Safe-swim zones open on Goa beaches for the new tourist season
~ Drishti Marine maps weather and sea conditions each morning and accordingly sets up ‘safe swim zones’ along the beaches.
~ Drishti Marine lifesavers closely monitor 27 beaches across South Goa and 18 beaches across the North Goa stretch as well as Dudhsagar waterfalls and Mayem lake
Panaji, November 2023 – Even as the resumption of the tourist season in Goa has led to a large number of visitors flocking to the state’s coastline, Drishti Marine, the state-appointed professional lifesaving agency, has officially demarcated ‘safe swim zones’ along beaches.
Drishti Marine, which is tasked with maintaining beach safety, maps weather and sea conditions each morning and accordingly sets up safe swim-zones along the beaches. The zones are constantly monitored by the agency’s lifesavers. Drishti Marine’s 450-strong lifesaving force patrols Goa’s beaches throughout the year.
While most beaches across Goa are safe to swim in, Drishti Marine advises beachgoers and swimmers to adhere to some basic safety measures. Swimmers should ideally swim only in the designated safe swim zones which are marked with red and yellow flags. Non-swim-zones are marked with red flags.
Most beaches have swim zones marked, certain beaches like Cola beach, Betul beach, Canaguinim beach and Cabo De Rama due to their smaller size and rough sea conditions do not have swim zones. Larger beaches, such as Calangute, have two swim zones in North Goa, and in South Goa, Colva, Majorda, and Varca are beaches with two swim zones.
Anjuna, being a rocky beach, does not have a safe swim zone. Additionally, there are detailed signages at the entrance of every beach that explain the flags’ colour-coding and provide instructions and safety tips. Depending on the sea conditions, Drishti Marine lifesavers further mark no-swim zones
89 easily identifiable boards bearing ‘No Swim Zone’ signages have been erected to caution visitors against wading into the sea along treacherous stretches. In addition to the signboards, red flags have been posted. Among the popular beaches in North Goa, Calangute, Baga and Candolim have four, four and five no-swim zone sign boards respectively. While in South Goa, Palolem and Agonda have four and three no-swim zone signages respectively.
To avoid accidents and deter people from visiting risk-prone sites, Drishti Marine has installed 52 ‘No Selfie’ sign boards in such areas. No Selfie signs are also present at Vagator (six) and Anjuna (five) in North Goa, while Agonda beach in South Goa has six such signs.
Through the year, Drishti Marine lifesavers closely monitor 27 beaches across South Goa and 18 beaches across the North Goa as well as Dudhsagar and Mayem lake 7:00 am to 6:30 pm (until sunset).
South Goa: Baina, Bogmollo, Velsao, Hollant, Arrosim, Majorda, Utorda, Betalbatim, Colva, Benaulim, Taj – Benaulim, Varca, Zalor, Seranbatim Cavellosim, Mobor, Agonda, Betul, Cananguinim, Cabo De Rama, Pallolem, Cola Beach, Patnem, Rajbagh, Talpona, Galgibag and Pollem.
North Goa: Querim, Coco Beach, Arambol, Ashwem and Mandrem, Morjim, Vagator, Anjuna, Baga-1, Baga-2, Calangute, Candolim-1, Candolim-2, Sinquerim, Miramar, Vaiguinim–Donapaula, Siridao and Bambolim as well as Dudhsagar waterfalls and Mayem lake.
A total of 392 individuals have already been rescued from drowning off Goa’s beaches so far this year by Drishti Marine’s lifesavers, for whom safety of tourists and protection of life on Goan beaches is a top priority.
Location
Types of signages
Count
North Goa
No Swim Zone
49
No Selfie Zone
33
South Goa
No Swim Zone
40
No Selfie Zone
19
#ListenToYourLifesaver: Safety tips by Drishti Marine, Goa’s lifesaving agency
Keep a very close eye on children while on the beach and do not allow them to venture into the waters unattended, no matter how shallow the sea may appear.
Avoid choosing a secluded beach which is not manned by a lifeguard. Instead pick a beach that is surrounded by people and never swim alone. Lifesavers usually man such areas.
Stay alert, as lifesavers while patrolling, make announcements to caution and educate people via a public address system installed on their jeeps.
Do not climb onto the rocks during low tide because they are usually slippery and mossy.
If under the influence of alcohol, make sure you do not venture into the water.
Always read and obey the safety signs found at the main entrance of the beach.
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