Sailing and surfing in the
Andaman Islands of India
 The
Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal have
been off limits to tourism until only recently.
Promoted as "The Most Beautiful Islands
in the World," they offer pristine scenery
and wildlife. They also offer virtually
unexplored new surfing opportunities:
SURFER Magazine had this to say
about their first trip to the Andamans in
1998:
"Geographically more ‘Indo' than
India, the Andaman Islands have been on
many surf traveler’s wish list. Yet
rigorous government efforts to restrict
outside exposure to the region’s indigenous
cultures have kept her wave line-ups empty
- and probably will continue to do so in
the years to come.... Geographic isolation,
heavily restricted travel, mysterious stone
age culture and totally uncharted waters
- the Andaman Islands are everything you
want in a surf trip."
Teiki Ballian -- cutting back at "No
Pants",
Little Andaman, March 1999.
Free-diving,
snorkeling, exploration and spear-fishing
are also outstanding in these nearly untouched
islands. Areas of the Andaman Islands
(and all of the Nicobar Islands to the south)
remain strictly off-limits in an effort by
the Indian government to protect the few remaining
indigenous people who inhabit them.
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