India's first live-aboard yatch opens up avenues for scuba divers to explore Andamans

MUMBAI: India's first live-aboard yatch, Infiniti, was launched recently, opening up avenues for scuba divers from across the globe to explore Andaman waters. Live-aboards are very popular worldwide in countries that have strong sea-tourism sectors such as Maldives, Thailand, Caribben Islands, Red Sea, Indonesia, etc. A live-aboard is a sea-going vessel that is equipped to provide comfortable accommodation in guest cabins, dining and leisure facilities as it travels around the island areas to visit interesting spots, usually for scuba diving.
Scuba diving is a highly popular tourist activity worldwide, with millions of followers. It is estimated to be a $47 billion industry, including the revenues from hospitality. In India, which has 22 dive centers dotting its waters, scuba diving is a new, but fast-growing activity. Diving destinations such as the Andaman Islands, Goa and the Lakshadweep Islands are garnering increasing interest from tourists, both domestic and international. Over the next few years, India can emerge as a major hub for diving as additional infrastructure is built to keep up with the demand
"Infiniti live-aboard has included on their itinerary a trip to the fascinating Narcondam island in the Andaman Sea. Narcondam island — a wildlife sanctuary — has captured the imagination of travellers and explorers for a long time, owing to its extreme remoteness and population of endemic species. It has a strong evolutionary significance and its most famous inhabitant is the endangered 'Narcondam Hornbill' — a type of hornbill found only here. The waters surrounding Narcondam island are legendary for being a diver’s paradise," a press statement said. An extinct volcano, Narcondam was put on the diving map by diving pioneer Jacque Cousteau who was the first to dive in these waters.
"Constructed in Thailand under the close supervision of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA) from Italy, the Infiniti boasts world-class systems and equipment, an expert dive crew, and luxuriously appointed interiors, including guest rooms with en-suite bathrooms, a kitchen, a diving platform, an indoor dining room and multiple relaxation areas, including a large sun deck and a lounge," the statement said.