Pristine Corals Discovered on Volcanic Barren Island

The Infiniti Liveaboard has discovered a beautiful “coral paradise” at Barren Island during a recent scuba diving trip. The waters here are crystal clear with 35m visibility, and gardens of lush, fast growing corals are seen with assorted soft & hard coral such as stag-horn coral, lettuce coral, tabletop coral, cauliflower coral, colorful sponges, etc.

A vibrant & multicolored coral garden is one of the most fascinating underwater sights. It also signifies a healthy ecosystem.

A coral reef, found in tropical & subtropical waters around the world, is like an underwater oasis featuring a great diversity of species. Coral reefs are beautiful vibrant underwater cities that provide habitat for almost all forms of life. Coral reefs can take thousands of years to form and have several different functions such as preventing sediments from damaging the shoreline, creating a healthier, protected coastline habitat; and sequestering carbon dioxide & thereby nurturing marine biodiversity.

Barren Island is a remote island in the Andaman Islands, with the only active volcano in South Asia. It is a 67 Nautical Miles journey into the open sea from Port Blair. The Infiniti is the only live-aboard in the area, and offers live-aboard scuba diving trips including to Barren Island. The surrounding waters around Barren are known to make unique & spectacular diving with superb visibility, unique underwater black sand landscape, lava topography, huge walls & drop offs, gorgonian fans and pelagics.

Sunil Bakshi, founder & CEO of the Infiniti Live-aboard said, “It was an awesome experience to go to the imposing Barren Island & find this incredible coral paradise with huge gorgonian fans, cabbage coral, hard & soft coral. Combined with the recent discovery of a Manta Bay where majestic Manta Rays are found dancing and playing, Barren Island is turning out to be an awesome world-class dive site.”

Barren Island is located in the Andaman Sea, one of the most easterly of the Andaman Islands. It is the only confirmed active volcano in South Asia. [[Wikipedia]](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barren_Island_(Andaman_Islands))