Fishing
Where: Agonda Beach, Canacona district
Best Time for Angling: October to April
Blessed with plenty of beaches, Goa is the ideal place to try out fishing. Imagine the pride and the winning smile on your face when you come back holding a couple of fishes and proclaiming it as your prized catch! Sounds like fun? You guessed it right. Angling sport is a great experience and definitely a de-stressor for your tired mind. Just head out with your friends or even alone with a fishing rod and some bait and just relax as wait for a curious fish to eat the bait.
Some of the most popular catches are rockfish, salmon, mullet, snapper, etc. You can also catch stingrays and groupers if lady luck smiles on you! The Agonda beach in the Canacona district of Goa is the most popular site for angling. You can get the right equipment from the concerned authorities there. The bait usually consists of shrimps, sardine fillets and worms. The thrill and pride when you catch a fish and show it to your friends cannot be described in words.
The best months to indulge in angling are October to April. This is the time when the seas are placid and there is plenty of fish to catch due to calm waters. Go a bit away from the shores as occasional swimmers may frighten away your catch. If you are not too confident about heading out in the sea, take a local fisherman with you who will be more than pleased to help you. Make sure you have the right equipment for fishing and follow the instructions given to you. Here's wishing you Happy Fishing!
Jet Skiing
Where: Colva Beach, Candolim Beach, Calangute Beach, Miramar Beach and Benaulim Beach
Best Time for Jet Skiing: October to April
One of the most adventurous water sports in Goa is Jet Skiing. The sport is one of the most popular in Goa and many tourists try this sport to set their adrenalin rushing. Jet skiing requires a jet powered water scooter that are accelerated by a powerful engine. The Jet Ski equipment in Goa has a power of 100-135 horsepower. Upto three people can try this sport on one Jet Ski. It is very easy to operate a jet ski, though you are usually accompanied by an instructor. Jet skiing should surely thrill you in Goa.
The Jet Ski is capable of reaching very high speeds and thus it is advisable that you go along with an instructor if you are trying this for the first time. The machine is very easy to operate but the high speed may be a bit difficult to control for a while. Once you have mastered to maneuver the ski according to the ocean waves and the speed, you can have a jolly experience skiing around. A particular area in the ocean is marked for jet skiing where it is safe and one is advised not to cross the demarcation.
Jet skiing is one of the most popular water sports in Goa and many beaches have the facility to provide this sport. These beaches include Aguada Beach, Colva Beach, Candolim Beach, Calangute Beach, Miramar Beach and Benaulim Beach. A nominal rate is charged for this sport and after dressing up in a proper suit and heading the instructor's advice; you are ready to zip around on a jet ski. Do not ignore the advice and try not to get carried away by the high speed and excitement.
Parasailing
Where: Candolim Beach, Majorda Beach, Anjuna Beach and Baga Beach
Best Time for Parasailing: October to April
Parasailing is a much sought after sport in Goa. People who love to soar high like a bird and have a bird's eye view of the coastline and the vast sea should try the parasailing sport. Para sailing is also known by the name of Para Ascending and is sure to set your pulses racing when you try it. Many tourists prefer trying the parasailing sport of Goa when they come on a vacation. It is a sure treat for an adventure seeker and at affordable rates, one can hardly resist it.
For parasailing, a speed boat and a parasail are the essential requirements. A sturdy rope of about 300 feet is attached to the parasail harness at one end and the other end is securely attached to the boat. As the boat gains speed, the person attached to the parasail is heaved up in the air. Since the person is securely attached to the sail, he has very or sometimes no control over the sail. From a height of around 300 feet, you can view the vast coastline of Goa, the lofty Western Ghats and the turquoise blue sea.
The best time to experience this sport is right after the monsoons since the skies clear up and the seas are placid and safe. A light breeze blows from the months of October to April and one can truly enjoy parasailing then. Many beaches like Condolim Beach, Majorda Beach, Anjuna Beach and Baga Beach provide this sport to tourists at nominal rates. Para sailing in Goa is sure to set adrenalin rushing through your body and this will be an experience you are not going to forget for a long time!
Scuba Diving
Where: Goa Marriot Resort, Bogmala Beach
Best Time for Scuba Diving: October to April
For those who are seeking excitement and fun in Goa and want to do something different can try out scuba diving. The shallow shores of Goa are famous for their rich marine life. Though there are no gigantic coral reefs here, the scintillating underwater life is sure to fascinate you. Scuba diving is the best sport if you want to try your hand at something that is not too adventurous but is soul satisfying. Though it requires some amount of initial training, once you are comfortable with the equipment it is very easy to enjoy scuba diving.
The underwater life of Goa has unique and fascinating creatures and also shipwrecks of World War ll. The sea is very calm thus making the shores just perfect for scuba diving. If you are a beginner, you will be accompanied by two instructors when you go diving. The underwater visibility ranges from 5 - 20 meters in Goa, depending upon the weather conditions and the nature of the sea. While scuba diving, you will come across many sea creatures like tuna, eels, goat fish, lion fish, snapper jacks, etc.
It is recommended that you follow the instructions given to you in order to enjoy to the hilt. If you are not too comfortable with the equipment and don't feel confident enough, do not try it forcefully. You are advised to check your equipments thoroughly before jumping into the sea. The best months to try scuba diving sport in Goa are October to April. This is the time when the skies have cleared out, the rains have ceased and the sea is calm.
Water Skiing
Where: Cidade de Goa, Bogmallo Beach Resort, and Taj Hotels in Goa
Best Time for Water Skiing: October to April
For those who love to feel the ocean waves splashing across their face while rushing through water, the water skiing sport is just the right option for you. In Goa, you can experience a sense of adventure and thrill by trying out the water skiing sport. With plenty of beaches and more or less calm seas, there shouldn't be a reason as to why you should no try water skiing here. Though beginners must be a bit careful, if you have a good sense of balance and know how to swim, water skiing should not be a problem.
There is a difference between water skiing and surfing on the waves. While the latter requires only a surfboard and the hands are free, the former requires a speed boat and the skier must firmly grip the towrope. In water skiing, a strong rope is tied to the boat and the skier is asked to have grip on the other end while balancing on the ski. As the boat gains speed, you must tightly hold the rope and balance on the skies while slightly moving your body left and right according to the waves. Having strong legs is a bonus!
One can try out water skiing in places like Cidade de Goa, Bogmallo Beach Resort, and Taj Hotels in Goa. These beach resorts and hotels have good facilities of water skiing and high class speed boats. The best months to try out water skiing are October to April. In case you are not able to hold on while the boat gains speed, you can always signal them to slow down and just let go of the rope. Beginners may tire soon due to high speeds but you can always tell them not to speed up much. Happy Skiing!
Wind Surfing
Where: Dona Paula beach in Goa
Best Time for Wind Surfing: October to April
Wind surfing is a very popular sport of Goa and must be tried when you visit this place. A unique combination of sailing and surfing, wind surfing sport is a sport that is sure to set your pulses racing. It can indeed be an elating experience for a person who has learnt the perfect nuances of this water sport. Goa offers the ideal place to try out wind surfing. It will not only let you taste some thrill but also make your vacation a truly memorable one.
Wind surfing requires a clear sense of synchronization and balance. You must be able to change your position on the surf while holding on to the sail and balancing yourself on the waves while synchronizing to the changing pattern of the breeze. The best time to try out this sport is during early morning. The winds are relaxed and the sea is calmer early morning and thus is considered the best time for beginners. The afternoon and evenings are the best time for experts as the winds are much stronger then.
In Goa, the Dona Paula beach is considered the best choice to try out wind surfing sport. This is because the bay here is calm and it is better to learn the sport here before heading out in the ocean. The best months to try out this sport are October to April. These are the months that have perfect weather conditions, ideal to indulge in water sports. The breeze is just right, the temperature of the water is just perfect and the ocean currents are not too strong. So get set to feel the wind lashing across your face as you set out for wind surfing in Goa.