Ask a Havelock dive guide which sites they'd take a visiting certified diver to first, and Dixon's Pinnacle comes up almost every time — and once you understand why, it's easy to see the appeal.
Dixon's Pinnacle: the Andamans' signature dive. Three underwater pinnacles rise from more than 40 metres, densely carpeted in yellow soft coral — a scale and colour density that's genuinely rare even by Andaman standards. It's also a cleaning station, meaning larger pelagic life — manta rays, occasionally whale sharks, and reliable Napoleon wrasse — visit to be groomed by smaller cleaner fish. November through February offers the best odds of a manta encounter here, though as with any wildlife encounter, nothing is guaranteed on a single dive.
South Button: a different kind of dive, close by. A short boat ride from Havelock, South Button sits within India's smallest national park, offering more sheltered lagoon conditions and a good complement to Dixon's Pinnacle's deeper, more dramatic topography. Many operators pair the two sites in a single half-day trip, adjusting the exact combination based on weather and tide.
What certification level you need. Both sites are aimed at certified divers — PADI Open Water or equivalent is the standard minimum, with some operators reserving Dixon's Pinnacle specifically for more experienced divers given its depth and occasional current. If you're not yet certified, Havelock is genuinely one of the most affordable and calm places in the world to complete an Open Water course, with warm, stable water temperatures (27-30°C) year-round.
What actually happens on the boat. Rather than locking you into a fixed site regardless of conditions, most reputable dive centers choose the day's exact site pairing based on real-time weather and tide information — which is a better outcome for you as a diver, even if it means the specific site isn't guaranteed in advance.
If you're comparing Havelock against Neil Island for where to spend your Andaman diving days, our existing guide on Havelock vs. Neil Island diving and snorkelling covers that decision in full. Ready to book? See details for Havelock Premium Boat Diving at Dixon's Pinnacle & South Button.
