Introduction
Grand Island, also known as Ilha Grao or Ilha Grande, is a tiny island located near Dabolim Airport. There are many wonderful places to visit, like sunken ships, where you may observe a variety of aquatic life, including sea turtles, dolphins, lobsters, reef sharks, and more. The seafloor is covered in vibrant corals. There are also excellent places for novice divers and snorkelers. If you’re looking for a wonderful yet exciting Scuba Diving in Grand Island is the place to be.
Location
The Arabian Sea is home to Grand Island. It is located right off the coast of Vasco da Gama. It is located in the Mormugao peninsula, west of Vasco da Gama. Because of its location in the middle of the sea, the island can only be reached by boat. Boat services are available from numerous locations in Goa, including Calangute, Baga, Candolim, Sinquerim, and Dona Paula Beach. Depending on where you start, the boat ride might last anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour and a half.
Best time to visit
The ideal season for visiting Grande Island is from October to May. While the weather is favorable, your boat excursion from Coco Beach will be more enjoyable. Summer is really hot. Because there are fewer tourists in the summer, the boat may not go unless a certain number of people schedule a trip. During the monsoon season, from June to August, the water becomes quite rough. There will be no boat service to the island at about this time. Even if you do make it to the island, there are no water activities, snorkeling, or diving.
Snorkelling and Scuba Diving
The first diving place on your journey to the Grande will get better before you arrive. It is located surrounding Pequeno, commonly known as Potato Island due to its form. It is extremely near to the beach. You’ll descend shortly before the island to test your luck. This is a steep island with a single little beach ideal for snorkeling in murky areas. Your boat operator can provide you with diving and snorkeling equipment as well as lifejackets. Depending on the plan you choose, it may be free or available for rent.
Several diving and snorkeling spots can be found near Grand Island. San Jose and Penjueno are two other nearby islands. The aquatic life and corals are also excellent. Grand Island is the top snorkeling and diving destination in India. Many people claim that the water here has more marine life than in Andaman and Lakshadweep. This is due to the abundance of sunken ships, bays, and a sandy bottom that is home to various forms of marine life. Many locations have coral reefs. There are spots for divers and snorkelers of all skill levels. There are difficult areas that only specialists can visit, yet you will witness many novices having fun.
Best Scuba Diving Spots at Grand Island
Suzy:
The ain attraction in this diving spot is a sunken 135-meter British warship. It was lost in the 1930s when the ship collided with some rocks during a heavy sea storm. Luckily, just one crew member was killed. The ship was transporting railroad sleepers. Remains of the cargo can still be found in a dive today. The ship is lying on the rocky bottom of a little harbor, surrounded by mussels and small corals. There are a lot of aquatic creatures here.
Davy Jones Locker:
Gloria is a shipwreck in Davy Jones’ Locker near Grand Islands. Though she may be doomed to the bottom of the sea, she is nevertheless a sight to behold. She was once a massive freight ship, but she now exists as a sprawling ruin that divers can’t get enough of. Her fallen decks are home to schools of Tuna, Bannerfish, and Barracuda. An rainbow of colors is displayed on coral around the Gloria. Turtle sightings are also stunning! Thus, keep an eye out when you enter Davy Jones’ Locker.
Sailing Rock:
Snorkeling at Sail Rock is similar to attending an opera. When the big guys start swooping in to hunt, the scenes may quickly become intense. Large schools of fish, such as enormous groupers, skulk near rocky awnings. The site itself has an impressive construction, consisting of a large sloping rock that drops to 20 meters. It also reaches a significant height above the surface and is said to resemble a sail, hence the name. The site is largely covered in encrusting coral and has many niches for reef fish to hide in. This site’s mild to rip currents not only attract pelagic predators but also provide for a fascinating and demanding dive for experienced divers.
Umma Gumma Reef:
This site, named after a renowned Pink Floyd record with the same title, is like music in graphic form. It is made up of a collection of big rocks surrounded by sandy sections. A variety of reef fish, including schools of snappers, big groupers, and others, relax on beds of tabular and cabbage coral. A little surge and gentle tides make this dive fascinating for divers of all skill levels. This lively location also has a history component, as it includes an ancient antique anchor and abandoned shells from warships, which you may come across during your dive.
Conclusion
The money spent on snorkeling at Grand Island is well spent because the experience obtained is priceless. Scuba diving in Goa provides the best experience at an affordable price while emphasizing safety. Satisfy your soul with a scuba diving experience that no booze or drug can deliver.