Home › Best Sites › Asia › India › Netrani › Grand Central Station

Scuba Diving at Grand Central Spot

The Netrani dive site 'Grand Central' is a location where big pelagic fishes congregate near the sloping underwater terrain as it bottoms out around thirty metres.

This guide contains information about the unique underwater topography and fish life found in the clear water near the coastline of Karnataka.

When's the Best Time to Dive Grand Central

Netrani is a heart-shaped coral island. You'll find it situated around ten (10) nautical miles from Murudeshwara.

The location is popular for divers who make the south-westerly journey from the Indian district of Karnataka.

It's also called Pigeon Island by the locals on the mainland - due to the abundant presence of wild grey birds living on the rock.

The dive sites around Netrani Island rank among the best available for scuba divers who travel offshore. Plus, it's within easy reach from Goa, Bangalore, Pune, and the capital city of Mumbai.

In all fairness, access to clear water diving is quite limited in this part of the Arabian Sea. Nonetheless, underwater visibility can be around twenty (20) metres in some sheltered spots.

Generally, the Netrani Island diving season begins in October and runs through to May. Even during these months, you should expect to have water temperatures around 27° Celsius (80° Fahrenheit).

But wait - there's more:

Because of the local hazards, the authorities discourage divers from stepping foot on the rocky island. So, it's best to consider it as being off limits because of the steep cliffs and craggy rocks close to the shoreline.

Netrani Island dive sites have their fair share of coral reefs, rocky pinnacles, and a few shipwrecks. In fact, during the peak season, it's one of the best scuba destinations for beginners to learn how to dive or to become one of the snorkeling bloggers that help to make this area popular.

Being cordiform in shape means the island's fringing coral reef systems create natural habitats in shallow water for all sorts of diverse marine life, including:

Pro Tip: December through to February are the optimum months for diving Netrani. Make sure you get permission before you visit the island by boat. The sea conditions deteriorate from June until October (e.g. for the south-west monsoon season).

Grand Central Station Underwater Topography

There must be an interesting angle to name one of Netrani's dive sites the Grand Central Station. Well... yes there is! The title describes the station-like gathering of large pelagic fish at this popular diving location.

Maximum depths range from ten (10) to thirty (30) metres. Nonetheless, the two notable hazards are strong surge and an abundance of spiny, globular echinoderms (sea urchins) that decorate the rocky walls.

There is a cavern to the northwest of Netrani Island with a large opening, around three metres in diameter. Some divers with the cavern diving certification may venture inside the dark underwater passageway.

Pro Tip: Another section explains more about entanglement hazards and what to do if you get stuck inside small overhead environments.

Related Information and Help Guides

Pro Tip: The main section contains extra information about the top scuba diving spots in India and why it's becoming a hot-spot for undersea explorers.

Divers also enjoyed reading about...