VANAMCOVE 
Cinque Island
Diver's favourite of coral walls
Why this weekend?
The day-by-day plan
- Early boat out
- Lagoon crossing
- Snorkel or dive rounds
- Island lunch break
- Return by evening
Geography & terrain
Cinque Island is the uninhabited twin-island pair about 3 km off the south-west of Rutland Island, inside the waters of the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park — two forested teardrops with a turquoise lagoon between them, roughly a two-hour boat ride from Port Blair or a shorter run from Havelock's south side.
History & culture
Named by the islands' early British surveyors for their five-part silhouette, Cinque stayed empty through the colonial and post-colonial years — a seamount of forest and coral with no settlement and no road; its fame rests entirely on the reef that wraps it, making the pair the archipelago's celebrated dive destination.
Where to stay
Budget
₹1,500–4,000/nightMid-range
₹4,000–9,000/nightComfort
₹9,000+/nightThings to do
Twin-island lagoon
Coral gardens
Sandbar snorkel
Dive walls & bommies
Turtle sightings
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
- ₹5,000–14,000 (1 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
Practical info
- Language: Hindi / Bengali / Tamil (multi-language islands) (English understood in tourist spots)
- Best window: Nov–Apr
- Connectivity: Patchy off the main islands — download offline maps
- UPI/cards widely accepted; keep small cash for hill and market stops
Practical tips
- Trips go with the weather — December to April is the dependable window
- Non-divers still need the park permit and a guided boat; book through Port Blair operators
- Certified only for the deep walls — a first-timer's open-water qual isn't enough
Frequently asked questions
Yes — the lagoon snorkel is the classic day-tour; the deep walls are for certified divers with a dive shop along.
Because the reef sits untouched in a marine park — long walls, soft corals and pelagic traffic in water that rarely falls below 27 degrees.
No — the short park trips stop at Jolly Buoy or Red Skin; Cinque is the farther, wilder upgrade.
Diver's favourite of coral walls
Take the break. We'll take the planning.
Tell us your dates, budget and travel style — we'll build your Cinque Island plan with day-by-day routing, stays, food and bookings.