Barren Island

Barren Island is situated in the Andaman Sea and lies about 138 km (86 mi) northeast of the territory's capital, Port Blair. It is the only active volcano along the chain from Sumatra to Myanmar and also the only active volcano in India. Barren Island is a part of the Indian Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and is well known as a submarine emergent volcano, which lies above the subduction zone of India and the Burmese plate.

Well, Barren Island in Andaman again started erupting in 2018, and many people across the globe are coming to the islands just to experience this phenomenon. Here are the recent photographs of the Barren Island volcano which started erupting in 2018.

Barren Island Andaman Trip

Its name is justified as it is a barren area uninhabited by humans, though it has a small population of goats. Also, birds, bats like flying foxes, and a few rodent species such as rats are known to survive the severe conditions. The island is unpeopled and bereft of any significant vegetation.

Barren Island comes under the restricted zone, and special permits have to be taken to visit Barren Island. Besides, no one is allowed to land on Barren Island. No night stay is allowed at Barren Island, so one can plan for the early morning trip to the island, like you can start at 3 or 4 a.m. It takes nearly 4 to 5 hours to reach the island. Tourists generally travel through ships and, without getting down on the island, they get the whole enthralling feeling of the island. The island can be visited by chartered boats only with the approval of the forest department and after getting the necessary permits.

Private charters must be hired to visit Barren Island. On your way, you can indulge in sports fishing activities. Also, snorkeling can be done during the trip. Some advanced scuba divers also go to Barren Island for diving. All guides are present with you during this excursion.

What is there in and around Barren Island?

Manta Rays, interesting basalt formations, the topography of past lava flows, and fast-growing coral gardens will seriously pay back your visit expenditure. This destination is remote but can be easily accessed by either a live-aboard ship or with scuba operators based at Havelock Island. Day tours on private charters are also possible. You can think of fishing and scuba diving, which can engage you for nearly 6-8 hours. The island can be accessed by visitors with prior permission from the department concerned.

Travelling from Havelock to Barren Island

About the trip To Barren Island and Trip Cost

There are 2 kinds of trips that operate to Barren Island.

1) Private charter to Barren Island

What this means is that you hire the entire boat yourself and take it on a visit to Barren Island. If a group of friends is planning a visit to Barren, they can select this option.

• Includes:
  • Boat trip from Havelock Island to Barren Island and Return
  • Breakfast, Lunch, and Refreshments
  • Fishing and Snorkeling kit
• Departure time: 5 AM from Havelock Jetty
• Travel time: 3 Hours
• Total trip duration: 10 Hours

Cost For Private Charter: Rupees 1,50,000 + 5% GST For Up to 8 Persons

Extra persons beyond 8 Persons: Rupees 15,000 Per Person

Permit Charges Extra:

• Rupees 500 For Indians
• Rupees 2500 For Foreigners

2) Shared Trip to Barren Island

A shared trip to Barren Island takes place every Tuesday from Havelock Island. In a shared trip, a group is formed of those interested in visiting Barren Island.

• Includes:
  • Boat trip from Havelock Island to Barren Island and Return
  • Breakfast, Lunch, and Refreshments
  • Fishing and Snorkeling kit
• Departure time: 5 AM from Havelock Jetty
• Travel time: 3 Hours
• Total trip duration: 10 Hours

Cost For Shared Trip Cost / Person: Rupees 25,000 + 5% GST

Permit Charges Extra:

• Rupees 500 For Indians
• Rupees 2500 For Foreigners

All trips to Barren Island are subject to weather conditions, government regulations, and payload on the day of sailing.

About the Boat

MFV Caiman is a luxury boat for the Barren Island trip. This boat has:

• 16 Life Jackets
• Fire Extinguisher
• Distance Alert Transmitter
• Area Information System
• VHF Communicator
• Fish Finder
• GPS
• First Aid Box
• Cockpit Cabin
• Toilet

The boat is powered by a 2x250 Suzuki Engine with an overall length of 12.67 meters. It has 6 double sofa sets along with an 800-litre fuel tank and 800-litre storage.

Geography and Biodiversity of Barren Island

Just 3 kilometers wide, with a two-kilometer-wide caldera, Barren Island is the summit of a volcano that rises about 2,250 meters from the seafloor, with 354 meters above the waterline. It is the emergent summit of a volcano that rises from a depth. The eruptions have reduced the number of bird species and their population. Of the 16 previously reported species, only six species are observed, of which the Pied Imperial Pigeon is the most abundant.

Not Dangerous at all!

It has been in the news recently that the volcano erupted in small episodes of about five to ten minutes on January 23, 2017. It resulted in ash clouds and red lava fountains ejecting from the crater, and the hot lava flowed streaming down its slopes. But don’t worry, this is nothing new to this unique place. It has erupted at least five times over the next 100 years.

Historically, the first record of the volcano’s eruption dates back to 1787. In 1991, it erupted and the smoke billowed out for about six months. Since then, there have been eruptions every two to three years, with the last in February 2016.

However, all of these eruptions lie at the lowest level of the Volcanic Explosivity Index. This index ranks the volcanoes from 1-8 based on the quantity of volcanic material spewed and its strength. This latest 2017 eruption was recorded as a 2 on the index, which is much in the safe limits.

Other volcanoes in Andaman and Nicobar Islands:

Narcondam Island in Andaman and Nicobar is a volcanic island and is classified as a dormant volcano by the Geological Survey of India. The island is declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is famous for its prevalent Narcondam Hornbill. Baratang Island in Andaman is famous for its mud volcanoes, which also attract many anxious tourists all year round.

Those looking to visit unique and offbeat places in the Andaman Islands should consider visiting Barren Island. Other offbeat places to visit in Andaman include Long Island and Little Andaman Islands.