I love water sports and adventure. I especially love renting and touring around on jet skies. In the different locations in India do they offer water sport activities? I would be interesting in banana boats, water skiing, and even jet ski rentals.
Hello, @Nita! Welcome to the forum! Water sports are available in most commercial and popular beaches in India. Make sure that you visit these beaches during the summer, most of them close all water sports and activities during the monsoon season. Anyway, here's a list of water sports activities and where you can do them in India: 1. Banana Boat Ride - This is a fun water activity for friends or families. A banana boat is tied behind a speed boat and you have to do your best so you won't fall. It's a good activity for non-swimmers too since you have a life vest on anyway. Here are some of the places in India where you can ride a banana boat: Goa - Almost all water sports activities are available in Goa. Banana boat rides can be done on these beaches: Candolim, Palolem, Miramar, Baga, Vagator, Anjuna, Calangute and Agonda. Karnataka - You can try riding a banana boat in Om Beach in Gokarna, located in the state of Karnataka. Maharahstra - Finolex Colony in Ratnagiri is the only place here that you can try banana boat riding. Andaman and Nicobar Islands - Banana boat rides can be done either on Port Blair or Havelock Islands. 2. Water Skiing - Now, this one is for the true blue adventure seeker. The speed boats carrying the person and the skis are supposed to go for 30 to 40 miles per hour. But the harder part is balancing yourself in skis while being carried by the speed boat. You'd also have to know how to swim since no life vest is provided for you. Here are some places in India where you can try water skiing: Goa - A major destination for those wanting to try water skiing. You can do this in: Baga Beach, Candolim Beach, Calangute Beach, Arossim Beach and Mobor Beach. Andaman and Nicobar Islands - Port Blair and Diglipur are major water skiing destinations in the islands. Kashmir - You can try water skiing in Dal Lake and Nagin Lake. Bod-Dal, a basin of Dal Lake, is another water skiing destination, in which you can hire instructors to teach you. Srinagar - Manasbal Lake in Srinagar is a remote location for water skiing. You can also hire trainers to teach you water skiing here. 3. Jet Ski - This is another water sport that doesn't require the individual to learn how to swim. You can just wear a life vest for safety. Some places in India that you can try jet skiing are: Goa - Try jet skiing in the beaches of: Colva, Calangute, Candolim, Mobor, Miramar and Rajbaga. Andaman and Nicobar Islands - Port Blair and the some beaches in Havelock Islands have this activity. Mumbai - Chowpatty Beach has the H2O Water Sport Complex in which you can try out jet skiing and other water sports. 4. Snorkelling - This is an easy water adventure that doesn't require swimming as well. You can enjoy the marine life in many places in India, like: Goa - Snorkelling can be done near the Grande Island in Bogmalo, particularly in Suzy’s Wreck, Bat Island and Navy Island. Lakshadweep Islands - Kadmat Islands in Lakshadweep is the perfect destination for snorkelling, because of its warm waters and rich marine life. Karnataka - In the months of December and January, snorkelling can be done in Netrani Islands in Karnataka. Andaman and Nicobar Islands - Fish Rock in Passage Islands is a bit remote but a good place for snorkelling in Havelock. Another one is the Red Skin Island in Marine National Park. Maharashtra - Beaches like Malvan, Debag Sangam and Vengurla Rocks offer snorkelling for their guests. 5. Scuba Diving - If you want to explore more of the coral and marine life in the seas of India, then consider scuba diving. Some beaches offer tourists courses for scuba diving. Otherwise, for the tourists who already have diving licenses, then you can go ahead and enjoy scuba diving in many regions in India, like: Goa - Some of the best scuba diving locations in Goa are: Grande Islands, St. George Island, Devagh Island and Pigeon Island. Andaman and Nicobar Islands - One of the best diving destinations in the country is the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Try it out in The Wall at Havelock Islands, Cinque Island in Port Blair and Fish Rock in Passage Islands. Lakshadweep Islands - Particularly Aggati Island and Bangarram Island, they both have crystal clear water and a wide diversity of marine life. Pondicherry - Explore the marine life in: Cool Shark Reef, Temple Reef, The Hole and Four Corners. Karnataka - Again, the Netrani Islands is also suitable for scuba diving. 6. Kneeboarding - An easier water sport than water skiing, as it requires less balance. But you would also need some swimming skills for this sport. Enjoy kneeboarding in: Goa - Kneeboarding can be done in: Baga Beach, Candolim Beach, Mobor Beach and Rajbaga Beach. 7. Sailing and Yachting - A great water adventure for couples or even for solo travellers. You can enjoy the sceneries around while sailing or yachting. Some places in India to do this are: Goa - Try sailing and yachting in: Mandovi River, Mayem Lake, Miramar Beach, Candolim Beach and Palolem Beach. Kerala - Although this place is known for the backwaters, you can try our sailing in the beaches of Alappuzha and Kovalam. A lesser known place is Idukki, where you can rent smaller sail boats or even yachts. West Bengal - Barrackpore is a relatively unknown sailing destination in the state. Maharashtra - The great thing about sailing in Tarkarli in Maharashtra is that you might be able to spot dolphins, which are a common sight here. Andaman and Nicobar Islands - The Havelock Islands have a lot of sailing boats for rent for tourists. 8. Underwater Sea Walk - If you haven't heard of this water adventure, it's basically walking under the sea, on the seabed. It's much like being an astronaut in space, with the same suit that you'd have to wear. Some places in India where you can do this are: Goa - The first beach to offer underwater sea walking is the Baina Beach in Mormugao in Goa. Andaman and Nicobar Islands - You have two options for sea walking here: North Bay Island and Elephant Island. 9. Wind Surfing - More difficult than regular sailing, wind surfing requires the individual to control the direction of the board through the winds and the sails. It does require some experience so that a mastery of the winds and the waves can help you do difficult manoeuvres. Some places in India where this water sport can be done are: Goa - Only two beaches in Goa have the facilities for rent for wind surfing: Calangute and Candolim. For those wanting to seriously learn wind surfing, you can go to Caranzalem near Panaji. This is where the National Institute of Watersports is located and you can take their organised courses to learn wind surfing. Mumbai - Chowpatty Beach, Juhu Beach and Marve Beach have wind surfing equipments for rent. 10. Parasailing - You get to fly off in the sky as a motor boat carries you. You get to see the views from below as you are within the skies. Some places in India for parasailing are: Goa - Lots of beaches in Goa offer this activity like: Dona Paula, Majorda, Anjuna, Bogmalo, Calangute, Colva, Candolim and Vagator. Andaman and Nicobar Islands - Port Blair and Havelock Islands both offer parasailing equipments for rent. There you go, I hope this helps! Just post here if you have any more questions.
