Goa is a little bit of Rio de Janeiro meets lbiza. But then Goa is a lot of things. This little seaside state, with an identity that's a seamless blend of Portuguese-Latin influence and Indian tradition, was crackling enough to have been one of the Millennium destinations of the world.

The waters are safe and temperate, the absence of riptide currents making them ideal for learners and novice divers. And when you aren't wiggling in and out of your wetsuit, you could be sunbathing or bungee jumping, visiting temples or haunting the flea market. Like we said, Goa is a lot of things.

The three hundred years of Portuguese rule has left an indelible imprint on the collective psyche of Goans. It shows in their music, their architecture, their culture. It's also why Goans make the most wonderful vindaloo this side of the Indian Ocean.

Dive Sites

The marine life of Goa is similar to that found in Maldives. The presence of wrecks in Spanish and Portuguese galleons and World War II ships make the fish life prolific.

Grand Island
Much of the local diving is conducted around this island. Some of the sites near the island include Suzy's Wreck, Davy Jones Lockers, Sail Rock, Turbo Tunnel, Surge City, Uma Guma Reef, and Bounty Bay.

Angria Bank
A four-hour high-speed boat ride takes you to this world-class dive site 120 miles from Goa. A vast underwater landmass about half the size of the state of Goa, it offers an amazing wealth of coral and fish. A 'live-aboard' is available with the local dive center to make diving at this site an unforgettable experience.

Pigeon Island
This rocky outcrop has interesting marine life as well as good visibility.

Malvan Shoal
Some interesting shallow sites in the water between Vengurla and Malvan, 2 hours away from the capital city of Panaji.

Miscellaneous Information

Decompression chamber is available about an hour away by road from any of the dive sites.

Best Time to Visit

Between November and May.

Climate

Tropical - between 25-28° Celsius.

Getting There

Most of the scheduled fights from Europe, UK & USA arrive at Mumbai from where there are daily flights to Goa. The flying time from Mumbai to Goa is just under an hour. This sector is served via both Indian Airlines and Jet Airways that have daily flights to this destination. It is advisable to book both your inbound and outbound sectors well in advance. The visa issued for India is sufficient documentation for your trip to Goa, no individual permit is required here.