- January 6, 2021
- Posted by: Planet Goa Team
- Category: Adventure & Watersports
This season, when ‘In Goa’, don’t miss out on the many exhilarating water sport activities that the state has in store for you. With a 101 Km coastline, and numerous inland water bodies, Goa has emerged as one of the best destinations for water based adventure sports in the past few years. Be it kayaking, white water rafting, scuba diving, snorkeling, or surfing; the list of exciting activities that will give you a heady rush are many, and pretty well spread out from North to South and East to West, throughout the state.
KAYAKING / BACKWATER KAYAKING
ABOUT: Kayaking involves moving across the water, sitting in a uniquely shaped boat (kayak) which usually accommodates 1 to 2 persons. It mandates the paddler to sit facing forward, legs in front, and use a double padded paddle to pull front-to-back on one side and the other, in rotation. Kayaking in Goa can be experienced either out in the open sea or in the quaint backwaters; these kayaking rides will allow you to enjoy the thick jungles / mangroves up close. Bird lovers
can enjoy exclusive bird sightings while on their kayaking trips. Take your pick from morning kayaking, moonlight or sunset kayaking, and many more kayaking trips with one of the experienced organizers: Adventure breaks, Goa Nature Trails, & Goa Kayaking.
ADVENTURE LEVEL: Easy
PLACES TO TRY: Backwaters of Zuari,
Mandovi, Nerul & Sal Rivers; Palolem Beach, Dona Paula, Bambolim & Hollant Beach (Bogmalo).
WHEN: October to February / March
DOS & DON’TS: Wear Life jackets, casual clothes and water shoes; carry towels; don’t carry wallets, bags which may get spoilt due to water. EXPECTED PRICE RANGE: Rs. 800 – Rs. 4,000
OCEAN TREK
ABOUT: An Ocean Trek, is a walk / trek along a mountain overlooking the sea. Different organizers (e.g., Adventure Breaks, Atlantis Water Sports) have different routes which take you through areas in the Western Ghats, giving one a chance to spot wildlife, waterfalls, etc.
ADVENTURE LEVEL: Easy
PLACES TO TRY: Neuti Beach & Arambol beaches
WHEN: Most of the year
DOS & DON’TS: Wear comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen and sunglasses; carry loads of water and don’t disturb the flora and fauna on the way.
EXPECTED PRICE RANGE: Approx. Rs. 2,500 per person; Rs. 8000 – 9000 for larger groups
SCUBA DIVING & SNORKELING
ABOUT: Goa has several places apt for scuba diving and snorkeling and these sports will let you explore the mesmerizing under water marine life in the Goan waters. You can even become a certified Scuba Diver by enrolling for one of the many diving courses or just go
for pleasure dives. However, do this with only certified instructors. A good practice would be to get enrolled with a certified scuba diving company. Goa Diving, Goa Aquatics & Dive Goa are all certified diving companies based in the state.
ADVENTURE LEVEL: Easy
PLACES TO TRY: Grande Island, St. George Island, Devagh Island, Pigeon Island, Netrani Islands
WHEN: Mid – October to April – End
DOS & DON’TS: Always enroll with a trained and certified instructor and follow all their guidelines; don’t venture beyond the specified dive area. EXPECTED PRICE RANGE: For guided dives: Rs. 2,500 to Rs. 6,000 / for certification courses anywhere from 7-8,000 to 25-30,000 Rs. | Snorkeling: Rs. 1,500 to Rs. 3,000
WHITE WATER RAFTING
ABOUT: For the ultimate thrill, white water rafting is “the” adventure water sport to try while in the state. Best enjoyed in large groups, monsoons are the ideal time for this sport. As you make your way through the rivers of Goa, take a moment to enjoy the peaceful surroundings around you. It’s best to book the rafting trips through GTDC, although there are a few private players who also offer this sport. ADVENTURE LEVEL: Moderate
PLACES TO TRY: Mhadei, Valpoi & Tilari Rivers
WHEN: June to September
DOS & DON’TS: Wear lifejackets all the time
EXPECTED PRICE RANGE: Rs. 1,500 to Rs. 2,000 per person
JET SKI & WATER SKI
ABOUT: A jet ski is a small vehicle akin to a scooter, which is reserved for water. Relatively easy to use and extremely enjoyable, jet skiing on the coasts of Goa is a must do. Water skiing, on the other hand is a surface water sport, in which an individual is pulled behind a boat and thus, requires some amount of physical strength. For those who have a need for speed, this is the ideal water sport to try. Atlantis Water Sports is a local organization which organizes these sports.
ADVENTURE LEVEL: Jet Ski (Easy); Water Ski (Difficult)
PLACES TO TRY: Most of the beaches
including, Baga, Candolim, Calangute,
Palolem, Mobor, Miramar, etc.
WHEN: October to February / March
DOS & DON’TS: Wear appropriate clothing; if it’s the first time, then go easy on speed.
EXPECTED PRICE RANGE: Rs. 1,500 to Rs. 2,000 for a 10 minute duration
PARASAILING
ABOUT: Perhaps one of the most popular water sports in Goa, parasailing is conducted on almost all the beaches of the state. A speedboat will tug you along as you are lifted up high in the air; enjoy the bird’s eye view of the state while you are at it. The sport is so much in demand that you don’t need to book one in advance. Just visit one of the many beaches, look for a certified guide and experience a joyful parasail.
ADVENTURE LEVEL: Easy
PLACES TO TRY: All popular beaches
WHEN: October to March / April
DOS & DON’TS: Opt for certified guides
EXPECTED PRICE RANGE: Rs. 250 to Rs. 1,000
WINDSURFING & KITESURFING
ABOUT: Windsurfing is a unique blend of surfing and sailing; the board is powered across the water by wind. Kitesurfing on the other hand, harnesses the power of the wind through a large parachute type kite to propel a rider across the water on a small surfboard
or kiteboard, which is similar to a wakeboard. Vaayu Ocean Adventures (Vaayu Waterman’s Village) & Atlantis Water Sports can organize challenging windsurfing / kitesurfing trips.
ADVENTURE LEVEL: Windsurfing: Moderate | Kitesurfing: Difficult PLACES TO TRY: Dona Paula Beach, Bogmalo Beach, Vagator Beach, Calangute, Colva, Palolem, Miramar, Baga Beach
WHEN: January to March
DOS & DON’TS: Best time is the morning hours; Check your harness, chord and other gear before entering the sea; follow your trainer’s instructions at all times; & stay away from stunts to woo your friends, if you are a beginner that is.
EXPECTED PRICE RANGE: Rs. 1,500 – Rs. 3,000 for a 1 hour session
DINGHY SAILING
ABOUT: A pleasure activity, dinghy sailing is slowly gaining grounds in the state. Often referred to as the ‘Beer and Sandwich Sailing’, the sport involves 15-odd feet long crafts which can hold up to three to four people comfortably. The dinghies used for sail have two sails and side decks to sit upon and don’t require much physical strength to maneuver. Dinghies are available on hire from popular beach hotels like Cidade de Goa and Taj Holiday Village and some private players in the field.
ADVENTURE LEVEL: Easy
PLACES TO TRY: Zuari estuary (Dona Paula)
WHEN: October to April / May
DOS & DON’TS: Wear your life jackets and enjoy this easy breezy sport. EXPECTED PRICE RANGE: Rs. 1,200 to Rs. 3,000 (for two to 4 persons)
RINGO RIDES
ABOUT: Involves riding on a circular tube which is consistently pulled by a speed boat over the water surface and is a common recreational ride which doesn’t require any mastery level.
ADVENTURE LEVEL: Easy
PLACES TO TRY: Pindul Cave
WHEN: DOS & DON’TS: Even though easy, it’s not meant for children; wear light clothes to avoid discomfort.
EXPECTED PRICE RANGE: Rs. 200 to Rs. 800 (depending on the duration) Apart than the above mentioned water sports, there are quite a few other activities for that adventurous soul trapped inside you. There is banana ride for instance, which is best for some crazy water soaked laughter with friends and is conducted on almost all popular beaches, plus is highly cost effective too.
Dolphin viewing off the Goan coast is another much sought after; well not adventure sport but activity. It is indeed a sight to behold, when these friendly marine creatures take a peek out of their oceanic abode.
You can also opt for hot air ballooning, and let the beauty of the land sway you as you watch the rising sun or perhaps a sunset. You can also opt for cycling, river runs, trekking, rappelling, wall climbing, angling, and Phew…the list is never ending!!
With so many water sport activities to choose from, don’t let your upcoming Goa holiday (and if you are a local, then the bright and sunny days ahead) be dull and drab. Take your pick, get wet and ready to soak in the adventure.
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For us at Planet-Goa, our team is driven by that feeling of exhilaration that one gets when discovering that something ‘unique’ and ‘new’ about Goa for our ever-so-discerning readers.
