Close view of layered coral formations underwater near Barren Island at Barefoot Scuba Resort surrounded by clear blue sea.

DIVING AT INDIA’S ONLY ACTIVE VOLCANO: A LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE AT BARREN ISLAND

By Amit Paradkar, Instructor at Barefoot Scuba

There are dives you enjoy.
There are dives you remember.
And then there are dives that leave a permanent mark on your soul.

My journey to Barren island. India’s only active volcano was one of those rare experiences that changed something inside me.
 

A WATER BABY AT HEART


Born into a fishing family, the ocean was never unfamiliar to me. I grew up around boats, tides, and stories of the sea. Becoming a diver felt natural — it was simply an extension of who I already was.

But even after years of diving, nothing prepared me for what I was about to experience at Barren Island.

FIRST GLIMPSE OF THE VOLCANO


As our boat came close to the island, the sight of the volcanic formation rising from the sea left me speechless. I didn’t expect the emotion that followed. My eyes filled with tears.

The water here is different. It’s not just blue. It feels deep. Almost as it is hiding treasures beneath its surface!

This trip with Barefoot Scuba instantly became one of the most meaningful chapters of my diving career.

Barren Island volcanic formation rising from the sea under a cloudy sky photographed during a diving expedition with Barefoot Scuba Resort.

SNORKELLING BEFORE THE DESCENT


Before our dives, we jumped into the water with masks and snorkels. What we found below felt unreal.

Vast coral gardens stretched as far as visibility allowed. Bright colors popped against the volcanic seabed. When I lifted my head above water, the view of the volcano standing tall behind us felt cinematic — like a perfectly designed movie set where time slows down.

An hour passed in what felt like minutes.

View of Barren Island volcano from a boat with clear turquoise water and open sky captured during a dive trip with Barefoot Scuba Resort.

DIVE ONE – FLYING THROUGH BLUE (BARREN WALL)


After our safety checks, we descended.

The visibility was amazing. Volcanic rock formations created dramatic underwater landscapes. Unlike anywhere else in India, swimming there felt less like diving and more like flying. Then, suddenly — life appeared out of the blue.

The shark started swimming with us . Tuna moved with speed and Giant trevallies covered the reef. It wasn’t chaotic, it was a perfect orchestra of marine life! The dive lasted 68 minutes, but it felt timeless.

THE SURFACE INTERVAL THAT WASN’T JUST A BREAK


Even during our surface interval, the adventure continued.

We snorkelled into a cave formation — closed from one side, with light streaming in from the other. The rays of sunlight cutting through the deep blue water created an atmosphere that felt almost spiritual. Nature had built its own underwater cinema hall.

Underwater reef landscape with rocky seabed and marine growth near Barren Island explored with Barefoot Scuba Resort.
Shallow underwater coral bed with clear visibility and natural light at Barren Island experienced through Barefoot Scuba Resort.

DIVE TWO–SMURF VILLAGE


Our second dive took us to Smurf Village. Within the first ten minutes, it happened.

A manta ray appeared, gliding effortlessly through the water.

For a second, I forgot to breathe. My mask filled with water — not from a leak, but from tears. I cleared it quickly, but the emotion stayed. That moment will stay with me for life. This 56-minute dive ended far too soon.

A FINAL SURPRISE

As if the day hadn’t already given us enough, our journey back was completed by false killer whales while the boat was heading back.

It felt like the ocean was saying goodbye in its own dramatic way.

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