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Grand Island, located in North Goa, is one of the small islands around the coastline. It is also known as Ilha Grande, which is its Portuguese name. This island is just 1 km away from Vasco da Gama. The depth of sea around the shores is between the range of 7 metres to 20 metres making it an ideal place for various water sports activities. Grand Island Goa scuba diving is one of the most famous water sports activities for an unforgettable and thrilling experience. All the necessary precautions are taken and provided by the tour operators.
Location
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Grand Island, also known as Bat Island or Monkey Beach is located in North Goa. It is around 1 km away from the mainland of Goa. It is situated in the middle of Arabian Sea near Vasco da Gama’s Coco Jetty Beach.
Factors Affecting Scuba Diving
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When choosing a place for scuba diving in Grand Island, one must consider certain important factors.
- Climate condition
- Water temperature
- Waves
- Dive depth
- Aquatic life
Levels Of Scuba Diving
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Beginner And Expert: Grand Island is the perfect destination for scuba diving, considering beginners and experts, as it allows the people for shallow dives with good sites that allow both beginners and experts to enjoy the activity without requiring them to swim much.
Duration: 30 – 45 minutes
One-Time Diving: One-time diving is a famous activity in Grand Island, where many tourists visit this place to scuba dive to explore aquatic life and have a unique, once-in-a lifetime experience. The certified instructors provide all the safety equipment and explain the diving techniques.
Duration: 2 – 3 hours
How To Reach
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By Air: The nearest airport is Dabolim International Airport, which is 4.9 km away from the island.
By Rail: The Vasco da Gama railway station is the nearest one to the island, it takes nearly 15 minutes from there to reach the island.
By Road: The nearest bus stop is the Vasco KTC bus stand that has a few connecting buses passing by. There are also cars and scooters available to explore the roads of Goa.
By Water: From Vasco da Gama’s Coco Jetty beach one must take a boat to reach the Grand Island.
5 Scuba Diving Destinations In Grand Island
Here are a few popular destinations in Grand Island with many water sports activities along with scuba diving to have an amazing and adventurous experience to create unforgettable memories.
1. Suzy’s Wreck
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Suzy’s Wreck was a British cargo ship known as SS Rita that sank in the 1950’s. It sank near the south-west face of the Grande Island. This place is one of the most popular scuba diving sites around Goa. It provides easy conditions for both new and advanced divers, as it is sheltered from the strong currents of the islands. This wreck is also surrounded by sand patches, which is the best place for open water skills. The wreck lies between 5 m to 12 m deep and gives an opportunity to explore many species in the water, like angelfish, surgeonfish, and many more.
Best Time To Visit: November to March
Timings: 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Cost/Person: ₹2000 – ₹4000
Maximum Depth: 12 metres
2. Devil’s Canyon
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Devils Canyon is one of the scuba diving sites on the Grand Island, which is an excellent place for especially experienced divers looking for adventure experiences. This canyon is a deep vertical drop that falls to a depth of 130 feet. Scuba diving at Devil’s Canyon gives us an opportunity to spot many various marine life species like moray eels and barracudas by diving deep into the sea waters. It is one of the best spots for Grand Island Goa scuba diving.
Best Time To Visit: November to March
Timings: 8 AM – 2 PM
Cost/Person: ₹3000 – ₹4000
Maximum Depth: 15 metres
3. Turret Rock
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Turret Rock is another popular gobar diving destination in Grand Island that is both for beginners and experienced divers. It is a shallow dive site with a depth of 20 to 30 feet with many various aquatic species like colourful fish and coral reefs. With all the necessary instructions provided by the instructors, it is an amazing experience to scuba dive at Turret Rock.
Best Time To Visit: October to June
Timings: Early mornings
Cost/Person: ₹4000 – ₹5000
Maximum Depth: 30 feet
4. Suzy’s Reef
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Suzy’s Reef is a picture perfect dive location that is 18 to 25 feet deep and known for its beautiful landscapes of flora and fauna. This place is especially famous among beginners and one-time divers, with safety precautions, training and instructions provided. It is an amazing place to practise photography with many sea creatures to capture, like an array of colourful fish, coral reef and many more.
Best Time To Visit: October to April
Timings: 8 AM – 6 PM
Cost/Person: ₹5000
Maximum Depth: 12 metres
5. Baina Beach
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Baina Beach, located near Vasco da Gama, is a perfect location for water sports and conducting a wider variety of cultural programs. This beach offers a unique experience of scuba diving to explore the fascinating marine life. With certified instructors and breathtaking underwater landscapes, it is an amazing place to visit. Along with scuba diving, this beach is also famous for relaxing amidst the beautiful surroundings and to enjoy various fun activities around the beach.
Best Time To Visit: November to March
Timings: 9 AM – 4 PM
Cost/Person: ₹1,500 – ₹5000
Maximum Depth: 12 metres
Best Time To Visit
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The best time to visit Grand Island for scuba diving is between the months of October to March. Because during these months the climatic conditions and the water conditions are stable and ideal for scuba diving and other water sports activities. During the summer, Goa is really hot. It is not advised to go on to do this activity as it may cause a few health issues because of the heat. During the monsoon, the Arabian Sea is quite ferocious, which is not ideal for scuba diving and also various other water activities.
Where To Stay
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There are many hotels and resorts available near Grand Island that provide many facilities along with food options. There are many places like Bloom Hotel, Taj Cidade de, Grand Island Inn and Suites, Days Inn by Wyndham and many more that provide facilities like AC rooms, parking, breakfast, wifi and many more.
Where To Eat
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Grand Island has many restaurants that provide delicious food with clean and hygiene locations. Not only Goa cuisine, but there are also various other cuisines with seafood, BBQ, etc, provided at these restaurants. Some of them are Tommy’s family restaurant, the chocolate bar, Shady Bend Cafe, Texas T-bone steakhouse, Sin City Grill and many more.
Other Factors To Consider
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Average Cost Of The Trip
The average cost of the trip to Grand Island depends on the type of water sports activity chosen. The prices range from ₹1000 to ₹5000 per person, along with pickup and drop-off, lunch, safety kits, etc. provided.
Tips For Travellers
- Get proper training from the instructor before diving
- Choose a certified instructor
- Beware of your surroundings in areas with potential hazards
- Respect the marine life and avoid damaging the sea floor
- Follow the dive plan by not going too deep without safety
Grand Island, located in North Goa, is one of the perfect destinations for scuba diving in India with its various dive sites, crystal clear waters and beautiful marine life. It is a must-visit spot for water sports enthusiasts. Grand Island Goa scuba diving is for experienced divers to first-time divers to explore the beauty underwater. To plan your trip to Grand Island and for the information, visit TripXL.
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