| India’s coastline, all of 7000 odd km, has
some very pretty beaches,. A few are fairly famous- especially in `beach bum’
paradise, Goa- but there are also dozens of others in lesser known places, big and small,
but perfect for water sports. Some are good for swimming; some offer a wider spectrum of
facilities, including sailing, water skiing, snorkelling, wind surfing (or boardsailing,
as it’s known in many parts of the world) and scuba diving. The fact that India’s still not way up `there’ on the adventure
tourism map means that water sports haven’t been developed as major attractions in
many destinations. Some states, however, like Goa and Kerala and certain specific resorts,
such as Kadmat or Bangaram in the Lakshadweep Islands, have developed infrastructure;
these are the places you’ll find good equipment on hire, and institutions which
conduct training courses. Good beaches in more obscure locations exist too, though they
may not have too many facilities other than basic accommodation, eating places, and
transport.
On the whole, the western coast is more suitable for water
sports than the eastern coast, as the waters of the Arabian Sea tend to be calmer than
those of the Bay of Bengal.
So pack your swimwear, your snorkel and your suntan lotion-
and head for the beach. For a watery adventure which will leave you wanting more.
When to go
All of India’s coastal areas- whether on the mainland or in the islands- lie
in the tropical zone. Summers are hot and humid, and monsoons can be depressingly grey;
the best time to visit, therefore, is in the winter. November to April is when the
weather’s at its best. It’s warm enough to swim without having to invest in a
wet suit, yet cool enough for comfort.
What to bring
Swimwear, suntan lotion, towels- obviously. Equipment such as scuba diving gear,
snorkels, surfboards and other such stuff can be hired at major resorts such as Bangaram,
Kadmat, the Andaman Water Sports Complex, and a number of beaches in Goa and elsewhere.
Smaller and less touristy places will invariably not offer equipment for hire, so
you’d be well advised to bring your own.
Precautions
Many of India’s beaches, though with great potential for water sports,
haven’t been developed. They’ll offer basic tourist infrastructure, but little
else. These are the places you’ll have to make sure- perhaps by asking local
fishermen- that the seas are safe, and there aren’t any sharks, sharp rocks, dirt and
chemicals lurking below the surface. It’s best, if you’re even slightly unsure,
to restrict your beach activities to sunbathing.
Even if the infrastructure’s satisfactory, with life
guards at hand, medical facilities and all the other essentials, it’s wise to take
some precautions. Although swimming by itself doesn’t require too much skill, other
sports will need specific training and a certain degree of physical fitness. Scuba diving,
for instance, needs certified training, with rescue training and emergency care being an
essential part of the course.
And when you eventually get into the water, keep your eyes
open for lurking dangers- octopus, sharks and the like.
The Options:
Andaman and Nicobar
Islands
The 3000-odd islands which form the archipelago of the
Andaman and Nicobar group lie in the Bay of Bengal. A rather idyllic destination, with
clear blue seas, colourful coral reefs, golden beaches, coconut palms and aboriginal
people who are among the most isolated in India. While the Nicobar islands are off-limits
to foreigners, the Andamans are not, and have some good facilities for water sports.
The capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Port
Blair, is home to the Andaman Water Sports Complex, where there are facilities
for a very wide range of activities, from those which require little skill to those for
which you’ll need to have prior experience. The water sports complex hires out
rowboats, paddleboats, glass-bottomed boats, kayaks, bumper boats, surfboards and other
equipment. There’s also a swimming pool, should you want to paddle about a bit.
Within the Andamans, other areas which are suitable for water sports include Havelock
Island, Corbyn’s Cove (for windsurfing and swimming) and Cinque Island, which
is known for its stunning coral reefs- perfect for snorkelling. The Mahatma Gandhi
Marine National Park is also especially recommended for keen snorkellers.
The Andaman Scuba Club in Port Blair conducts training
courses in scuba diving and snorkelling.Port Blair has regular air and sea connections to
Kolkata, Vishakhapatnam and Chennai. Port Blair, which offers a fairly comprehensive range
of accommodation options, is linked to the other islands of the group by ferry.
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Lakshadweep
Islands
Formerly known as the Laccadives, the Lakshadweep Islands-
`Million islands’- may be somewhat inaccurately named, but are undeniably beautiful.
In fact, the Lakshadweep islands, which lie in the Arabian Sea, are actually only 36 in
number- a series of atolls and open reefs of which only 10 are inhabited.
Among the most popular sites for water sports in
the Lakshadweep Islands are Bangaram (the only island accessible to foreigners) and
Kadmat. Both have extensive facilities for windsurfing, parasailing, scuba diving,
swimming, snorkelling and deep sea fishing. Bangaram, especially, has a wonderful coral
reef, with an abundance of marine life- everything from stingrays, hawkbill turtles and
green turtles to sturgeons, angelfish and clown fish. The southernmost isle of the
Lakshadweep group, Minicoy has a large lagoon which is good for swimming; Kalpeni
Island, further north, has seas suitable for swimming, kayaking and sailing.
Training courses in
snorkelling and scuba diving are conducted by the deep-sea diving institute in Kadmat.
Other sites which are
being developed as tourist centres- and consequently are also acquiring the necessary
infrastructure for sea sports- include Tinakara, Valiyakara, Cheriyam and Suheli.
Kochi, in Kerala, is
the one place in mainland India which is linked to the Lakshadweep Islands by air and sea.
Regular flights and ferries connect Kochi to Agatti, from where inter-island ferries go to
the other islands of the group.
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Maharashtra
The western state of Maharashtra stretches along the coast of
the Arabian Sea, with the districts of Thane, Mumbai, Raigarh, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg
offering easy access to the sea. Further inland, amidst the low hills of the Sahyadris,
lie a number of lakes which are excellent for sailing and windsurfing. The area around
Pune, especially, is known for its lakes- Pawna, Panshet, Muslhi and Khadakvasla
included. Of the four lakes, Khadakvasla has the best infrastructure; equipment can be
hired at the Khadakvasla windsurfing centre and there are rescue facilities too by the
lakeside.
Maharashtra’s best opportunities for water
sports, however, are in its coastal waters. The Royal Bombay Yacht Club and the Colaba
Sailing Club are the two main organisations involved in the promotion of sailing and
windsurfing in Mumbai’s seas. Cuffe Parade, Chowpatty, Juhu and Marve
are the four beaches from which surfboards can be launched, and the Ramada Inn Hotel also
has a training school for the uninitiated.
Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra, has
excellent transport connections by air, sea, rail and road to the rest of India. It’s
also home to one of India’s busiest international airports, with regular flights to a
large number of destinations across the world.
From Mumbai, trains and roads go further inland,
to other towns and cities in the state.
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Goa
Goa’s miles of sunny golden beaches are every
sunbather’s dream come true, and they’re also great for a number of water
sports. Swimming, of course, is the most common, but there’s plenty of scope for
windsurfing, water skiing, deep sea diving and sailing too. Most resorts have their own
beaches and will usually rent out the necessary equipment too. The most well known of
Goa’s beaches include Bogmalo, Candolim, Calangute, Anjuna, Baga, Colva,
Sinquerim (Bardez), Vagator and Miramar. Goa can’t boast of any
stunning coral reefs, but its waters are a kaleidoscope of marine life. For a change from
the ordinary, scuba divers could also head for one of the wrecks- dating back to British
or Portuguese times- which lie along the shores. Be careful, though; there have been cases
of accidents in the area.
Amateurs and those who’re a bit nervous should plan on
visiting Goa during the winter, when the waves are fairly easy to manage. Summers, and
more specifically the days before the monsoons hit Goa, are when the waves are high and
the winds are strong- plenty of challenges here for the expert. Monsoons are a tough time
for everybody, when about the only option which remains is to go sailing on the Mandovi
and Zuari estuaries, which are comparatively calm and navigable.
Goa’s Dabolim Airport has regular flights to and from
Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Cochin and Chennai. Besides that, there are ferries
to Mumbai, trains from all across India, and convenient bus connections too.
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Other places
Other places where water sports facilities exist, though
not always at such a high level as in Goa, Mumbai, the Lakshadweeps or the Andamans,
include Gopalpur-on-Sea (Orissa), Kovalam (Kerala) and Kumarakom (Kerala). There are,
obviously, lots of other pretty little beaches along the coasts with plenty of potential;
a few years down the line, and you’ll have many more options to choose from.
For more information on water sports, you could contact the
National Institute of Water Sports, at E-3, Dramila Apartments, Mangor Hill, Vasco da
Gama, Goa. In addition, state tourism offices of the concerned states or union territories
can provide information and assistance on the facilities available for water sports.
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