India 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;  sailing, water skiing, snorkelling, wind surfing and scuba diving.

 Some states 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.

Best Season

November to April is  at its best. It’s warm enough to swim without having to invest in a wet suit, yet cool enough for comfort.

Equipments for water sports

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
Please be sure 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.

And when you eventually get into the water, keep your eyes open for lurking dangers- octopus, sharks and the like.

Place for water sports

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.


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.



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.



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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