The dive was not great. Conditions were OK, but it seems that the North Andaman just isn't as nice as it once was. My wife said the same thing: "It's just not as pretty as it was." We didn't really see that much of interest and sites that were once very beautiful seemed rather ordinary. The last time we saw a Manta or Whale Shark was in March of 2019. Even our dive guides said that "big stuff" is not as common as it had been throughout much of the twenty teens.
I generally make a dive video of a trip's highlights. Reviewing the clips I see it will be difficult to choose very many highlights. If I make one, I'll post it here.
There were a few creatures of interest:
• A pair of tiny Harlequin Shrimp
• A Mantis Shrimp scurrying about
• A Black Velutinid (ugly but rare)
• A Napoleon Wrasse (somewhat rare)
• Some Aeolid Nudibranchs (Blue Dragon)
The boat we were on was the Tapana Catamaran. The staff on this boat is great. The "boat boys" are well trained and experienced and make diving a please. The food is superb and way too plentiful. The cabins are small but comfortable with en suite bathrooms.
