8 Awesome Places to Go Snorkelling in India (2024)
Tread into the shallow waters and explore the tranquil marine life with its diverse flora and fauna for a fabulous snorkelling experience. You don’t have to go deep into the waterbed, tread near the water surface and get a brush of the natural beauty of the blue waters. India has a vast coastline, and hence many places offer Snorkelling.
The rich ecosystem of India supports an exotic ecological environment of the underwater world. Surrounded by the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, and the Bay of Bengal from three sides, the country has diverse species of marine plants and animals.
Snorkelling equipment is used to undertake this activity, including a water-tight mask that prevents water from entering the eyes and nose. A snorkel or a tube is attached to the gear, and this helps assist breathing. Diving fins are provided along with the snorkelling gear worn on the feet to glide the waters.
8 Awesome Places to Go Snorkelling in India:
Let us take a look at some of the ideal places to go snorkelling in India.
1. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands:
Pristine waters of the Bay of Bengal are surrounded by lush green rainforests and fabulous Andaman and Nicobar Islands corals. The scenic beauty and splendour attract many travellers to this famous tourist destination. Fishes of vibrant shades, intriguing coral reefs, pipefish, colourful corals, sea snakes, oysters, lobsters, and shrimps, amongst many other species of marine life, are in abundance under these seas, waiting to be explored by the traveller.
It is rightly said that the locales of the Andaman Islands are breathtakingly beautiful and provide a fabulous view. Let us see the best places in Andaman for different types of snorkelling experiences:
- The best for beach snorkelling is Elephant beach on Havelock Island.
- Offshore Snorkelling is done on Red Skin Island and Jolly Buoy
- The selected sites for seashore snorkelling are North Bay Island, Henry Lawrence Island, Neil Island, and Cinque Island.
The ideal time to get a fabulously satisfying snorkelling experience is from November to May. At these times, the weather is perfectly cool and calm. The temperature ranges from 20 to 30 Celsius. Pick up your gear anytime between 8 a.m. to 4.30 p.m., and head to the silvery sands for your snorkelling tryst.
But be careful and watch the weather before venturing for one of these exploration activities. The best view of the underwater glory is possible only with proper visibility. You don’t have to worry about the cost because Snorkelling is a budget-friendly adventure and can be undertaken quickly on a trip.
2. Lakshadweep Islands:
Lakshwadeep is a group of islands; out of these, many islands are still unexplored. According to the reports, only 10 out of 36 islands are colonized. The immaculate waterline of the islands provides a crystal clear view of beautiful, elegant marine creatures like corals, squid, octopus, sea cucumbers, rays, crabs, and turtles. You must see these creatures from close quarters to understand their glory and serene beauty.
If you head to the island, you will see plenty of sports organizers organizing snorkelling adventure sports for those visiting the region. Even the Resorts and sports centres on the islands provide the customers with fully equipped snorkelling gears before they venture out into the oceans. Moreover, they ensure all safety measures are taken, and the tourist is educated about the precautions to be followed for undertaking adventure water activities.
Lakshwadeep islands host plenty of snorkelling activities; the best places for this underwater adventure are the Kadmat and Bangaram islands. Kadmat island lagoon in the small island of Amindivi, Bangaram Atoll, Agatti Island, Kalpeni Island, and Minicoy Island offers the best snorkelling experiences to the traveller.
While here, you must visit the Princess Royale shipwreck site because it is gloriously attractive. Also, Kadmat and Bangaram are famous for the wide variety of fish species and the clear water visibility. Though accessing all the marine sites is a little challenging, the clear waters and abundant marine life make the whole snorkelling experience a class apart. The excellent season for snorkelling activities ranges from November to March, so visit the Lakshwadeep islands for an out-of-the-world experience.
3. Puducherry:
Puducherry, or Pondicherry as we know it, is a stunningly beautiful seaside port that reflects various shades of French heritage in India. You can spot the abundant, striking, and vivid coastline on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal.
This charming town, also known as the “French Capital of India,” is famous for its French colonies, heritage places, cafeterias, beaches, and a fabulous Snorkelling experience in South India. The quaint streets are lined with trees, chic boutiques, and colonial villas.
The seaside town is beautiful and offers the traveller a stunning and rare view of various exotic marine animals and fabulous underwater life. The clear waters are homes to aquatic animals like moray eels, whale sharks, parrot fish, lionfish, triggerfish, banner fish, turtles, and dolphins.
The coral reefs stand immaculately in the waters and are a massive tourist attraction. Moreover, the ultramarine coastline has diverse landscapes, and the crystal clear waters are bustling with colourfully vibrant marine life. There is so much to explore in Puducherry, and travellers can spend days here exploring the deep waters and aquatic beauty. Temple reef and Aravind’s wall are perfect locations for snorkelling in Pondicherry. Furthermore, kids can also indulge in this sport with expert professional training and the latest equipment. The ideal season to visit Pondicherry for Snorkelling is from January to June and then from September to November.
4. Tarkarli in Maharashtra:
Anarkali is commonly named the ‘Queen Beach’ and is located in Malvan Taluka in the Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra. The white sands and clear blue sea waters are a heavenly place ideal for water sports activities in Central India.
Plenty of affordable and pocket-friendly packages are offered to travellers to help them enjoy this water activity. Due to the tropical climate, abundant aquatic plants, coral reefs, fish, sharks, and dolphins can be seen in the clear waters. This picturesque beauty of the sea, marine life, and casuarina trees is a sight to behold.
The ideal time for Snorkelling in Tarkarli is from October to March. Snorkelling is done from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. when the sun gleams brightly, the water has clear visibility, and the clarity stuns the senses.
5. Gokarna in Karnataka:
It’s time to talk about the enthralling land of the crystal blue seas, golden sands, and lush green palm trees. Gokarna is a small temple town in Karnataka famous for its pristine blue crystal clear waters and glorious white beaches. The sea waters of this coastal town are bristling with alluring aquatic species and vibrantly beautiful marine life. Snorkelling is done at Kudle beach and Om beach at approximately 15 feet. Om Beach is famous for its Hindu spiritual symbol, the “Om.” Being close to the Arabian Sea, the beach waters are home to a variety of parrot fish, squirrel fish, sea urchins, dolphins, turtles, snappers, and angel fish. Moreover, the large variety of corals and shipwrecks mesmerizes the visitor into silence with its beauty.
The gigantic cliffs look down at the beautiful beaches and protrude outwards, making the whole region breathtakingly stunning. The famous beaches here are Paradise, Half Moon, Om, Gokarna, and Kudle.
The best time to visit Gokarna is from October to May to explore the tropical wonders of marine life. This town is also a famous pilgrimage for Hindus and has popular shrines like Mahabaleshwar Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Gokarna is surrounded by the Western Ghats and the Arabian sea and lovely mountain paths on one side. If you are an adventure lover, the snorkelling and cliff-scrambling experience is worth every moment you spend here.
6. Goa:
Goa is an internationally acclaimed tourist spot for its pristine beaches and hippie life. This coastal town is a picturesque destination that offers a wide variety of water sports activities, including Snorkelling. People from all over the globe come to Goa for relaxing days of fun and enjoyment.
Many adventurous water activities are offered at the beaches that lure travellers from far and near this coastal town. Enjoy the hippie vibe and the underwater experience here. There are nearly 60 beaches spread out all over, many of which are available for Snorkelling in Goa.
But the most famous beaches for Snorkelling in this tropical haven are Grande Island, Bat Island, South Goa’s famous Bogmalo beach, Monkey beach, and Miramar beach in Panjim. Besides these water sports, travellers can enjoy parasailing, skiing, surfing, scuba diving, etc. The best suitable time for Snorkelling in Goa is from Mid-October to April. Timings vary on different beaches. Generally, it is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
7. Netrani Island in Karnataka:
Netrani Island is a small island off the coast of Karnataka in the Arabian Sea that promises the tourist an action-packed holiday. It is also known as pigeon island because of the large population of pigeons found here. The water depth varies from 6 to 40 meters, so it is suitable for Snorkelling and scuba diving.
One can watch a wide variety of fish like Napoleon wrasse, turtles, butterfly fish, clown fish, great Barracuda, whale sharks, dolphins, cobia, stingrays, and stonefish near the coral island. Snorkelling at Netrani Island is exciting, and the traveller launches into the sea from a boat due to its rocky sea bed. The ideal time to visit this place is from October to April.
8. Dawki in Shnongpdeng
Dawki is located at a distance of 2 hr and 30 min drive from Shillong, Meghalaya. The tranquil and crystal-clear water of river Umngot makes it a perfect destination for Snorkelling. Umngot is one of the cleanest rivers in Asia and Dawki is a freshwater snorkelling spot surrounded by Jaintia hills. The view is stunning here, and the visibility of the waters makes it very easy to spot the colourful aquatic life.
Mesmerizing marine species can be seen here and are a great attraction for tourists. The traveller can tread the waters only after they wear a life jacket and snorkelling mask. The place is slowly gaining popularity though it is a lesser-known and new travel spot.
Also, this serene destination is perfect for this adventurous water sport in the lap of nature. If you don’t know how to swim, don’t worry because Snorkelling doesn’t need a swimmer every time. There are camping sites in the region that offer you a great snorkelling experience in shallow waters. After your adventurous water affair, you can set up a tent and watch the stars in the sky. Make your lifetime memories in Dawki and enjoy the adventurous activities at the riverside.
The best time to visit Dawki for Snorkelling is from October to April, and the activity is done at a depth of 15 meters. The timings for Snorkelling are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Snorkelling Gear
Before you step into the waters for the activity, you will have to adorn the swim fins and life jackets along with the snorkelling accessories and snorkel. After that, an introductory instruction class is organized to educate the traveller before plunging into the water. Each step is explained in detail, and you don’t have to be a swimmer to experience the best of the underwater world.
Snorkelling, unlike scuba diving, need not require complex apparatus or prior training; it is much easier. One needs to be careful about the power and frequency of waves and avoid high tides to stay safe and enjoy the activity to the full. Check for the clarity of the water. The fact is, the clearer the water, the better your experience will be. Lifeguards should be present, and you should wear proper safety equipment for a safe and secure adventure. Carry out different varieties of research about the ecosystem of that place in advance. This will help you better understand the terrain and area so that you know the best locations to visit and learn all there is to explore.