Snorkelling in Pondicherry

For those adventure junkies amongst us, the seas and oceans offer endless possibilities for exciting new adventures. From coral reefs to underwater caverns, there are countless spectacular marvels that lay in the depths. So how do you get to experience these mysterious depths for yourself? Well, equip yourself with a diving mask, a pair of swim fins, and a snorkel and the only thing left for you to do would be to find the perfect spot for a fun bout of snorkeling.  

Snorkeling in Mangalore is, unfortunately, rather hard to come by as the sea and the rivers around the city don’t provide much in terms of visibility to the divers. With the waters filled with mud constantly swirling around to the whim of the tides, snorkeling in Mangalore is less than ideal for snorkeling enthusiasts. However, there are several other water sports that one can indulge in whilst staying in this beautiful tropical city. In fact, Mangalore is quite a hub for water sports such as kayaking, sailing, and much more. If you're a water sports enthusiast, don’t be so quick to cancel on your plans to this lovely beachside city just because of the lack of snorkeling and scuba diving adventures. 

If snorkeling in Mangalore is off your bucket list, where should you go to find the best beaches nearby with diverse aquatic life? Not to fret, as there are still a few options along the coast of the Arabian Sea that provide calm and clear waters for you to paddle through. Go on ahead and scroll below to see a few places in and around Karnataka that offer some truly breathtaking dive sites. 

Being at a beach town means enjoying the beach fully. There’s more to beaches than endless shores, waves and the sun rising and setting at a distance. It’s not a trip to the beach if you don’t take a dip in. To take it up a notch, you can opt for snorkeling. Snorkeling is swimming near the water’s surface with the use of a mask and a breathing tube, called a snorkel. Snorkelers take in panoramic underwater views from above and don't deep dive into the water. 

Snorkeling in Gokarna is most popularly done at the Om Beach or the Kudle Beach and you can plunge to a depth of about 15 feet or more and swim with the past shipwrecks and the tropical fishes housed by that Arabian Sea. Snorkeling in Gokarna is also a fairly inexpensive event so you will get a tour of the under-waters without burning a hole in your pocket.  

The best time to go snorkeling in Gokarna would be October through May given that there are lesser riptides experienced those months. You will sight parrot fishes, angel fishes, snappers, squirrel fishes, sea urchins, sea cucumbers and of course, corals of varied types. If you’re lucky, you will get to swim with hawk bill turtles and dolphins. Though Gokarna does not have sites known particularly for snorkeling, Om Beach and Kudle Beach are a good spot to experience them anyway given how exciting the sport can be.  

You might be familiar with scuba diving but have you ever heard of snorkeling? For those of us that aren’t too comfortable with diving into the mysterious depths of the ocean, snorkeling is a great segue into the exhilarating world of water sports. For snorkeling, you wear a mask and a breathing tube called a snorkel to take in the beautiful aquatic world that lies below the surface of the gentle waves of the ocean. The key difference is how deep you go into the water; snorkelers can catch panoramic vistas of marine life while floating close to the surface while scuba divers immerse themselves deep into the ocean as they explore coral reefs and sea wildlife. 

Although Chennai is surrounded by the frothy curls of the Bay of Bengal, snorkeling in Chennai hasn’t taken off due to strong currents and low visibility. There’s also significant fishing activities that happen near the ‘Detroit of India’, and while snorkeling in Chennai, this can muddy up the water, making your vision cloudy. 

But when you’re a watersports enthusiast, you should know that where there is a will, there is a way and if you’re in this cultural hub, you can still put snorkeling in Chennai on your to-do list. Pondicherry is 163 kms away from Chennai by road and is a beautiful spot for you to snorkel, giving you a chance to catch a glimpse of lionfish, manta rays, red snapper and so much more! If you’re ready to board a flight for a vacation on a beautiful island, catch one to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands which is also located in the Bay of Bengal and provides a fantastic snorkeling and scuba diving experience. 

Browse through our pages on Pondicherry and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and discover the different dive sites that are well worth a visit! 

Goa is known for its beautiful beaches and relaxed party vibe. However, the primary draw of this enchanting coastal state is its proximity to the majestic, mysterious Arabian Sea. What lies beneath the surface of Goa’s cool, blue waters? Snorkeling in Goa takes you under its waves, opening the doors into a magical aquatic world teeming with exotic life.

When it comes to snorkeling in Goa, each beach has its own personality with water that exhibits different moods and aquatic wildlife. Bogmalo Beach has clear water and vibrantly coloured fish lurk below the surface, swimming in and out of the sparse greenery that grows on the ocean bed. Snorkeling in Goa is incomplete without a visit to Grande Island; you reach this pristine island by boat and beneath the swelling curls of the ocean lie crumbling wrecks and aquatic creatures that are undisturbed by the tourist activity on the commercial beaches. If you’re a water baby that’s ready to explore the ocean realm, dip below the surface with snorkelling in Goa!