It's one of India’s favourite holiday destinations, but most people don't know about scuba diving in Goa. Apart from the beaches, beer, and warm tropical waters, there are plenty of adventure things to do, thanks to the lush landscapes, rocky cliffs, thundering rivers, and sprawling beaches.
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.
It is best to avoid scuba diving in Goa if you have a cough, cold, or allergy, especially if you are a beginner. Diving with these conditions can be uncomfortable and dangerous.
If you’re booking a scuba diving trip in Goa, 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. It's also very sunny and warm, so the underwater adventures will be even more welcome.
If summer is not right for you, go in the winter months from November to March. Durign this time, the days are cooler and the water temperature will be cooler.
No matter when you go, don't forget the sunscreen when scuba diving in Goa! The sun is hot and tyou can get burned even under water.
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, or check out these pages:
Scuba diving in Goa usually costs between INR 2,500-INR 6,000 for a Try Dive/Discover Dive. PADI and SSI courses like the Scuba Diver Course, Open Water Diver Course, and the Advanced Open Water Diver Course start at approximately INR 23,500 to INR 30,000 depending on the course and dive location chosen.
Goa has a long and beautiful coastline that is teeming with curious creatures just below the surface of the water. There are also several islands close to the shore where diving is popular. Here are some of the best places for scuba diving in Goa:
Grande Island: Unarguably the best spot for scuba diving in Goa (owing to great visibility and unique sights), Grande Island is located a short boat ride off the coast of South Goa. You will most likely take a boat from Candolim, Sinquerim, or Bogmalo beach.
You’re likely to spot pods of dolphins speeding through the crystal-clear waters. You’ll see gorgeous coral reefs that are home to turtles, lobsters, and many species of small fish. Experienced divers can also explore the ruins of World War II warships that have sunk to the sea floor.
Uma Guva Reef: Located close to Grande Island, this stunning reef can be found about 45ft below sea level. You’ll find a rich diversity of marine life, including tunas, surgeonfish, anglerfish, sharks, groupers, and more that thrive in the vast coral ecosystem present here.
Calangute Beach: This beach is popular amongst tourists not just for what’s on land, but also for what’s beneath the waters. This shoreline is blessed with colourful corals and a thriving marine ecosystem, good visibility, and gentle currents, making it an ideal location for beginners to learn scuba diving in Goa. Dolphins occasionally visit this area, so keep an eye out for them!
Lobster Avenue: Home to a large number of lobsters of varied species, Lobster Avenue is a fantastic dive spot that’s located about an hour of Candolim Beach in North Goa.
The region features soft white sand and enormous boulders that line the sea floor. As you get closer, you’ll find sea creatures thriving in the crevices. You’ll find nurse sharks, moray eels, reef rays, turtles, and cuttlefish along with lobsters. There is almost no undercurrent here, making it an easy spot for beginners.
Turbo Tunnel: Turbo Tunnel is a shallow area, a narrow channel near the coast of Vasco de Gama and is thriving with exotic marine life. This underwater ecosystem is nicknamed Surge City as many fish like damselfish, angelfish, parrotfish, and more congregate in the crevices of the boulders here. These boulders also break waves and can cause surges of underwater currents, so beginners are not usually allowed to dive here.
Goa is a popular location among scuba divers in India. This also means that there are many diving centres and schools that take you for Try Dives and Discover Dives, and also teach you the technicalities and skills with PADI and SSI certification courses.
Although it is difficult to pick a best school, choosing a vendor you like entirely depends on you. This can depend on the experience the dive school has, how renowned they are, what their charges are, and how qualified their instructors are.
All vendors associated with The Great Next strictly follow all diving guidelines and protocols and will give you a safe and comfortable scuba diving in Goa experience.
If you’re a beginner and are starting off with scuba diving in Goa, you’re already at the right place! Goa is an excellent place to learn diving with many beginner-friendly diving spots. Here are some tips on how you can make your scuba diving in Goa experience even better:
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.
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.
Summer in Goa lasts between March and April. It’s bright and sunny in Goa, and tourist activity is considerably lesser than in the winter months. But higher temperatures – that can go as high as 35°C – also means that the water will be comfortably warm.
The visibility underwater is excellent, and the currents are extremely low, creating idea environments for beginners. June to September is not a great time to visit as it rains pretty heavily. Experienced divers can still go diving in this season.
Winter is the best season to go scuba diving in Goa. This is usually from November to February. The preceding monsoon season is breeding time for marine animals, so you’ll see a lot of young spawns underwater. Temperatures hover around 25°C, making it a lot more bearable. Visibility is still good, and the currents are also manageable.
Goa gets a pretty heavy monson season from May/June to September. Most people don’t go scuba diving in Goa during this season because the water is rough and the visibility is low. Experienced divers may still go out but beginners are not allowed.
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.
Goa International Airport is well-frequented by daily flights from major Indian cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, and more.
Many express trains frequent the Madgao and Dabolim railway stations, arriving from most major Indian cities.
Driving down to Goa can make for an epic road trip, especially from nearby cities like Bangalore or Mumbai. You can take your own car or opt for state or private buses or cabs.
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.
Your operator will provide you with a scuba wetsuit and all required gear. You’ll need to wear a swimsuit/bikini/swimming trunks under the wetsuit. Do make sure the swimwear you choose is comfortable. Men can wear swimming briefs or slim-fitting swimming shorts. Don't wear bulky or cotton shorts as these will bunch up under your wetsuit and become uncomfortable.
Women can wear bikinis or one-piece swimwear. Avoid wearing swimwear with excessive embellishments as these will press into your skin under the wetsuit and become uncomfortable, or damage the wetsuit.
If you have long hair, tie it back firmly with an elastic band so it isn’t floating into your mask or obscuring your vision. Avoid wearing any kind of jewellery.
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.
Please carry a change of clothes, an extra swimsuit, and innerwear if you plan to change after your dive. Carry ample sunscreen, a towel, a pair of slippers, and some water.
Scuba diving in Goa is perfect for individuals with a basic level of fitness. If you're going for a Try Dive/Discover Dive, then you don't even need to know swimming. However, if you're opting for a PADI/SSI scuba diving course in Goa, then you need to pass a swimming test of 200 meters and 10 min floating to be eligible for the course.
Do practise some breathing exercises in the weeks leading up to your dive. If you are pregnant, suffer from heart and lung conditions, breathing problems, or psychological or neurological conditions that may cause distortion of senses or acute panic under or near water, you will not be allowed to go scuba diving in Goa.
For scuba diving in Goa, you may or may not be required to present a PADI or SSI certificate, depending on the dive site you choose to visit. Try Dives, Discover Dives, and PADI Scuba Diver Courses do not require prior certification.
However, PADI Open Water Diver Courses and PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Courses require you to present your certificate as a proof of completion of the preceding course.
Don’t forget to carry a government-issued identity card (like a driver’s license) and any vaccination certificates or RT-PCR reports mandated by local authorities.
Lunch and snacks provided, if any, will be had on the boat in between dives. They will usually consist of extremely light food in small portions, so you don’t feel nauseous while scuba diving in Goa. Packaged drinking water is usually readily available on your boat. Please do check your package carefully before booking as different operators offer different inclusions.
Scuba diving in Goa is generally considered safe, but it is important to note a few guidelines to ensure your safety while diving in the open waters.
Yes, there are plenty of ATMs in Goa.
Yes, there is good network connectivity in most regions, unless you are staying in a very remote location. Most hotels and cafés offer Wi-Fi.
The cancellation and refund policy will depend upon the operator you choose for your dive. In general, no shows don’t receive any refunds. Detailed cancellation and refund policies are available on our website’s trip booking pages.
All divers are required to present their double vaccination certificate. All tourist spots, including dive centres, are regularly sanitised and have thermal temperature checks for all visitors. All scuba equipment is sanitised and disinfected between uses.
Many dive centres offer online lessons in place of classroom lessons for diving courses, thereby limiting exposure to many other visitors. Scuba diving in Goa also takes place from regularly sanitised boats that are open and don’t have any recirculated air that may pose a higher risk of COVID-19.