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Adventure enthusiasts experience life under water in Goa
by Devraj

    Baina Beach (Goa): Don't fret if you can't make it to the moon. Instead, pick the next best option and walk on the seabed as a host of adventure lovers are now doing in the beautiful coastal state of Goa. Launched earlier this week, the adventure sport has been introduced at the State's Baina beach, a picturesque oceanfront set between green mountains and blessed with relatively tranquil water. And the unique experience, introduced for the first time in the country, comes at a price that won't cost you the moon. At 33 dollars for a 20-minute joy-walk, where adventurers can get a clear view of marine life, the sport has many takers.

    "It was a great experience and I have never done this before. I have actually had a very strong fear of water but it was an amazing experience. You could actually walk in the sea, it was great fun and I'm sure I'm going to do it again," said Shraddha Deshpande, a visitor. What works visitors like Shraddha is that the sport is open for both swimmers and non-swimmers. Visitors said, Goa, which already enjoys a reputation of being one of the hottest tourist destinations across the world, would get a further boost with the introduction of such sports. "As and when these sort of sports facilities or any restaurants keep coming up, I find this (Baina beach) is going to be a tourist destination soon. If you look at it, there are no entertainment facilities for several surrounding villages in the next ten kilometers. If we develop this, we are very sure, Baina will become a tourist destination (in itself)," said Karl Vaz, Member of Legislative Assembly, Vasco Da Gama, Goa.

      A prominent water sports company called H2O has introduced the sport. The facility operates from a floating platform in the sea and visitors are taken there in boats. After basic instruction and an overview of safety precautions, the adventurer can then take to the sea accompanied by a qualified guide. As soon as the visitor is neck deep, a fibre helmet weighing 42 kilogram is placed on his head with an oxygen supply tube attached to it. The sea walker can descend the ladder and leave it once he reaches the seabed. The weight of the helmet keeps the walker from coming up, though once underwater, he does not feel the weight of the helmet.
-Jan 12, 2006

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