Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: More than 800 beachgoers, including locals and tourists, have enhanced their ocean safety awareness through Drishti Marine’s guided sea-swimming initiative, Sagar Safar, a community-oriented programme aimed at promoting responsible and safe engagement with the sea.
Since its relaunch on November 17 last year, the programme has benefitted 808 participants across six popular beaches in Goa. Colva beach recorded the highest participation, with 719 people taking part in the sessions. This was followed by Sinquerim (35), Benaulim (33), Candolim (11), Baga (8) and Calangute (2).
Conducted free of cost every day at 11 am and 4 pm, the hour-long Sagar Safar sessions allow participants to enter the sea alongside trained lifesavers. The programme focuses on helping people overcome fear of the sea while learning about currents, flag systems, safe swimming limits and basic lifesaving protocols. It is open to both residents and tourists and is fully supervised by Drishti Marine’s professional lifesaving teams.
Participants can enrol directly with on-duty lifesavers at the beaches. Beachgoers are informed about upcoming sessions through live announcements in multiple languages made via the Aurus AI-bot, while QR codes displayed at lifeguard towers and Drishti Marine vehicles provide access to detailed online information about the initiative.
Sharing his experience, tourist Prashant Thakare, who participated in a session at Sinquerim beach, said the initiative offers a unique and memorable experience. “The Sagar Safar experience is truly beautiful and enjoyable. Drishti Marine is creating memorable moments by offering a guided swimming experience right at the beach. It is something everyone should experience at least once,” he said.
Originally launched in 2021 as Swim With Lifesavers, the initiative has returned in an expanded format as Sagar Safar following sustained public interest and positive feedback. The programme has been particularly beneficial for visitors from non-coastal regions and first-time swimmers who are often unfamiliar with sea behaviour and risks.
Drishti Marine Chief Executive Officer Navin Awasthi said the strong participation reflects a growing awareness among beachgoers about the importance of ocean safety. “When people understand currents, flag systems and the limits of safe swimming, they make better decisions in the water. The response shows that people are keen to learn and take responsibility for their own safety,” he said.
Each session includes a safety briefing, a guided swim using buoyancy aids and life jackets, and an interactive discussion where lifesavers explain rip currents, sea conditions and emergency response basics.
The Sagar Safar programme aligns with Drishti Marine’s broader objective of reducing drowning incidents while promoting ocean literacy among residents and visitors. The guided swims are conducted throughout the year, except during the monsoon season when swimming is prohibited due to rough sea conditions.
