Adventure Sports In Goa
Goa is a good destination to enjoy adventure sports. Wind blows, strong water waves enthralls you and ensure you thrill involved in adventures. Especially water sports are very famous here. Away from land, scuba diving is the best bet in the land of sun and fun. Water sports are emerged as a big business in Goa now-a-days. These adventure journeys range from Rs 600 to Rs. 1,000 in Goa. It is just the affordable price against these thrills of the adventure. It includes dolphin sightseeing to parasailing to water skiing to banana riding. These activities include the speed boats with speed at the rate of 40 to 200 BHP. Parasailing is the activity which turns you into a human kite suspended hundreds of feet above water. A powerboat is there to launch you and then recovered you circling the bay. Unparalleled view can be seen with blustery air on the top. The air is cool and breezy. Water banana boat rides require a minimum of three riders per ride. Water skiing, swo-o-o-o-o-oshing through the water, is quite fun. Banging, bouncing, knocking, thumping and balancing during the water skiing with clenched fists. The need is just to gather some adventure loving people at an aquatic environment. These thrills are quite fun and let you feel wetter and better! Lets talk about the safety norms while having fun during adventure sports. Back-up rescue boats, life jackets and other accessories are provided with the adventure of water sports. The Goan water has poor visibility due to strip mining that has contaminated the sea to a certain extent. But it still has excellent spots for water sports. Its neutral buoyancy and weightlessness underwater is favorable for scuba diving. Goa has two diving clubs registered with PADI(Professional Association of Diving Instructors): Goa Diving Private Limited at Vasco and Barracuda Diving India at the Goa Marriott Resort in Miramar. These clubs give excellent assistance to aspiring divers. The diving equipment may seem a bit complicated. Just enroll yourself for a one-hour course in pool, it is not that much difficult as it seems. It just takes couple of minutes to learn to clear your mask underwater. Your diving instructor will patiently practice with you, until you feel comfortable and in control of your equipment. There is fun but the fear of sharks is still bothering you. So don’t worry as the sharks are water coolers and don’t float up for a brush with humans. It is rare that anyone is get injured by marine animals in Goa. These animals prove to be harmful if these animals feels that are not secure or some how divers provoked them. Diving responsibly and sensibly is the only to avoid these kinds of mishaps. This is not really difficult if you want to do so. Suzy’s wreck, Davy Jones Locker, Shelter Cove, Umma Gumma Reef and Bounty Bay are some spots to enjoy the water sports in Goa. During diving, the experienced divers also come out with new and enthralling experiences each time.
Scuba Diving/Snorkeling
Scuba diving is really a nice way to uncover the sea and the innumerable marine creatures. There is always an apparatus to breathe for scuba diver as he swims underwater. Sometimes it is difficult to take some initial trial dives. You can learn Scuba diving from a PADI approved diving school at Bogmalo. This is among one of the few places where you can learn scuba diving in India. Snorkeling is much easier as compared to Scuba diving and the same way, the content of risk is also reduced. A bent tube is fitted into the mouth and extends above the water’s surface. This breathing device is used at the time of Scuba Diving. So you can experience the amazing underwater world while breathing fresh air. During Scuba Diving, you can encounter some marine animals such as goat-fish, lion-fish, scorpion-fish, angel-fish, parrot-fish, damsel-fish, turtles, eels, lobsters and perhaps sharks. Hundreds of wrecks are also found at the coastline.
Safety Measures
Listen to the pre-diving briefings carefully. Ensure this that the water does not have under currents before diving in. Use a water proof sunscreen lotion and find your way around coral reefs carefully. Handle the snorkel carefully and be careful for the mask so that it does not get too foggy. Take extra care for not to swim under the hull.
The best sites for diving in Goa are: Grande Island, St. George Island, Devgarh Island and Pigeon Island. The best season is from November to April. Some diving schools provide and teach starters and rent equipments.
Water-Skiing
Water-skiing adventurous experiences are only for trained persons. If you are not trained so better is to be trained before doing this. During training, you will experience some falls and tumbles which are unavoidable. If the trainers are not satisfied with your performance during training, they will not let you go for skiing. You must have nice stamina, sturdy legs and strong back muscles for this sport.
Safety Measures
Don’t venture out in the rough waters. An observer should accompany the operator in the boat. As you fall so just send a signal to the operator that you are okay.
The good sites include Candolim, Calangute, Arossim, Utorda, Mobor and Rajbaga for water-skiing. Winter is considered as the best season for water skiing in Goa as only this time, the waves are easy to manage. There are always instructors and guides to teach you and provide you the facility to hire equipments.
Windsurfing
Windsurfing is an exciting water sport and the toughest too. The windsurfer has to stand on a fiberglass board, attached to a rig that comprises a sail, mast, boom and mast base. The craft need to be manoeuvre while taking the heady challenges of the wind and water. There is a need of proper training before venturing out in the sea. Besides the physical strength, it requires practice, training and an understanding of the sea also. The annual National Windsurfing Championship is also organized by the Board Sailing Association of India between August and November. Every year, a different venue is fixed for the championship.
Safety Measures
Firstly, choose an operator who maintains safety standards. Don’t set off in an offshore wind and should always double-check the gear before starting. You must learn the international distress signals.
The best place to learn windsurfing is Dona Paula Beach, Bogmalo, Miramar, Calangute, Arossim, Utorda, Benaulim, Vagator and Baga beaches in Goa. The best time is from January to March.
Some training schools provide short term courses on windsurfing in Goa and also facilitate the equipment required for it.
Jet-Skiing
Jet-Skiing is an ideal sport for those looking for speed and adventures. A quite simple machine to operate but still it is recommended to accompany an instructor with you.
Safety Measures
Limit yourself in the area where you can see the operator. Don’t be over-confident just assuming it as a simple machine but nothing else.
The best sites for Jet-skiing are Colva, Candolim, Calangute, Miramar, Arossim, Utorda, Benaulim, Mobor and Rajbaga. Winter is a favorable time for Jet-skiing as the waves are easy to manage during this time. So many instructors and guides are available for you on and around the beach.
Parasailing
An exhilarating water sport lifts you high above the sea. It gives you an amazing view of the beach. You can choose between winch-boat parasailing and beach parasailing. Winch-boat parasailing is generally done alone and as you take off, you land on a winch boat. Beach parasailing includes the same adventurous lift and amazing scenes of the beach. It lands you on the beach instead of boat.
Safety Measures
There is a need of well trained operator as the landing on the beach is a bit tricky and need to be handled cautiously. Chord, harness and gear need to be handled carefully before the take off. Parasailing should be avoided during rain or strong winds.
As you parasail, beaches of Goa looks quite stunning and beautiful. You can see the Mandovi meeting the sea. When you parasail from Mobor beach, the scene is quite beautiful as Sal river meeting the Arabian Sea. From the Sinquerim-Candolim-Calangute stretch, you get a wonderful view of Fort Aguada. Other popular sites include Arossim-Cansaulim, Utorda and Grande and Bait Islands for the sport. It is quite popular throughout the year except the monsoon season. You can easily find operators on and around the beaches to arrange parasailing for tourists.
Knee & Wake-Boarding
Knee Boarding is a simple form of water-skiing. It has a slot on the board for your knees. In Wake-Boarding, there is one board instead of two for the skier. It is really necessary to know water-skiing to take up this sport.
Safety Measures
There is a strict need of one observer apart from the operator in the boat.
Some good sites includes Candolim, Mobor and Rajbaga for Knee & Wake-Boarding. Instructors and guides are available here to teach you and provide you with equipments.
Speed Boat Rides
This sport is especially for speed loving people to enjoy the adventure. It is an exciting group sport. The boat can accommodate three to six people. Ride duration varies from ten minutes to one hour. Perfect to enjoy the coastline with lots of enthusiasm.
Safety Measures
There is a need of one observer apart from the operator in the boat.
Some good sites for this sport are : Candolim, Calangute, Arossim, Utorda, Colva and Mobor. For Speed Boat Rides, you need to approach recognized agents and organizations.
Deep Sea Fishing
Take a boat and go into the sea and catch the fish. You can catch the fish by bare hands or take the help of baits and hooks, spears or nets. It is not the deep fishing for you. You can also go for beach casting or shore fishing to make the fishing easy. Beach casting or shore fishing means you have to stand on the beach and casting for fish. Be ready to lift a heavy fish.
Safety Measures
It is strongly recommended to follow emergency procedures and signals explained to you by operators. There is a need of fishing permits from the tourism and fisheries departments in the state. Bait and butterfly islands are the best sites for fishing in Goa. Some beach resorts also arrange deep sea fishing for their guests. Otherwise, there are many operators who arrange deep sea fishing trips.
Dolphin and Crocodile Spotting
Tourists enjoy spotting dolphins and crocodiles in Goa. Boat rides are very popular to watch dolphins at the mouth of Mandovi river. Crocodiles can be spotted lying on mud banks and sliding through the mangrove shallows of Chorao. Adil Shah of Bijapur is supposed to have first introduced crocodiles here “as a guard against surprise attacks and the escape of slaves. There are general and theme river cruises organized by GTDC other than Dolphin and Crocodile Spotting. These cruises happen round the year, starting from Panaji.
Safety Measures
You should follow all emergency procedures and signals explained by operators. The best time is from October to May. GTDC offers the Dolphin Fantasy Cruise during season.
Banana, Bump and Ringo Rides
It is an enjoyable sport where a speedboat tows away a six-seat banana-shaped contraption. It is a safe sport and very much popular among children. You just need to wear life jacket.
Safety Measures
There should be one observer besides the operator. All major beaches provides these jolly rides in Goa.
Underwater Walks
Underwater Excursion on the quiet Baina Beach is quite enthralling and adventurous. Baina beach is just 10 km from Dabolim Airport. This new water sports option is offered by H2O water sports. This enterprise is run by Drishtii Adventure Sports Pvt. Ltd. It has introduced underwater walks for the first time in India. There is a need of specific sports gear for this, which is unlike a diving suit. Board a motor boat near the uninhabited Piccanye Island, receive detailed instructions, don the gear and descend about three feet under water to watch the shoals of fish pass through the clear water. This clear water looks bright blue in sunlight. If you want, you can feed the fish too. A cost of Rs. 1500 for 20 minutes walk.
Safety Measures
H2O Water Sports makes all safety arrangements. So you don’t need to worry much about the safety.
Land Sports
Microlite-Flying
Microlie-flying is related to hand gliding. A motorized vehicle is there with a wingspan of 40 ft. It has a capacity to accommodate two to three people. It is nice way to see the view below.
Trekking and Hiking
Trekking and hiking includes rock climbing, rappelling, river-crossing and Jummaring. Rock-climbing is a tough and challenging sport. It also comes with lots of adventure. With the help of modern techniques and equipments, this sport becomes easier and safer than before. Rappelling is the sport in which you have to climb down the rocks with a descender and a rope harness. In Jummaring, you have to climb slopes with the help of a rope and a metal clamp.
Where to Trek and Hike
Sahyadri hills means Western Ghats are perfect for trekking. In Mollem, Devil’s Canyon, Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and Tambdi Surla Temple is the ideal place to hike. Krishnapur Canyon and Vagiri Hill is quite popular places to hike in Volpoi. For trekking, Chandrasurya Temple in Netravali (Sanguem) is a good place. The Collem-Castle Rock-Kuveshi trek is a favourite among trekkers. The trail starts from Dudh sagar Falls, moves up Castle Rock and goes up to the top of the Kuveshi Falls. Besides the year all around, October to December is considered as the best time for trekking and hiking in Goa. There is Goa Hiking Association(GHA) and Youth Hostel Association of India(YHAI) located in Panaji, best for trekking and hiking. Hotels also arrange trekking tours through private operators. Goa Hiking Association organizes a major trekking programme in October every year. This event includes the activities sucha s river-crossing, jummaring, map-reading and route finding. Only qualified instructors are allowed to supervise the activities. Accidentally, the Goa Hiking Association discovered Tudov waterfall that is bigger than Dudhsagar waterfall. National Goa Trekking Expedition is organized by NHAI for nine days annually. This expedition attracts more than thousand people. A group of fifty people sets out for expedition every day. Trekking starts from Panaji, proceeds to Dona Paula and then to Benaulim via the Mormugao Harbour, and Mollem via Caranzol, Kuveshi and Castle Rock. You can enjoy the beauty of landscapes of Goa during the trekking. YHAI also organizes one day hikes other than annual event. The minimum age limit for trekking and hiking is 10 years. Under 15 should produce a disclaimer, declaring that their parents have no objection to their taking part in sports such as rock climbing, rappelling, jummaring and river crossing.
Safety Measures
You must accompany a safety and survival kit with you. Carry enough fluids during summers. Only go for the tried and tested path instead of new unexplored paths if nobody is accompanied with you. Good team work is essential so go for a nice team with a good team spirit. These are the physically demanding sports so it is essential to have a certain amount of physical endurance. If you are having any illness or physical problem, inform your operator in advance.
Go-Karting & Car Rallies
Go-Karting is a focus demanding and speedy sport. Arpora, north of Baga-Calangute in north of Goa and Nuvem, at Margao in South Goa. Nuvem track is 482 m long and considered the best in the country. JK Tyre National Karting Championship is organized between October and December annually. It is held at Nuvem track. It is an enjoyable ride with a speed above than 70 km/h. Arpora track is comparatively small, 320m only. There are two car rallies held in Goa. MIA Indian National Rally Championship, also known as the WIAA Rally de Goa and the Mahindra Great Escape are the two car rallies. The MIA Indian National Rally championship is organized in October after monsoon and the Mahindra Great Escape is held in the first week of August.
