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Scuba Diving and Snorkelling at Tarkarli and Malvan

Activity · Malvan, Sindhudurg

Malvan and Tarkarli are among the main places in Maharashtra to try snorkelling and scuba diving, around the rocky reefs near Sindhudurg Fort.

The sea off Malvan and Tarkarli is one of the few places on the Maharashtra coast where the water is clear enough for diving. Rocky reefs around Sindhudurg Fort and the nearby islands are home to corals, sea fans, shoals of small fish and the occasional ray or turtle.

Snorkelling is the easy way to start: you float at the surface with a mask and a breathing tube while a guide shows you around. For scuba diving, beginners can do a short supervised 'try dive' with a trained instructor without a full course. Maharashtra Tourism runs an Indian Institute of Scuba Diving and Aquatic Sports at Tarkarli for training, and private operators in Malvan offer trips as well.

Water clarity changes with weather and tides, so ask about visibility before you book. Tell the instructor about any health problems, follow every safety briefing, and dive only with operators who give proper equipment and certified instructors.

Diving and snorkelling trips stop during the monsoon months.

Best time to visit

October to May; visibility is usually best between November and April.

How to reach

Trips leave from Malvan jetty and Tarkarli. Nearest railway station: Kudal.

Places nearby

• Sindhudurg Fort
• Tarkarli Beach
• Chivla Beach, Malvan

Facts: Wikidata (CC0) and OpenStreetMap; map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.