Goa is one of India’s favourite holiday destinations, and stands for beaches, beer, and warm tropical waters. But thanks to the lush landscapes, rocky cliffs, thundering rivers, and sprawling beaches, there are also plenty of adventure activities to do.
The adventure sports industry in on the rise in Goa, with snorkeling, scuba diving, rafting and kayaking being some of the many options offered by the state for people looking for adventures with a group of friends or their family.
Unlike snorkeling, which only allows you to be an onlooker in the vast underwater world, scuba diving in Goa enables you to participate in it. With the freedom of being able to breathe underwater, you’ll be able to swim along the bottom, see more interesting marine life, and get closer looks at the coral formations.
Where else can you go diving in India? Check out our page on scuba diving in India.
If you’re a novice to scuba diving or have never been scuba diving in Goa, you can book a Try Dive, which is a single dive of about 45 minutes in open water. With this, you'll study some theory so you understand how your gear works, and then you'll take a dip in a pool to learn some basic techniques. Finally, when you're ready, you'll head out into the open seas to try out your newly acquired skills, with your instructor, of course. You’ll only be able to go up to 12 metres/40 feet depth with this version of scuba diving in Goa. Try Dives are a good way to find out if you enjoy the experience of scuba, before you sign up for a full course.
If you’re attempting a course, you’ll spend more time on the theory, so that you understand the equipment better. You’ll also learn basic troubleshooting techniques and some nifty tricks that you can try out underwater. At the end of the course, if you’ve performed all your tasks to the satisfaction of the instructor, you’ll be awarded with the PADI or SSI certificate.
Most scuba diving companies will ask you to fill in a medical questionnaire and even a liability waiver form. Do make sure you are honest about your health issues, because your instructor should be prepared for all possibilities underwater. If you have a history of lung disorders, cardiac issues, asthma, diabetes, or if you have recently undergone surgery, you should talk to your doctor and the scuba diving provider before booking.
If you’re booking a scuba diving trip, you should plan to go in the summer months of March to June. This is when the water is comfortable, and the sea is calm. You’ll also be able to enjoy better visibility at this time of the year.
Even though Goa is the smallest state in India, it is still a major tourist destination, with tourists arriving from all over the world. Goa is a place of diverse beauty including green forests, extensive coastline, rivers and cliffs, along with a rich cultural heritage.
Apart from scuba diving in Goa, there are many other adventures that you can do: like trekking, cycling and motorbiking trips, kayaking, etc. Visit our page on adventure activities in Goa to explore the options and make your visit to Goa even more adventurous
Day 1: Scuba diving in Goa
You'll report to the dive centre, where you'll begin your theory session. You'll then head to the pool for a pool training session. After that, you'll head to the dive site and engage in 1 open water dive. You'll then return to the dive centre. The trip ends here.
45 minutes pool training session | 30-40 minutes open water Try Dive at Grande Island, up to 40 feet depth | Boat transfers to Grande Island and back | Experienced instructors and boat crew | Rental of all required scuba gear | Drinking water, fruit, biscuits on boat | Packed lunch at resort | Photos and videos of your scuba dive in Grande Island | PADI certificate of completion | All applicable taxes
Any transport to and from dive resort | Anything not mentioned in inclusions.
The best time to go scuba diving in Goa is during the summer months from March to June. During these months, the weather is comfortable, with the water being calm and providing decent visibility.
You don't need to carry any scuba diving equipment as the tour operator will provide all the scuba diving gear including oxygen tanks and diving suit. Read about what equipment you’ll be using for scuba diving. You should carry an extra pair of clothes, sandals or flip-flops, sunscreen and sunglasses for when you're not diving.
Goa is a popular tourist destination in India and is well connected to other cities by flight and rail. There are daily flights to Goa flying from most major cities of the country along with regular express trains. Goa is also connected to major cities and towns of Western India by a network of road with many state and privately run busses that ply between them.
The best time to go scuba diving in Goa is during the summer months from March to June. During these months, the weather is comfortable, with the water being calm and providing decent visibility.
The tour operator will provide all the diving equipment for your dives. All you need to carry is a swimsuit/swimming trunks along with a pair of extra clothes. Remember to carry sunscreen and sunglasses too.
You need basic fitness for scuba diving in Andamans. If you're doing A Try Dive or a Discover Scuba Dive, you don’t need to know how to swim. However, if you're opting for a PADI/SSI course, then you need to pass a swimming test of 200 meters and a floating test of 10 minutes to be eligible for the course.