Tourism
of Goa
Entertainment
& Recreation
Water
Sports Skim
the waves. Surf the seas. Float across the skies. The fabulous golden Goan
coast is sprinkled with water sports excitements from windsurfing to
paragliding.
John Lucas, an Englishman, who first came to Goa in
the early 70s like thousands of other westerners on a spiritual journey,
found his heaven here in Goa. Being a keen windsurfer, the next time he came
back to Goa, he had with him, his board and rig. And the trend for water
sports in Goa was set.
Today there are a number of water based
sports and activities available in Goa. The best season for enjoying water
sports in Goa is from October to May when the skies here are cloudless and
blue, and the waters fairly placid.
Windsurfing
Windsurfing
is a unique blend of surfing and sailing, which requires the surfer to
adjust his strength and balance to the changing patterns of wind and water.
To the expert who has honed himself in all these nuances, windsurfing can
indeed be an exhilarating experience.
Windsurfing trainers and
experts alike claim Dona Paula bay to be the ideal location for the
beginners. The prevailing winds and the calm sea, ensure almost lake-like
conditions. The morning breeze is light and steady — just right for
learners; while stronger winds that set in during the afternoons offer a
perfect challenge for the more experienced.
Dinghy Sailing
A pleasant change from windsurfing is dinghy sailing, often
referred to as ‘beer and sandwich’ sailing. With the winds in Goa,
so gentle most of the time, this particular sport offers its participants
much time to relax.
Dinghies are available for hire at the Cidade
de Goa and the Taj Holiday Village. Instructors are available for beginners.
These 15-odd feet long crafts hold three to four people
comfortably. The Zuari estuary at Dona Paula is an excellent learning area -
its calm waters being the kindest Goa has to offer.
With two sails
and side decks to sit upon, dinghy sailing is as much fun as windsurfing and
it is not necessary to be either agile or youthful to enjoy this form of
sailing.
Scuba Diving
Scuba diving is also fast
gaining popularity. Underwater visibility in the more tranquil of Goa’s
bays and lagoons ranges between five to ten meters.
Although Goa
does not have magnificent coral reefs it boasts of myriad schools of
fascinating marine life.
Attractive coral heads, lobsters, bright
colored fish, and other marine life can be conveniently explored in the
shallow waters.
There are even a few wrecks dating to colonial
Portuguese and British times for you to explore underwater.
Water
Skiing
For the speed-lovers Goa offers the thrills of venturing
into the sea on speedboats. The high-class speedboats which are available in
some places, can achieve speeds of up to 30-40 miles an hour.
These
crafts, which can carry between six to eight people, are available at the
Cidade de Goa, Bogmallo Beach Resort, and Taj Hotels. They can be
conveniently used for sightseeing as well as water-skiing.
Angling
The beaches of Goa offer a varied and plentiful, almost
inexhaustible, supply of seafood, still fairly cheap and absolutely fresh.
The Agonda beach in Canacona, which lies a short distance from the
more famous Palolem beach is a popular spot for angling. Soormai, salmon and
mullet are frequent catches.
Parasailing
High fliers
amongst the speed lovers can opt for parasailing. Both the Taj and Bogmallo
Resort hotels provide the necessary equipment for this enthralling sport.
There’s a rope about 300 feet long attached to the parasail
harness at one end and to the speedboat at the other.
When the
boat speeds off on the water, the parasailor just takes one or two steps and
he is lifted into the air, the parasail lifting behind him.
Water
Scooter
Water scooters accommodate two people on a ride.
This
action sport provides all the thrills of a motorbike with the softness of an
ocean instead of hard tar road beneath the feet.
They are readily
available at Dona Paula jetty, Cidade de Goa, Majorda, and Candolim beach.
Swimming
The most common water sport is swimming, although it is least
mentioned in the media. The waters around the Goan beaches are warm and
almost always safe.
Swimming can be enjoyed by the young, the old,
the infirm, the affluent and the budget traveller alike. There are life
guards at all Goan beaches, so check with them about the status of the sea,
before you jump in.
About
Goa