India is known for its deep culture, varied cuisines, spices, temples and 100-plus languages. What's often overlooked are its deep blue adventure options! Consider adding these six locations to your bucket list for some breathtaking views of Mother Nature.

1. Andaman and Nicobar Islands

These islands—known for their stunning beaches and lively evergreen forests—are the perfect place to see manta rays, batfish, turtles and so much more.

“Each dive site offers something unique,” says Barefoot Scuba Resort dive instructor Mia Raghavi. “For instance, Dixon’s Pinnacle is a site that has gigantic underwater mounds covered in vibrant fluorescent soft corals and matching-colored sponges. It’s a breathtaking site…with resident coral reef fish like Napoleon wrasses, brown marbled groupers, and schooling longfin bannerfish…The icing on the cake is that it is also a cleaning station that attracts the occasional manta ray or whale shark.”

Wreck-lovers can plan a dive on the SS Inchkeith, which sank in 1955 and is described by Raghavi as “a favorite spot for macro photography.”

Located right in the middle of the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal, the most popular time to visit these waters is during the dry season months of October to May.

2. Lakshadweep Archipelago

Kavaratti, a beautiful town in the Lakshadweep archipelago off the coast of Cochin, is ideal for new divers. It is known for its turtles, soft coral sharks, rays, and a myriad of tropical fishes, as well as wrecks and caves. Minicoy, another island in Lakshadweep, attracts divers with its three shipwrecks that are believed to have spurred construction of the island lighthouse in the late 1800s.

The best season to scuba dive in Lakshadweep is between September and May when the waters are calm and pleasant. Surface intervals can be spent on kayaks, canoes, pedal boats, sailboats and snorkeling.

3. Grand Island

Grand Island is located in Goa, a former Portuguese colony known for its pristine beaches, exciting nightlife, shopping, churches, parties and festive atmosphere. Divers get to sample a different side of India’s southwestern coast, which has little current activity and clear visibility. It is known for its shallow water which attracts newbie divers. October to mid-May offer the best water temperatures, usually around 80° to 86°F.

The Uma Guva Reef, which is located in the surrounding of Grand Island, is extremely popular among divers owing to its clear waters and scenic treat in the water. You might spot a variety of lobsters, needlefish, white-tip reef sharks, sea cucumbers, needlefish, white-tip reef sharks and other small turtles and fishes. Some of the famous dive sites located off the coast of Grand Island are Bounty Bay, Suzy’s Wreck and Shelter Cove.

4. Pondicherry

Locals know this tropical city famed for its architecture, churches, temples, and French-style avenues is an underrated dive spot. Its shores are alive with sea snakes, lobsters, dolphins, and turtles year-round, and offer the opportunity to dive with whale sharks in the months of May to August.

“This year we have spotted regularly — two adult females, three juveniles from May through August,” says Donarun Das, PADI instructor from Temple Adventures. “This has been a stark difference from past years where we would have one to two sightings a month from May through August.”

It is also home to Temple Reef, an artificial reef made of recycled materials that’s the largest of its kind in south Asia. There have been more than 100 species recorded on a single site, says Das.

5. Kovalam

The state of Kerala, “God’s own country,” is known for its lush mountains, aromatic coffee and spice plantations, beautiful wildlife national parks and great water activities. Kovalam, a small coastal town in the south, is a popular destination within Kerala for scuba divers. The water is clear and gives a glimpse into rich sea life. You can spot shoals of anchovy and silver moony, Moray eel, and fishes like puffer fish, butterfly fish, box fish, and rabbitfish. The best water conditions are from September to February. The nearest airport is Trivandrum, a mere half-hour drive from Kovalam beach.

6. Netrani Island

A small island in the Arabian Sea, Netrani is famously shaped like a heart—but divers know its reefs are what truly make it special. Diving is most popular between the months of June to September as visibility can range from 50 to 65 feet thanks to the island’s pristine water condition and friendly weather. Its coral reef teems with sea life like the parrot fish, butterfly fish and triggerfish. Lucky divers might come face to face with whale sharks and orcas from December to February.

Are you ready to step up, help save the ocean, and #LiveUnfiltered at the same time? Sign up for a PADI Open Water Diver course now.