Diving in Goa
Solitair can arrange diving trips with Barracuda Diving in Goa. Barracuda Diving are the pioneers in recreational diving in India. Established in 1994, it is the only dive centre in the subcontinent recognised by PADI (the world's leading dive education organisation).
Whilst diving in India is not exactly world class due to poor visibility of around 4 to 12 meters, there is an amazing amount of marine life as well as hard coral.
The fish life includes Barracuda, Damsels, Snappers, Sweetlips, Groupers, Sweepers, Tuna, Stone fish, Lionfish etc. Other marine life includes Sea Cucumbers, Blennies, Gobies, Turtles, Lobsters, Cuttlefish, Nudibranchs. Corals in the form of Table, Brain, Staghorn, Sea whips, Gorgonian fans etc. also abound.
Goa is also blessed with a large number of shipwrecks ( reported to be around 600 along the coast) which include galleons, World War II wrecks as well as several merchant ships. There are still a lot of ships waiting to be discovered by lucky, daring divers.
All trips include a comprehensive medical kit, as well as a portable oxygen kit, which are carried on board. The Barracuda diving team consists of 3 PADI and 1 CMAS instructors, who are also trained in administering First Aid.
OPTIONS:
Discover Scuba
A briefing along with a video session followed by a pool training session. After an early lunch / light snack we depart by boat for a dive in the open water.
Pleasures dives
Depart by boat for the open water. We do two dives, one regular sea dive and one to a wreck. This dive is only for qualified divers, who have dived in the last 12 months. For those who haven't dived in the last 12 months a pool check is mandatory.
Suzy's Wreck
30 Meters long WW II metal wreck in very shallow waters starting at 3 meters depth with a maximum depth of 12 meters. Plenty of fishlife which includes batfish, angelfish, barracudas, snappers, lionfish, sergeant major, sweetlips, stonefish, blennies, nudibranchs, parrotfish, moorish idols, groupers, sea whips, sea fans, morays, etc. Ideal dive site for beginners as well as experienced divers.
Davy Jones Locker
Very broken up metal wreck in approx. 14 meters of water. Only the stern section is intact with a huge propeller. Very large groupers, big barracudas, deep water schooling fish like jacks, tuna, mullets, etc., are seen frequently. Only experienced divers taken as currents are generally strong in the area.
Sail Rock
Big fish include jacks, groupers, barracudas, tuna, sharks, rays. Several species of small fish in the shallows. For experienced divers only due to strong currents as well as surge. Depths range from 20 meters to 6 meters along sloping walls making it ideal for multilevel divers.
Turbo Tunnel
A narrow channel between the island and a rock with the sea surging through it. The shallow depth (max of 8 meters) makes it ideal for experienced divers as well as beginners subject to the strength of the waves.
Surge City
An area of big boulders interspersed with sand with a fair bit of surge. Parrotfish, damsels, triggerfish, angelfish, sergeant major, sweetlips, snappers, porcupinefish, stonefish, tangs, small barracudas, etc., make this site a lovely place to dive for all level of divers.
Shelter Cove
An ideal dive site for beginners with lots of small fish, wide variety of hard coral, lobsters, etc. Fish include stonefish, lionfish, sergeant major, parrotfish, damsels, triggerfish, angelfish, sweetlips, snappers, etc. Hawksbill turtles have been spotted on rare occasions. Very shallow depths (max of only 8 meters).
Uma Guma Reef
Excellent dive site on exposed rocks off Grand Island. Highlights are large groupers, big barracudas, jacks, tuna, mullets, surgeonfish, parrotfish, triggerfish, angelfish, puffers, moorish idols, sweetlips, snappers, porcupinefish, etc. Plenty of hard coral in the shallow sections. Reef sharks have also been spotted here. For experienced divers only due to currents and surge. Great for multilevel dives starting at a maximum of 14 meters.
Bounty Bay
Great site for beginners as well as trainee divers. Several species of small fish as well as hard coral found here. Cuttlefish and nurse shark have also been seen here. Maximum depth of only 6 meters.
The Jetty
ocated at the north western tip of Grand Island, this is a very shallow site with a maximum depth of 8 meters and an average depth of 5 to 6 meters. Lots of species of small fish. Lionfish and schooling baby mullets frequently seen.
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