Wreck Diving Speciality Course in Andaman — What Is Wreck Diving?
Wreck diving is a form of recreational and technical diving where divers explore the sunken remains of ships, aircraft, and other man-made structures underwater. I still get excited whenever I dive over a wreck, even after 19 years. Professional divers take on wreck dives for exploration, salvage work, accident investigation, and archaeological surveys — but most wreck sites divers encounter are shipwrecks, and a growing number of these are old ships that were intentionally sunk to build new reef habitats. Completing a Wreck Diving Speciality course is what qualifies a diver to explore these sunken structures safely.
It's a popular but specialised form of diving, requiring specific equipment, training, and experience beyond a standard certification. Shipwrecks quickly become artificial reefs, drawing in marine life that shelters among the structure — and they're often large enough to hold multiple rooms, machinery, and personal belongings left behind, each with its own history, sometimes fascinating, sometimes tragic.
Inclusions of the Wreck Diving Speciality Program
To join the Wreck Diving Speciality course, you need to be 10 years or older and hold an Open Water Diver certification (or its equivalent). You must also be physically and mentally fit to take part — please check the medical questionnaire form carefully before you book. The course runs as a single-day program and includes:
- 2 open water dives (depth 18 to 30 metres)
- A personal instructor (1:2 ratio)
- Equipment rental
- Certification cost
- Complimentary pick-up and drop
The program includes 2 wreck dives — you'll be taken to the SS Inchkeith wreck by speed boat. It costs Rs. 15,000 per person, plus 18% tax. See our Rates & Packages page to book your course with us.
Types of Wreck Dive
There are usually three categories of wreck dive: non-penetration diving (diving outside the wreckage), limited penetration (diving within the light zone), and full penetration (diving beyond the light zone).
Non-penetration diving involves diving around or outside the wreckage and is a great form of diving for those with limited wreck dive experience. It's also suitable for divers with minimal equipment, skills, and training, or anyone nervous about venturing inside a wreck. Some wrecks are non-penetration only due to their small size, partial or full destruction, or a level of fragmentation that makes them unsuitable for penetration.
Limited penetration diving involves diving in a limited area inside a wreck, with minimal chance of complication or entanglement. It allows divers to stay within the light zone created by the wreck while exploring it.
Full penetration wreck diving allows divers to explore any part of a wreck, provided the structure is stable and the diver is skilled and experienced enough. It's the most advanced and adventurous form of wreck diving — a kind of cave diving that can sometimes involve decompression dives. This is the best way to explore an entire shipwreck: different rooms, hidden areas, personal items, and equipment left behind.
Why Choose Wreck Diving?
Wreck diving is an advanced form of diving that lets you learn the history of drowned wrecks first-hand. The course builds new skills and sharpens body positioning, navigation, buoyancy, and finning technique during wreck exploration.
It's also one of the best ways to see abundant marine life concentrated in one place — wrecks are often claimed by critters, sponges, corals, and schools of reef fish seeking shelter among the structure. It's a genuine opportunity to capture beautiful moments of sunken wreckage alongside the marine life that's made it home. Few things compare to seeing a drowned wreck — ships, tanks, aeroplanes — slowly disappearing under colourful coral.
A cargo vessel named SS Inchkeith, loaded with coal and timber, struck a rock and sank south-east of South Andaman near Duncan Island in March 1955. The wreck now rests at a depth of 60 feet/18 metres and is today one of the most popular wreck diving sites in Andaman. Divers regularly explore its scattered pieces — enormous propellers, hatches, and the starboard structure — alongside giant grouper, barracuda, sweetlips, ghost pipefish, reef fish, boxfish, triggerfish, angelfish, and other marine species. The wreck itself is rusted and covered in patches of soft coral, resting on a sandy bottom.
I personally recommend completing your Perfect Buoyancy Speciality before diving a wreck. Unstable buoyancy can hurt you against the wreck's sharp surfaces, and accidentally touching the wrong spot can get you stung by a stonefish or scorpionfish — both stay camouflaged right on the surface of the wreck.
Gear, Skills & Risks
A specialised set of gear isn't always required at shallow wrecks, but for deeper or more advanced wreck dives, you'll need a torch, wreck reel, dive computer, air source, and other wreck-specific tools.
- Compass
- Dive knife
- Wreck reel
- Dive torch and backup
A wreck diving speciality course teaches the skills needed to dive safely and get the most out of the experience. Beyond that, a wreck diver needs good buoyancy control, solid navigation, and a clean, streamlined gear setup — both to avoid colliding with the wreck's interior and to prevent loose gear from getting trapped inside it. Frog finning is an essential technique for wreck penetration, since it prevents silt disturbance while exploring a wreck's interior. Familiarising yourself with a wreck's layout beforehand is the best way to avoid disorientation during the dive. Even after completing this course, I always urge divers to dive only with a local guide when exploring a wreck.
Limited and full penetration wreck dives carry a higher risk of disorientation, loss of visibility, and entanglement. Disorientation typically happens when clear water inside a wreck becomes clouded by disturbed rust particles and sediment on the way out. These risks can be minimised with proper wreck dive training, using a wreck reel to mark your route, and diving within the limits of your knowledge, skill, and experience. Good buoyancy control and frog finning are especially important for avoiding sediment disturbance.
Non-penetration wreck dives carry comparatively minimal risk and feel like a normal recreational dive — though divers should still watch out for sharp wreck edges.
Explore Other Specialties
Wreck diving is one of several specialty courses we offer beyond the core certification path. My personal recommendation would be to complete your Navigation and Perfect Buoyancy specialties first before joining this course. Other useful specialities to consider next are deep diving, boat diving, and marine ecology — each building a different underwater skill. Take a look at our full range of speciality courses to find what interests you next, or start with an Open Water Diver certification if you haven't yet.
FAQs
Yes — you need an existing Open Water Diver certification (or equivalent) before starting this course. Wreck diving builds directly on core diving skills like buoyancy and navigation, which is why I personally recommend completing Navigation and Perfect Buoyancy specialties first.
The course covers all three categories — non-penetration, limited penetration, and full penetration — but how far you go inside the SS Inchkeith depends on your comfort level, skill, and the wreck's condition on the day. Non-penetration diving alone is a complete, rewarding experience on its own.
The wreck sits at 18 metres, covered in soft coral patches on a sandy bottom, with propellers, hatches, and the starboard structure still visible. Divers regularly spot giant grouper, barracuda, sweetlips, ghost pipefish, boxfish, triggerfish, and angelfish around the wreckage.
Wreck diving carries specific risks — mainly disorientation and reduced visibility if sediment gets disturbed inside the structure, plus camouflaged creatures like stonefish and scorpionfish on the wreck's surface. Proper training, a wreck reel to mark your route, and diving with a local guide keep these risks well managed.
Ready to Explore the Depths?
Join the SSI Wreck Diving Speciality on Havelock Island and discover the SS Inchkeith — history, marine life, and adventure resting quietly at 18 metres.