Explore Puducherry

Puducherry, a unique dive destination in India, offers a rich tapestry of marine adventures that cater to divers of all levels. Located along the east coast, its diverse geography presents a myriad of underwater environments, from untouched coral reefs to intriguing shipwrecks. The Coral Sharks Reef is an ideal spot for beginners, offering the thrilling opportunity to observe reef sharks in their natural habitat. Meanwhile, seasoned divers can explore the depths of The Aravind Wall, renowned globally for its breathtaking beauty and vibrant marine life. For those seeking more challenging experiences, Four Corners provides a traditional setting for deep-sea diving, while The Hole, with its formidable conditions, tests even the most experienced divers. Each site in Puducherry has its own unique charm, offering encounters with various marine species and ecosystems. Whether exploring from the shore, a boat, or a liveaboard, diving here promises unforgettable experiences. The region's seasonal shifts add another layer of excitement, bringing different marine life and conditions throughout the year, ensuring every dive is a fresh and captivating adventure.

Dive Activity

Diving in Puducherry

Puducherry, a vibrant diving destination in India, offers a range of captivating dive sites. Temple Reef, a renowned artificial reef, presents a unique underwater experience with its blend of marine life and intriguing structures. Popular for wreck diving, Aravind's Wall features a fascinating shipwreck teeming with diverse species, making it a favorite among explorers.

Both shore and liveaboard diving options are available in Puducherry, catering to different preferences. Shore dives are easily accessible, offering convenience for quick explorations, while liveaboard trips provide the opportunity to venture further for a more immersive experience. Night dives are particularly exciting, revealing nocturnal marine life behaviors and adding a thrilling dimension to the diving adventure.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Puducherry

Puducherry, located on the eastern coast of India, offers a diverse marine ecosystem that attracts divers with its vibrant underwater life. The region is home to a variety of reef fish, including parrotfish, angelfish, and groupers, which are commonly seen darting among the colorful corals. These species are typically encountered year-round, making them a staple of Pondicherry's marine landscape.

Seasonal highlights include sightings of majestic creatures like sharks, turtles, and rays. Between October and March, divers are more likely to spot blacktip reef sharks and hawksbill turtles, while eagle rays can occasionally be seen gliding gracefully through the waters during these months. Divers venturing to specific dive sites, such as Temple Reef, may increase their chances of encountering these notable species. Understanding these seasonal patterns can enhance the diving experience in Pondicherry's waters.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 200

Moray Eel

101 Sightings
J
8
F
10
M
6
A
6
M
5
J
14
J
16
A
10
S
6
O
8
N
6
D
6

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 27

Barracuda

87 Sightings
J
11
F
8
M
4
A
0
M
13
J
12
J
10
A
9
S
6
O
3
N
8
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 300

Octopus

19 Sightings
J
5
F
0
M
1
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
2
A
0
S
0
O
5
N
5
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 600

Wrasse

18 Sightings
J
0
F
6
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
4
J
1
A
0
S
5
O
0
N
1
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 12

Lionfish

159 Sightings
J
11
F
8
M
14
A
8
M
15
J
18
J
25
A
7
S
17
O
18
N
12
D
6

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 90

Angelfish

109 Sightings
J
13
F
7
M
12
A
7
M
3
J
13
J
15
A
6
S
11
O
8
N
10
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

Pufferfish

107 Sightings
J
8
F
8
M
13
A
5
M
7
J
19
J
14
A
3
S
7
O
11
N
8
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

Butterfly Fish

103 Sightings
J
6
F
7
M
9
A
7
M
10
J
16
J
15
A
9
S
5
O
3
N
11
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 250

Grouper/Basslets

102 Sightings
J
7
F
11
M
12
A
4
M
12
J
14
J
9
A
9
S
5
O
8
N
7
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 8

Bannerfish

87 Sightings
J
9
F
7
M
15
A
5
M
1
J
11
J
9
A
2
S
9
O
8
N
8
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 110

Snapper

72 Sightings
J
6
F
7
M
10
A
0
M
10
J
9
J
7
A
5
S
8
O
2
N
6
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 100

Parrotfish

64 Sightings
J
6
F
5
M
9
A
5
M
0
J
0
J
11
A
3
S
8
O
7
N
9
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 40

Jackfish

61 Sightings
J
3
F
8
M
8
A
0
M
8
J
11
J
10
A
2
S
1
O
0
N
7
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 85

Surgeonfish

56 Sightings
J
0
F
4
M
12
A
0
M
7
J
12
J
11
A
1
S
1
O
2
N
4
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 40

Triggerfish

56 Sightings
J
10
F
8
M
6
A
0
M
3
J
3
J
11
A
4
S
5
O
3
N
1
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 28

Clownfish

54 Sightings
J
2
F
5
M
7
A
3
M
3
J
6
J
15
A
2
S
4
O
3
N
3
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

53 Sightings
J
4
F
7
M
13
A
0
M
0
J
10
J
5
A
2
S
5
O
2
N
5
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 25

Boxfish

44 Sightings
J
8
F
4
M
6
A
5
M
7
J
4
J
0
A
2
S
1
O
4
N
2
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 350

Damselfish

40 Sightings
J
5
F
3
M
8
A
0
M
0
J
8
J
4
A
0
S
0
O
4
N
5
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

Soldierfish

30 Sightings
J
3
F
0
M
3
A
0
M
0
J
4
J
6
A
0
S
9
O
0
N
5
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3400

Shrimp

29 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
2
A
2
M
1
J
9
J
3
A
3
S
0
O
5
N
1
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 90

Goatfish

25 Sightings
J
2
F
2
M
5
A
0
M
0
J
3
J
5
A
0
S
7
O
0
N
0
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 20

Porcupinefish

18 Sightings
J
0
F
2
M
3
A
0
M
1
J
7
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
2
N
1
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 80

Emperor

17 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
5
A
3
M
0
J
2
J
1
A
0
S
1
O
0
N
2
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3

Trumpetfish

16 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
2
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
7
A
0
S
3
O
4
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 7000

Crab

15 Sightings
J
2
F
1
M
2
A
0
M
2
J
4
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
3
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 30

Stonefish

15 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
2
A
0
M
0
J
3
J
5
A
0
S
0
O
3
N
2
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 2

Tarpon

13 Sightings
J
3
F
0
M
4
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
4
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 250

Scorpionfish

11 Sightings
J
2
F
4
M
2
A
0
M
0
J
2
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
1
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 15

Tuna

10 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
5
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
5
D
0

Moon Jellyfish

10 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
4
A
3
S
1
O
0
N
0
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 80

Stingrays

9 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
4
A
0
S
0
O
2
N
3
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 30

Sand Eel

8 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
2
A
0
M
0
J
2
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
1
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3000

Nudibranch

8 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
2
A
1
S
0
O
4
N
0
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 15

Garfish

8 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
2
A
0
M
0
J
1
J
4
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
1
D
0

Lion’s Mane Jellyfish

8 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
1
S
4
O
2
N
0
D
0

The best Months to dive in Puducherry

Puducherry offers year-round diving opportunities, with conditions varying by season. From November to February, water temperatures range from 26°C–28°C/79°F–82°F, providing comfortable diving conditions. Visibility during this period is typically excellent, often reaching up to 25 meters/82 feet. The calm seas and minimal wind make this the ideal time for diving. As the temperature rises from March to June, reaching 29°C–31°C/84°F–88°F, visibility may reduce slightly due to increasing plankton, but remains decent. The monsoon season, from July to October, brings stronger winds and currents, leading to lower visibility and choppy waters. Although diving is technically possible, it is less favorable during these months.

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