North Bay Island

Half a dayBest: Oct–MarIslands#snorkeling#coral#glass boat

Snorkelling island of coral gardens

Why this weekend?

Coral reefsGlass-bottom boatsSnorkelling

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The day-by-day plan

Half day · The coral isle
- Morning ferry
- Snorkel or glass boat
- Beach trail
- Lunch return
- Corbyn's Cove add-on

Geography & terrain

North Bay Island lies at the mouth of Port Blair's harbour, South Andaman — a small forested coral island surrounded by shallow reefs, reached by a 25-minute ferry past Ross Island, its sandy eastern shore holding the snorkelling lines and the glass-boat corals.

History & culture

Largely uninhabited in the island's history — a signal-station outpost of the Andaman colony — North Bay's modern story is the coral-tourism era: the island became the main snorkelling and glass-boat destination of the capital, with its reefs mapped and patrolled since the 2000s as part of the region's marine protection.

Where to stay

Budget

₹1,500–4,000/night

Mid-range

₹4,000–9,000/night

Comfort

₹9,000+/night

Things to do

Coral reefs
Snorkelling
Glass boats
Beach coves
Harbour views

Eat & drink

Grilled reef fish
Coconut and seafood curries
Tropical fresh fruit platters

Getting there

Fly: Veer Savarkar Airport (IXZ), Port Blair
Train: No rail — island chain served by ferries
Road from Port Blair: road + ferry hub for all islands
Getting around: Autos and scooters on the islands; ferries between them

Budget snapshot

Total: ₹8,500–18,500 (2 days)
Per day · Stay: ₹1,500–9,000/night
Per day · Food: ₹600–1,000
Per day · Transport: ₹1,200–1,600
Per day · Activities: ₹1,800–2,200

Month by month

Jan · Best: 23–30°C · None rain
Feb · Best: 23–30°C · None rain
Mar · Good: 24–31°C · None rain
Apr · Good: 25–32°C · Light rain
May · Hot: 25–32°C · Moderate rain
Jun · Monsoon: 25–30°C · Heavy rain
Jul · Monsoon: 25–29°C · Heavy rain
Aug · Monsoon: 25–29°C · Heavy rain
Sep · Monsoon: 25–30°C · Heavy rain
Oct · Good: 24–30°C · Moderate rain
Nov · Best: 23–30°C · Light rain
Dec · Best: 23–30°C · None rain

Practical info

Language: Hindi / Bengali / Tamil (multi-language islands) (English understood in tourist spots)
Best window: Oct–Mar
Connectivity: Patchy off the main islands — download offline maps
UPI/cards widely accepted; keep small cash for hill and market stops

Practical tips

The reef lines run on calm mornings — the boats favour 7–11 am
Rent gear at the jetty — the island has limited sets
Reef care means no touching corals and reef-safe sunscreen

Frequently asked questions

Is snorkelling here any good?

For a capital-side half-day — yes, shallow warm reefs with clownfish and coral lines; serious divers head to Havelock's walls.

Can I combine it with Ross Island?

Yes — the same morning ferry loop often runs Ross-then-North-Bay.

What about non-swimmers?

The glass-bottom boats stay the easy viewing option in the same clear water.