Jetty Channel Marker — Beginner Scuba Diving at Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep)
Jetty Channel Marker is a compact, relaxed dive site sitting in the channel between Neil Island and Havelock. It is close enough to the Neil Island jetty that the boat ride is short, and calm dive conditions make it one of the most consistently accessible beginner sites in the area.
Neil Island's water tends to run bluer and clearer than Havelock Island's — mangrove water doesn't run off here, which means even on days of moderate visibility elsewhere, Jetty Channel Marker typically offers clean, reassuring conditions for first-time divers and Open Water course students.
Overview of Jetty Channel Marker (Quick Facts)
About Jetty Channel Marker Dive Site
The defining structure at Jetty Channel Marker is a concrete navigation pillar that has fallen and now lies on its side on the sandy bottom. Once an upright channel marker used to guide boat traffic through the Neil Island approach, it now serves an entirely different purpose — as a fish assembly structure around which reef life has evolved.
Schools of trevally circle between the fallen pillar and the upright marker above, using the structure as a reference point and shelter in the same way fish use a reef pinnacle or a wreck. The pillar is clearly visible from the reef top, making it one of the most distinctive visual landmarks at any Neil Island dive site — easy to navigate around and photogenic from almost any angle.
Topography
Jetty Channel Marker is a shallow fringing reef with a famous landmark: a fallen concrete pillar lying on its side underwater. The marine ecosystem has occupied the pillar over a period of time. The reef supports the growth of hard corals and rocky patches that surround the sandy seabed. The shallow sloping depth and the mild underwater currents make it a memorable diving spot on Neil Island.
Best Time to Dive
Jetty Channel Marker dives run from October to April. The site is more exposed to open-water swell, so conditions depend on wind speed and direction more than at sheltered inshore sites. Visibility ranges from 10 to 25 metres depending on conditions and time of season, with December to February typically offering the clearest water. Water temperature stays 27–30°C throughout the season.
Marine Life at Jetty Channel Marker
The most characteristic wildlife encounter at this site is the trevally school — large groups that move together between the marker pillars in coordinated formation. Blue-spotted stingrays rest in the sandy patches around the base of the pillar. The combination of pillars, stingrays, and schools overhead creates a layered underwater scene unlike the typical coral garden dive.
Along the fringing reef itself, juvenile batfish hover in characteristic clusters near rocky sections. Scorpionfish rest motionless in camouflage on the reef face. Angelfish patrol the mid-water, rabbitfish and parrotfish are constant presences on the coral, triggerfish hold territorial sections, and small puffers and lionfish appear in the reef crevices.
Cost & What's Included
Included:
- Full scuba equipment (tank, regulator, BCD, wetsuit, fins, mask, booties, weight belt, SPG)
- Power masks available (-2 to -8) on request
- Certified SSI dive guide throughout (1:1 for non-certified divers/non-swimmers)
Bring yourself:
- Certification card if certified (digital is fine)
- Swimsuit to wear under the wetsuit
- Small towel
- Reef-safe sunscreen
Getting There
Jetty Channel Marker is approximately 35km from Havelock Island, accessible by government or private ferries from Havelock Island (approximately 45–60 minutes) and Port Blair (approximately 1.5–2 hours), followed by a short 2.5km boat ride north of Neil Island. We offer complimentary pickup and drop-off by AC car between Laxmanpur Beach and Bharatpur Beach; paid transportation is also available from Sitapur Beach.
Emergency & Safety Information
DAN Global Emergency: +1-919-684-9111
FAQs
The concrete pillar at Jetty Channel Marker is a navigation channel marker. It was used to guide boat traffic through shallow approach channels. The pillar had fallen from its upright position and now lies on the sandy bottom at around 8–10 metres depth. What was once a functional piece of maritime infrastructure is now one of the most interesting visual landmarks at the Neil Island dive site.
Yes — Jetty Channel Marker is one of the most beginner-friendly dive sites on Neil Island. The reef starts at 6 metres, and the maximum depth is 11 metres, within the comfort zone for a first-time supervised dive. The underwater current is generally light, the visibility is good, and the fallen concrete pillar gives clear visual orientation throughout the dive, a particularly reassuring feature for first-timers who can feel disoriented in open water.
Yes — Jetty Channel Marker is one of the preferred locations for Open Water Diver course qualification dives on Neil Island. The site's characteristics align well with what OW students need: a clear visual reference point for navigation practice (the pillar and marker structure), a depth range (6–11 metres) that allows skill practice at manageable depths, generally calm current that doesn't complicate buoyancy exercises, and a sandy bottom that is safe for controlled descents and buoyancy checks.
Jetty Channel Marker is positioned in the open channel between Neil Island and Havelock, which means it is more exposed to open-water swell than inshore or sheltered sites. When northern or northeastern winds pick up, the site can become choppy or experience surface churn, making the dive less pleasant and reducing visibility near the surface. Strong wind also affects the boat ride to the site, which can be uncomfortable for motion-sensitive divers.
Jetty Channel Marker dives run from October to April. Visibility ranges from 10 to 25 metres depending on conditions and time of season, with December to February typically offering the clearest water. Water temperature stays 27–30°C throughout the season.
Your dive includes a scuba tank, weight belt, regulator, submersible pressure gauge, buoyancy compensator, wetsuit, mask (power masks -2 to -8 available on request), fins, and booties. Bring your own swimwear to wear under the wetsuit, a towel, and reef-safe sunscreen for the boat transit.
Ready to Dive Jetty Channel Marker?
A shallow, sheltered reef built around a fallen navigation pillar — one of Neil Island's most reliable beginner and Open Water qualification dives.