Agatti Island

Agatti Island is one of the few inhabited islands of Lakshadweep, located about 458 kilometres west of the Indian mainland and serving as the main gateway to the archipelago. The Agatti island location makes it strategically important as it hosts the only airport in Lakshadweep. Stretching 7.6 kilometres in length and less than a kilometre in width, the island is encircled by a coral reef extending nearly 2 kilometres offshore, making Agatti Island famous for its pristine marine ecosystem. With water visibility exceeding 30 metres for much of the year, divers encounter more than 600 species of reef fish, manta rays, hawksbill turtles and reef sharks. Popular Agatti island things to do include scuba diving, snorkelling and lagoon kayaking, with operators offering PADI courses and guided reef dives as part of an Agatti island tour package. The Agatti island people, numbering around 8,000, live among coconut plantations and rely on tuna fishing and coir production. The Agatti island currency is Indian Rupee, as Lakshadweep is a Union Territory of India. An Agatti island trip cost varies depending on accommodation and diving options, but access is tightly regulated and requires advance permits arranged through a registered Agatti island tour operator.