MOONLIGHT KAYAKING
When we talk about watersports in Goa, the jet-ski
and the banana boat rides hog all the attention. But
very few know that the Goan backwaters and rivers
are playgrounds that have been largely untapped.
The kayaking and canoeing excursions held in Goan
backwaters and rivers can be a great way of exploring
the mangroves, coves and a slew of vibrant and colourful
migratory birds. But Goa does things differently and does
it in style with a hint of drama.
Do you know what is sexier than sunbathing on the
beach on a bright and sunny day? Bathing in the glory of
a full moon on the beach in the night! Adventure Breaks
conducts moonlight kayaking excursions on eight days
every month – during the waxing (increasing) phase of
the moon, known in the Hindu lunar calendar as ‘Shukla
Paksh’, and from the half moon to the full moon.
The kayaking excursions are held off Bambolim Beach
when the bright moonlit sky makes the landscape come
alive, in a surreal manner. And if paddling the ocean
waters in the night doesn’t excite you enough, wait till
you slice the calm waters of the Zuari River under a
moonlit sky. Goa Kayaking conducts moonlight kayaking
excursions, usually between 7:30pm and 9:30 pm,
depending on the tide, from San Jacinto Island, Sancoale,
in the Zuari River.
SCUBA DIVING
Not many know that under the choppy waters of the Goan
seas, lie a few shipwrecks that succumbed to them many
years ago. These shipwrecks are now an attraction for
divers who conduct scuba diving excursions in Goa. And
if exploring shipwrecks hoping to stumble over a chest
of treasure does not fascinate you, chances are that
swimming alongside a school of barracudas will leave
you mesmerised!
Sadly, the dearth of trained scuba diving instructors,
coupled with the presence of uncertified players, has
muddied the waters of the market. Fortunately in Goa,
there are a few trained PADI (Professional Association of
Diving Instructors) and SSI (Scuba Schools International)
certified dive instructors who have been conducting
dive excursions in the state. West Coast Adventures, one
of the few ethical players in the market, can be a good
choice even for first time scuba diving enthusiasts for
a safe means of exploring the wonders of the coasts
around Goa.
The dive expeditions begin at the West Coast
Adventure Centre in Calangute, with a pool session
where the trainers educate beginners on the sign
language, breathing technique and the dos and dont’s
under the water. Then, after a short ride by road to the
Sinquerim jetty, one has to hop on a boat to travel for
about an hour deep in the sea to reach Grande Island.
The near-shore waters are ideal for both, professional
divers and beginners. The most famous and popular
diving place is the sunken British vessel ‘Suzy’ that
crashed against the rocks and sunk during the strong sea
storm The shipwreck can be found a short distance from
the shore.
CROCODILE SPOTTING
Crocodiles may look intimidating but are actually shy
giants that don’t like to be in the limelight. In fact, these
creatures like their privacy as much as we humans do
and if one gets too close for comfort, they prefer to slip
into the water and disappear. Hidden in the mangroves,
they can be spotted when you go boating along the
rivers in Goa. The village of Kumbharjua is a well-known
place for crocodile spotting without much hassle. They
are a regular sight while paddling down the Kumbharjua
canal. Experts believe that there are about 40-50 of these
shy creatures in Kumbharjua alone.
The crocs in Goa often come out during the day on the
muddy bank of the canal to sunbathe. Since they are coldblooded
creatures, they try to get as much sun as possible
to keep themselves warm. These are essentially freshwater
crocs but have adapted themselves to survive in the saline
water in Goa. Southern Birdwing, a wildlife conservation
group run by Neil Alvares and Harvey D’Souza, has been
regularly taking tourists ‘croc-spotting’ to Kumbharjua in a
boat, since 1997. On this tour, you can hop on a motorboat
on the canal and spot these gentle beasts.
