WHAT TO PACK FOR YOUR ANDAMAN ISLAND TRIP?

• Clothes

For the daytime in the Andaman, you will most likely want to be in shorts and a loose comfortable t-shirt or tank top. A wide-brimmed or long-billed hat and a pair of sunglasses are essentials for protecting face, eyes, ears and neck from the bright and scorching sun. Bring a light sweater or sweatshirt so you won't miss magnificent nightly star-gazing.

• Footwear

Without a doubt, Teva-style sandals are the most useful footwear you can bring to the island. They can be worn during dry or wet landing on the islands, protect your feet from dead corals found on and near the beach. You might want the protection and support of tennis shoes or sneakers, but we would recommend that you bring your older broken-in pair than a new pair that will suffer the damage of saltwater and sand.

• Sunscreen

We list sunscreen as its own section because its important. We recommend SPF 45 waterproof sunscreen, and everywhere --don't forget the tops of your feet! Strong sunburn can be a debilitating condition --especially for those with lighter skin.

• For the Water

A swimsuit or two is perfect for the water --the sun will dry them quickly and they are great for lounging around on the decks. If you have your own snorkeling equipment and you feel like bringing it with you, do so by all means. Often it is better to have your own equipment with which you are comfortable and certain of it fitting than renting from the boat or a shop. However, if you do not have your own you will be provided with such gears during snorkeling, scuba diving and sea walk experience. For those who like to spend hours snorkeling and diving deep, you might consider a shorty wet suit for the deeper 18-23 degree C waters.

• Photography

Of course you will bring your camera! The Andaman Islands is one large photo opportunity after another, and you will return with many photos that can never be repeated. For this reason, we suggest that you think about how many photos you will want to take and then bring and extra memory card. Frames will quickly fill with all the landscapes, wildlife and ocean-scapes you can dream of. But if you run out of memory space, getting more can be expensive or difficult. For those that have quality digital cameras, bringing a wide-angle/macro lens and a 70-210mm zoom lens is advisable. The zoom lens will let you frame animals at any variety of distances, and reduce the amount of camera equipment you lug with you to the islands. A polarizing filter helps to reduce the glare of the sunlight on the water and make the fishes more visible as well as helping with sunset shots. And if you do not have an underwater camera (as most of us don't), you can rent one before coming to the Andamans.

In case you want to bring video equipment, while adding more bulk, weight and worry, also means that you will be able to capture amazing moments and images. If you bring a tripod, make it a lightweight non-bulky one as you'll have to hike with it..

• Accessories

Some other items that you might consider bringing are binoculars (7x25 are recommended), and extra camera batteries.

• Money

The currency on Andaman Islands is the Indian Rupee. It would be wise to already bring some Rupees in cash with you. You will want to have some cash on you while you are on board and in port to buy a t-shirt, a refreshing cola on deck, etc. There are bank ATMs in both Havelock and Port Blair, however no option in Neil Island as such. Carry your money, credit cards and the like in a money pouch (held close to your body).

•Medication

First Aid kits are provided on all boats, but may not be complete or provide for those with special needs. Always travel with all prescription medicines that you may need. Special medicines you should consider bringing along are motion sickness medication (if your sea legs don't develop quickly), and aloe-vera gel (in case you forget our advice about sunscreen). During the trip, if you experience severe headaches or respiratory problems, consult a doctor immediately.

Please keep a copy of the brochure from Port Blair, Havelock and Neil Island as a soft copy in your mobile. You may even carry a hard copy of the brochures, but it has the risk to get wet during water activities. Emergency numbers are also mentioned near every destination in the Andamans.