Wandoor

About 29 Kms. west of Port Blair is the famous Wandoor beach known for its scenic beauty amongst tourists. The range of the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park is just across Wandoor Beach. To visit the Marine National Park, boats are available from Wandoor Jetty. Just at the entrance of the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, one can visit the state of art world class Marine Interpretation Centre. The Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park at Wandoor is at a distance of 29 Kms from Port Blair and covers an area of 281.5 Sqr. Kms. This Marine Park comprises of open sea, creeks and 15 small and large islands, which is one of the best found anywhere in the world. View rare corals and underwater marine life through glass bottom boats and engage in scuba diving and snorkelling for a lifetime experience. One needs to take a permit, issued by the Forest Department and boat tickets from the boat operators which are available at the Reception Counter of the Directorate of Tourism from a Single Window before proceeding to Wandoor. Tourists are allowed to spend two and half hours in Jolly Buoy Island or Red Skin Island as a part of conducted tours. Generally, from December to May tourists are taken to Jolly Buoy Island and from May to November to Red Skin Island. It is advised to take packed lunch and water fillings before proceeding to the Marine National Park. Below are the most popular tourist destinations and things to do in Wandoor:

Popular Attractions

JOLLY BUOY ISLAND
 
Jolly Buoy Island is very famous for its underwater corals and the pristine clear beach and is a one hour journey from Wandoor Beach. Snorkelling and scuba diving are available here.
To reach Jolly Buoy Island, travellers have to come to Mahatma Gandhi National Park, Wandoor. The normal time the boats leave for Jolly Buoy Island from Wandoor Beach is 9.00 am. Make sure to reach Wandoor beach before 9.00 am as all the ships leave at the same time and come back together.
Jolly Buoy is a No Plastic Zone. Before leaving to Jolly Buoy Island, people have to submit the list of all plastic items at Wandoor Beach and have to deposit a security amount of INR 100 against each plastic item. They will get the amount back after returning, against producing the same items. An additional amount also has to be paid for each still and video camera that you carry.

Jollybuoy Island in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Red Skin Island in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

RED SKIN ISLAND
 
It is the exotic locale of the Red Skin Island at Andaman and Nicobar Islands that attracts visitors from all across the globe. Its unique and enigmatic beauty will surely captivate you. Being positioned inside the premises of the Marine National Park, the Red Skin Island in Andaman and Nicobar Islands is bequeathed with a varied range of natural marvels which truly dazzles the on-lookers. One can experience the thrill of snorkelling here. Basically, snorkelling is the name endowed to gliding over the surface of the water while being half-submerged. It is absolutely essential to have a diving mask on so that you do not miss viewing the marine fauna and flora that exists beneath the surface of the water. You can also have swim fins on to facilitate you in swimming.