Colva Beach recorded the highest participation with 1,544 beachgoers, followed by Calangute with 1,110; the programme has recorded 6,833 participants across two seasons so far.
~ Free guided sea-swimming initiative introduces residents and tourists to ocean behaviour, safe swimming practices and lifesaving protocols under the supervision of trained lifesavers.
Panaji, November 2026: In just 50 days, as many as 2,966 beachgoers, including local residents and tourists, have already joined Drishti Marine’s lifesaver-led educative swimming sessions on Goa’s beaches this season, more than three-quarters of the 3,867 who took part across the whole of the previous season.
Between September and October, the programme, conducted by Drishti Marine recorded 2,966 participants across six beaches, with Colva and Calangute, the most popular beaches in South and North Goa, respectively, accounting for the bulk of the participation.
The response adds to the programme’s growing reach since its introduction. During the previous tourist season, which ran from November 19, 2025 to June 1, 2026, Sagar Safar recorded 3,867 participants across seven beaches.
Over the last two months, Colva Beach recorded the highest turnout with 1,544 participants, followed by Calangute with 1,110. Utorda attracted 185 participants, Baga 119, Miramar seven and Benaulim one. The latest season registered 654 enrolments and 612 participant feedback submissions.
“Visitors come to Goa wanting to experience the joys of the sea and the Sagar Safar programme helps them go back with knowledge and respect for it too. Alongside trained Drishti Marine lifesavers, participants learn about sea conditions, currents, flag systems and safe swimming practices. That builds confidence in people unfamiliar with the sea, particularly visitors from inland regions and first-time swimmers. With 6,833 participants so far, more beachgoers now enter the water better informed. We are grateful to Goa Tourism for its continued support for this initiative,” said Navin Awasthi, CEO of Drishti Marine.
Across the two seasons, the initiative has now recorded 1,882 registrations and 6,833 participant visits, The figures emphasise the reach of an initiative carried out by trained Drishti Marine lifesavers that uses supervised swimming experiences to familiarise beachgoers with the sea and the precautions required to enter it safely.
The programme also serves as an opportunity for lifesavers to engage directly with beachgoers and explain how an understanding of ocean behaviour can help prevent accidents. By combining a supervised swimming experience with practical safety education, the initiative seeks to encourage more responsible interaction with Goa’s coastal waters.
Originally introduced in 2021 as ‘Swim With Lifesavers’, the initiative was relaunched in an expanded format as Sagar Safar, building on sustained interest in the guided swimming experience. It forms part of Drishti Marine’s wider efforts to promote drowning prevention and improve awareness of beach and water safety among residents and visitors.