BARREN ISLAND

A couple of hours from Swaraj Dweep, Barren Island is the only confirmed active volcano in South Asia and the only active volcano along a chain of volcanos from Sumatra to Myanmar. Located where the Indian and Burmese tectonic plates meet, the island is almost two million years old, with the first recorded eruption dating back to 1787. Little vegetation and few animals inhabit the island, but it has been discovered that certain species of rodents have adapted to the harsh conditions over the years. Due to the remoteness of the area, much of the island’s surrounding waters have remained in pristine condition, making it one of the best spots for scuba diving in the Andamans. Unlike the beaches on Swaraj Dweep, Barren Island’s are covered with black sand, which has helped to nurture and maintain the beauty of the island’s corals, sponges and sea anemones.