Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park

The park covers around two hundred and eighty square kilometres of sea and fifteen islands off Wandoor on South Andaman, protecting coral reef, mangrove and tropical forest along with turtles, dugong and reef fish. Its management uses rotation: Jolly Buoy and Red Skin are the two islands open to visitors, and only one operates at a time, alternating every six months so each gets half a year without visitors to recover. Jolly Buoy is a plastic-free zone with bottles and wrappers confiscated at the jetty. Glass-bottom boats and snorkelling run over the reef, and no accommodation exists on the islands.

What you actually see

• The rotating islands - Jolly Buoy and Red Skin, one open at a time.
• The reef - coral and fish seen by snorkel or glass-bottom boat.
• The plastic ban - items confiscated before boarding for Jolly Buoy.
• The mangroves - tidal forest along the Wandoor shore.

When to go

December to April for calm seas and clear water; the monsoon closes boats. Which island is open depends on the six-month rotation and should be checked before travelling.

Honest expectations

Permits and boats must be arranged at Wandoor and numbers are capped daily. Coral bleaching has affected these reefs. Day trips only; nothing is available on the islands, including water beyond what you carry.

Nearby

Wandoor is the jetty; Port Blair lies northeast.