConfirmed present · 5 independent sources
AngelfishAngelfishConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
SurgeonfishSurgeonfishConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
TrevallyTrevallyConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
ScorpionfishScorpionfishConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
Garden eelGarden eelReported here · unconfirmed
SnapperSnapperReported here · unconfirmed
BannerfishBannerfishConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
OctopusOctopusReported here · unconfirmed
Napoleon (humphead) wrasseNapoleon (humphead) wrasseReported here · unconfirmed