Do’s & Don’ts In Andaman & Nicobar

Do’s in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

• Tourist information centers in the islands are beneficial. Contact them for any travel assistance required.
• While driving, follow traffic rules and keep left. Carry legal documents like driving license, permit, passport, etc.
• Do wear a helmet while riding a two-wheeled motor vehicle. If anybody is caught driving a motorbike without a helmet, they will be penalized/fined.
• Consult lifeguards before entering the sea.
• Swim in safe areas only.
• Learn more about reefs, other marine life, and tropical forests. Researching the islands before you land here will make your visit more enjoyable.
• Use the dustbins and garbage receptacles for disposing of all garbage and rubbish. Please do not throw them in parks, on beaches, into the sea, or in public places. Please help keep the Andaman Islands litter-free.
• Carry important documents like your passport, permit, and driving license with you while traveling in the Andaman Islands. It is not advisable to leave them at the hotel or resort.
• Get necessary permits for visiting National Parks as they can be seen only with permission. Other permitted areas can be visited freely.
• Be sensitive to the privacy of the tribes. Any attempt of interaction is punishable by law.
• All tourist attraction spots will carry notice boards for photography and video filming permission. Obtain permits for taking video films and photographs wherever required.
• Avail the service of only qualified Scuba Dive Instructors having certification of international professional organizations like PADI, CMAS, NAUI, BSAC, or SSI for a safe driving experience.
• Inform local authorities/staff positioned in protected areas if you notice any undesirable activity.
• Take care to stay within the permitted areas while snorkeling or scuba diving. It would be best if you took care not to stand on coral reefs, and doing so can damage the reefs.
• Foreign nationals must keep their restricted area permit with them at all times. Whenever visitors are visiting Havelock or other islands like Neil, on arrival, the jetty police officers will check the foreign visitors’ restricted area permits and only then allow them to embark from the ferry and enter the islands.

Don’ts in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

• Do not smoke in public areas.
• Do not use plastic bags. Plastic carry-bags are banned in the Andaman Islands. If anybody is caught with a plastic carry bag, they can be fined either Rs. 1,00,000 or imprisoned for six months or both.
• Do not hunt birds and animals both on land and on the sea. Please help us in preserving the flora and fauna of the Islands.
• Do not visit the Nicobar Islands or other tribal reserves without a special pass. You can be severely punished for an attempt to mingle with tribal people without legal permission.
• Staying on beaches or forest areas overnight is strictly prohibited. Take care to return to your hotel or resort after sunset.
• Do not light bonfires on beaches or forests. Camping on the islands is a punishable offense.
• Breaking, even touching a live coral, is prohibited. Collecting dead coral is also not allowed.
• Whatever the size or condition of shells you find – in the sea or on the beach – taking them or even touching them is strictly prohibited. Do not collect shells. To own bodies, you must buy them. Also, keep the receipt of purchase.
• Do not take videos or photograph the aboriginal tribes of Andaman. This is considered a crime and is liable for punishment.
• Do not swim when drunk. Avoid swimming during the monsoon in unsafe zones. Both are not safe.
• Nudity is banned on all Andaman beaches and public spaces.
• Do not overstay at the islands past your permit time.

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