Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) · beach
Elephant Beach
Havelock's water-sports beach — a shallow reef metres from the sand, snorkelling, sea walk and jet-skis, reached by boat or a jungle trek.
- snorkelling
- water sports
- sea walk
- boat trip
- trek
- Location
- North-west coast of Havelock
- By boat
- 20–30 min speedboat from the jetty; morning trips
- On foot
- ~2 km / 30–40 min forest trail from the Radhanagar road; low tide only
- Sand
- Narrow white beach, fallen trees, coral rubble at water's edge
- Water
- Very shallow reef; snorkelling from the shore
- Facilities
- Activity counters, a few snack stalls, no changing rooms
- Best time
- First boats (8–9 am), high-ish tide, October–May
Overview
Elephant Beach is where Havelock does its water sports. A shallow coral reef sits right off the beach — you can be over parrotfish and clownfish two minutes after wading in — so it has become the island’s base for snorkelling, sea walks, intro dives, jet-skis, banana boats and glass-bottom boats. The beach itself is narrow and a little chaotic, with tsunami-felled trees along the tideline, but the water is the reason to come and the water is excellent.
It gets its name, locals say, from the elephants once used for logging on Havelock, which were bathed here.
Getting there
By boat (most people). Speedboats leave from Havelock Jetty in the morning (roughly 8 am onwards) and take 20–30 minutes; packages usually bundle the boat with snorkelling gear and a fixed return time. Boats do not run in rough weather and the whole beach closes in the monsoon.
On foot. A forest trail starts from the Radhanagar road (the turn-off is signposted; ask locally) and reaches the beach in 30–40 minutes. The last section crosses tidal flats — passable only around low tide, and muddy. Wear shoes you don’t mind ruining, carry water, and go with someone who knows the way the first time; people do get lost.
What to do
- Snorkel the reef straight off the beach — hard and soft corals, anemones, reef fish, occasional turtles. Guides take you to the better patches a few metres out.
- Sea walk — helmet-diving on the seabed with a guide, no swimming needed.
- Intro scuba dive from the beach with one of the shops.
- Glass-bottom boat for a dry look at the reef.
- Jet-ski, banana boat, speedboat rides — fun, quick, priced per go.
- Kayaking into the mangroves next to the beach with a guide.
Practical notes
- Book activities at the counters on the beach or via your resort; there’s a lot of touting at the jetty — agree the price and what’s included (gear, guide, boat) before you pay.
- No changing rooms — wear swimwear under your clothes. A few stalls sell water, coconuts and snacks.
- Reef etiquette: don’t stand on the coral, don’t touch anything, don’t feed fish. The reef here is under heavy visitor pressure.
- Wear reef shoes or old trainers — the beach and shallows are coral rubble.
- The beach is a half-day: arrive on the first boat, leave by early afternoon before it fills up and the light drops.
Nearby
Radhanagar Beach is on the same side of the island — a natural afternoon after an Elephant Beach morning.
Last updated 17 August 2026. Timings, fees and schedules change — confirm locally before you travel.