Water Sports in Goa

Water sport is one of the top attractions in Goa that draws a lot of tourists. There is something for everyone. You can try paragliding, windsurfing, jet skiing, white water rafting, or ride a water scooter if you are looking for thrill. Go for undersea walking at Baina beach, diving, or snorkeling to discover the wonders of the undersea world. You will see many marine species and colorful corals. For a slow pace, you can try sailing, river cruises, or kayaking. Goa has 11 rivers, many with mangroves. You can explore these rivers to see bats, birds, small chapels on the shore, from your cruise or kayak. River cruises come with lunch and drinks.

There are more than 35 beaches in the 160 kilometer long Goa coastline. You will find all kinds of water sports activities in many of them. Most tourists will first try the activities in these beaches. You can book them individually or in a package of 3 or 5 activities, which will be cheaper. You will find the operators close to the beach or on the beach itself.

You can also go on a fishing expedition in the rivers, estuaries, or the Arabian Sea. The Goa water offers a lot of fish, including barramundi, the guitarfish, rockfish, salmon, and stingray. There is both bottom fishing and trolling. Carry the fish back with you and have it prepared just like you want.

You can enjoy watersport both on the beaches, and also on the rivers of Goa, like the Mandovi, Sal, Zuari, and the Chapora. A few watersports are for the thrill seekers, while the others are best enjoyed in slow pace.

Watersports In Goa – Quick Facts

Top 16 Watersports In Goa

Parasailing in South Goa

1. Speed boats and banana boats – A speed boat ride will be a thrilling experience. These boats can reach a speed of up to 15-20 miles an hour, zooming over the waves. They are light and strong. Each boat can accommodate between 2 and 6 people. Banana boats are fun. They are also driven by a motor, but are slower than speed boats. In shallow water, however, the bananas can tumble. But there is nothing to worry, as everyone wears life jacket. In Goa, you cannot ride without proper safety precautions.

   Beaches – You will find both speed boats and banana boats throughout Goa in many beaches like Calangute, Agonda, Baga, Vagator, Palolem, Miramar, Candolim, Anjuna, and Colva.

   Price – It is between 400 and 500 for a 20 minute ride.

2. Jet skiing – A Jet Ski or water scooter is more intimate than a speed boat ride because you will be riding it alone with only the instructor behind you. Hold the steering and venture out into the Arabian Sea. Take sharp turns and maneuver the waves. Enjoy the sea wind on your face. Children below 9 years of age are not allowed on them.

   Beaches – You will find them in many places like Colva, Calangute, Mobor, Miramar, Candolim, and Rajbaga.

   Price – 1,000 INR for a 10 minute ride. 1,500 INR for 15 minutes.

3. Water skiing – Another good watersport for the thrill seeker. Water skiing is closer to skiing, because you will be wearing a ski, while in jet skiing, you are on top of a scooter. A rope will connect you to a speed boat, and it will pull you at top speed. Try to maintain your balance. You can achieve a speed of 30-40 miles an hour. Feel the wind and the waves splashing on your face.

   Beaches – Candolim, Baga, Calangute, Arossim, Uttorda, Mobor.

   Price – 700 INR for 15 minutes.

4. Wakeboarding, Kneeboarding – Wakeboarding and also kneeboarding are much like water skiing, but with a critical difference. In wakeboarding, for instance, there is just one single board while the speed boat will pull you, as opposed to the two boards in water skiing. Maintaining the balance is critical here as well. Kneeboarding is even tougher. Here, you have to stand on your knee on the board. Expecting moms and children below 10 are not allowed.

   Beaches – Mobor, Rajbaga, Candolim.

   Price – 1,700 INR per person for 15 minutes.

5. Windsurfing – An awesome watersport, here you can experience the fun of sailing, surfing, and gymnastics together on water. Stand on a board and hold the sail. Perform flips, slides, rotations, and jumps. But before that you have to attain good balance. Morning is the best time because the breeze is calm. If you are more adventurous, you can try it in the afternoon.

   Beaches – Dona Paula, Bogmalo, Vagator, Palolem, Arambol, Colva, Agonda, Miramar, Baga.

   Price – 1,500 INR per person for 60 minutes.

6. Kite surfing – An extreme sport. This sport brings together the experience of wakeboarding, jet skiing, and surfing. A power kite high up in the air will pull you at top speed on the water. Only those above 18 years of age can try this.

   Beaches – Morjim. There is also a training school here for kite surfers.

   Price – 2,500 INR for the training and experience.

7. Parasailing – Fly with the clouds tied to a parachute over the Arabian Sea and the beach. The other end will be tied to a speedboat. You will feel like a bird 200-300 feet in the air. The boat will go into high gear and lift you up. Maintain your balance and get a gorgeous view of the sea, beach, and the surrounding areas.

   Beaches – Dona Paula, Bogmalo, Majorda, Anjuna, Palolem, Calangute, Candolim, Colva, Arambol, Vagator.

   Price – 1,000 INR for 15 minutes.

8. Fly boarding – This watersport brings together a jetpack and jet ski. A flyboard will be attached to the jet ski. You will be sent up 15 meters into the air at high speed. It looks scary for most people, but gives an adrenalin rush to someone who loves adventure sports.

   Beach, River – Baina beach, Chapora River

   Price – 2,500 INR for 10 minutes.

9. Paddle boarding – Looks very calm, as you will just have to stand on a big surfboard, and power through the water on one paddle. But maintaining balance is always difficult. There is also stand-up paddle boarding for those who want a more challenging watersport in Goa.

   Beach – Candolim, Mobor, Baga, Rajbaga

   Price – 1,500 INR per person for 1 hour.

10. Water scooter – Two people can ride these scooters on water at one time. You will enjoy the thrill of motor biking and the softness of water instead of being on a hard road surface.

    Beach – Dona Paula, Agoda, Candolim, Calangute, Baga, Palolem, Miramar, Anjuna, Vagator.

    Price – 400 INR per person for 15 minutes.

11. Bumper boat riding – You will be inside a bit rubber tube filled with here. A speed boat will then drag your tube, in what is going to be a thrilling ride. The challenge is to stay inside the tube, as the boat zips through the water. Sometimes also called ‘tubing’, this too is an adventure sport.

    Beach – Candolim, Baga, Calangute.

    Price – 500 INR for 10-15 minutes.

12. Kayaking – Speed is not always the best way to enjoy watersport. Try kayaking in Goa, ride slowly on the narrow channels, backwaters, rivers, through the mangroves, in the mini bays, or the wide open sea. Kayaking gives you the opportunity to appreciate nature, see the birds as you approach them slowly without making noise. You can see osprey, kingfishers, sea eagles, and many bats up-close. Take pictures. You will also see village life.

    Places – Hollant, Palolem, Zuari, Sal backwaters, Spike's River.

    Price – 600 INR for one, 800 INR for a two person kayak for 30 minutes.

13. White water rafting – Do the opposite of kayaking if you want. Ride over challenging rapids of the Mhadei River. You will encounter both class 2 and class 3 rapids here. It is nice and serene between the rapids. Enjoy the nature, see churches, temples, and Goa’s countryside. The best time for white water rafting is between June and September, during the rainy season or just after the monsoon when the rivers are full.

    Rivers – Mhadei River, Tilari River

    Price – 3,200 INR at Tilari River. 2,000 INR in the Mhadei River.

14. Snorkeling – With a wide coastline and the Arabian Sea, there is plenty of opportunity for snorkeling in Goa. The water is rich in marine life. You have the chance to see snappers, barracudas, batfish, lionfish, angelfish, and others. October to March is usually the best time for snorkeling.

    Places – Grande Island, Navy Island, Bat Island.

    Price – 1,300 INR per person.

15. Scuba diving – The big fish is rare on top of the sea. You have to go down to see them. Then there are corals too in some sea floors, and ship wrecks. You can see the occasional sharks, octopus, squids, dolphins, snappers, barracuda, and many other species of fish. You can also do a PADI-certified course in Goa. There will be a guide with you in all the dives. There are dives of all levels in Goa, including those for beginners.

    Places – Grand Island, Netrani Island, Pigeon Island, St. George Island.

    Price – 5,000 INR each dive per person.

16. Sea walking – Not into diving, but still want to see the sea floor? Try underwater sea walking in Goa. No prior knowledge of diving, snorkeling or even swimming is needed. You just wear a special helmet that supplies oxygen, and take the ladder to reach down to the sea floor from a floating platform. Now start walking on the seabed. You will see many species of marine life. Feed them if you want. But don’t touch.

    Beach – Baina beach.

    Price – 2,000 INR per person.

Best Time For Watersports In Goa

Water sport is available throughout Goa in the winter, which is between November and February. There are fewer tourists in the summer so you may find only a handful of operators. The heat and humidity will also be uncomfortable. The sea is choppy during the monsoon, which makes it unsafe. If you are visiting Goa in the monsoon, then try white water rafting at Tilari River. Early morning is the best time for windsurfing, kite surfing, and parasailing because the breeze will pick up later. Speed boat and Jet Ski rides are best in the late afternoon. You can see the sunset.

Water sport in the summer – There are only a few operators available in the summer, which is between March and May. But the prices are lower because of low demand. Try early morning or late in the afternoon to beat the summer heat.

Water sport in the monsoon – The monsoon in Goa is between June and August. Goa sees a lot of rain because of its coastal location. There are thundershowers too. The sea is choppy and the wind is high, which makes water sport risky. You will rarely find any water sport activity during these months. However, this is the best time of the year for white water rafting. The Tilari River is at its roaring best during the monsoon.

Water sport in the winter – December to February is the winter season in Goa. This is also the peak tourist season. All forms of water sports activities are safe in the winter, which means you can try anything you want. All the operators are working, so you will have many options to choose from.