WATER SPORTS IN INDIA

India is a land of pulsating coastlines, golden beaches and swift rivers and thus can offer you every kind of water sport you can desire.

The Himalayas offer you some of the toughest and most exciting river runs in the world. River sports in the rapids are the most popular, throughout the summers and can really get your adrenaline pumping. The innumerable fresh water streams and lakes in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh are ideal for angling and trout fishing. The coastal regions provide excellent opportunities for water sports like water skiing, wind surfing, yatching, snorkelling and scuba diving.

Further South you can enjoy water adventures along both the west and the east coasts of India. The islands of Andaman and Nicobar in the Bay of Bengal and Lakshadweep in the Indian Ocean are virtually untouched and are some of the best spots for scuba diving and snorkelling. The beaches of Goa and Kerala also offer other sporting opportunities like water skiing, wind surfing and sailing.

Backwater Cruise in Kerala: The backwaters of Kerala are a series of interconnected waterways, lakes, inlets and riverine estuaries that form an intermeshed network along the coast of Kerala, India. The local people of the Kerala backwaters, travel on these waters and carry out their traditional occupations, such as farming and fishing on its fertile banks. The scenic beauty of the backwaters has also led to its being developed as a tourist destination in recent times. You can travel on backwater cruises in Kerala, on Kerala tours with Kerala Backwater.

Some of the best destinations for backwater cruises in Kerala are between the Kerala backwater destinations of Cochin now called Kochi, Alappuzha, Kasargod, Kollam, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Kumarakom, Kuttanad, Thiruvallam, Thiruvananathapuram.

Snorkelling and Scuba Diving in Andman and Nicobar Island: Experience the thrill and beauty of India's stunning underwater natural world. Scuba Dive or snorkel Bay of Bengal at Andman and Nicobar islands or Arabian Sea at Lakshadweep group of islands. The crystal clear waters Indian coasts and shores promise charming scuba diving and snorkeling destinations that will leave you completely mesmerized.

The rich sea life in India offers an array of opportunities for scuba diving and snorkeling. Apart from the already well-known scuba destinations, there are abundant sites, which are waiting to be explored. Credit of introducing scuba diving goes to the foreigners who were captivated by the beautiful and long coastline of India. If you want to make your holiday an event of lifetime, these exceptional adventure activities on the seashores, mangroves, cliff promontories, backwater, beautiful groups of island along the Indian coastline, constantly kissed by the waters of the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea. The islands of Lakshadweep have the great potential of being the Mecca of Indian scuba diving.

India offers holidays at exceptional locations that are gorgeously un-spoilt retaining their primitive charm. Untouched by pollution, the blue, green and turquoise waters of its seas and oceans present the striking view of the Coral Sea beds.

India has carved a unique niche for itself in the adventure tourism map of the world. The sheer variety of the marine life adds to the ecstasy and some enviable adventure destinations serve as the perfect base for adventure holiday in India. Just don the scuba gear and get rolling. No matter whether you are an amateur or a professional, the underwater experience will be exciting at all levels.

The adventure of scuba diving can be easily clubbed with activities like underwater photography and fish identification. Though on your holiday the guides will be ready with the medic first aid the heart patients, people suffering from high or low blood pressure and the expectant mothers are advised to keep away. In India the adventure is a serious business with certifications of various levels for the scuba divers. Moving on the ladder with direction and determination you can rise from being an amateur diver to a master director.

The adventure will involve the use of equipments like the wet suit, fin, tank, mask, snorkel, a knife, a pair of leather or canvas gloves, underwater flashlights for night diving, dive tables, and dive watch. The thickness of the wet suit will be in accordance to the temperature of the water.

In order to enjoy the Scuba Diving and Snorkeling in India you may head towards the Andamans and Nicobar islands. Explore the under water for the residues of the sunken ships, ravishing reefs and the amazing array of sea animals. India also boasts of the water sports capital at Lakshadweep where holidaying is fun with the large coastline, coral islands, and great variety in the marine life.

With the huge coastline and the fact that India is dotted with several spots for water sports you enjoy your holidays in any season indulging in snorkeling and scuba diving. By following the proper safety instructions you may take up the water sports for the adventure experience of a lifetime!

Diving is sport that's usually done in the regions, which are least explored and least known. The more secluded a diving destination is, the more adventurous it becomes, as said by the professional divers. The scuba diving and snorkeling adventure in India involves two Tropical Island destinations of the country - Andaman / Nicobar and Lakshwadeep, which have caught the attention of divers from around the world for their remoteness and rich bio-diversity.

Angling and Fishing: There are opportunities for anglers in Bhalukpung in Assam. The river Jia Bhoroli, Kapili and Manas are the best places for Golden Mahseer angling since the days of the British.

The state of Himachal Pradesh with its many snow-fed rivers are an angler's haven. The upper reaches of the river Beas in the Kullu valley are also great for this sport. The picturesque Kangra valley has several spots that offer Mahaseer- river camp.

In Kashmir, trout fishing is a lucrative business and the ideal season is from April to October. The British introduced the brown and rainbow trout to the streams of Kashmir, where they have thrived. Only artificial flies are allowed and each licence entitles the angler to keep six fish a day, none being shorter than 7.5 cm. The common rivers for fishing here are Sindh & Wangat.

Sailing: For those who love sailing, yachting and wind-surfing, there are facilities in Goa as well as at Kovalam beach in Kerala. Allahabad and Varanasi has several opportunities for Sailing Expedition