There are 8 islands off the coast of Goa. Most of them are well known and loved by divers. What attracts researchers of the underwater world in the islands of Goa?
First, in the immediate vicinity (and at some distance) of the coast of Goa, hundreds of (and possibly thousands) shipwrecks have occurred over the centuries of sea voyages. At the bottom lie the remains of Portuguese and Arab trade and sea vessels. The list of underwater landmarks continues the ships that sank during the First World War. Most places of flooding have not been fully explored yet and represent a challenge for experienced divers.
Secondly, while sinking to meet the underwater world of Goa, you can see sharks, dolphins, turtles, rays, crabs, cuttlefish and shellfish. The fish population is represented by morays, tunas, hedgehogs, lion fish, angelfish, and hundreds of other fish species. And, of course, there are a lot of corals around Goa islands.
Third, the visibility of Goa islands on good days is about 25 meters, and the water temperature keeps around 25 ° C. all year round.
Saint- George
Teaching diving skills is good to start on the island of St. George. There are several diving bases here, the depth of the dive consistently increases from 7 to 20 meters, visibility ranges from 2 to 20 meters. The best time to dive from October to April. An introductory one-day course costs 2800 rupees, an advanced two-day course of 12,000 rupees, and "higher diving aerobatics" courses - 20,000 rupees. Prices for diving for divers with certificates start from 1500 rupees for one dive. The journey to the island takes about an hour.
By the way, St. George has excellent fishing. Fish is caught from the boat on a fishing rod or fishing line. For bait use shrimp. A lucky fisherman can catch perch, salmon and even barracuda.
Grand Island
The most popular place for divers. You can get to the island from Benaulim beach in South Goa. The road on the motor boat will take 20 minutes (usually ask 3000 rupees, but you can and should bargain). The depth of the dive is from 7 to 20 meters, many places suitable for beginners. Experienced divers prefer the sites of Davy Jones's Locker and Umma Gumma Reef, where you can dive deep, and the current is strong. A ship with a length of 135 meters is flooded around the island.
Netrani Island
When visibility in the water seriously worsens, divers gather their belongings and go on a 200 km journey south - to get to the island of Netrani. A small island is in the state of Karnataka, ten nautical miles from the shore. Visibility is up to 30 meters, and the underwater life is rich and diverse. In addition to the only complex site of The Abyss, with a depth of immersion of 35 meters, all other places will suit divers with any level of preparation.
Halfway between the beaches of Goa and the coastline of Karnataka is Murdeshwar, where the world's tallest statue of Shiva is located - 37 meters. The four-armed deity sits with its back to the sea and facing the tourists in a lotus pose. Also in Merdesvara there is a gopurra - a temple tower, again the highest in the world - 75 meters. Excellent pictures are guaranteed!
If you are not a diver, and you want to take a walk to the surrounding islands - you can go on an excursion that includes visiting the islands of Grande and Piquéne. The trip usually includes bathing, fishing and lunch made from seafood.
The rivers of Goa are washed by the banks of more than 80 river islands. To get to some of them you can during river excursions on mangrove thickets and crocodile jungle.
Photo of Goa (8)