Goa’s state government-appointed lifesaving agency, Drishti Marine, has relaunched its guided sea-swimming initiative, ‘Sagar Safar’, a community programme that invites visitors to swim alongside trained lifesavers and gain first-hand awareness about sea conditions, flags and safety protocols.
Conducted every day at 11 am and 4 pm, Sagar Safar sessions are being held across six popular beaches in Goa, namely Baga, Calangute, Sinquerim and Candolim beaches in North Goa and Benaulim and Colva beaches in South Goa. The hour-long guided experience is designed to help locals and tourists overcome their fear of the sea, understand currents and build familiarity with beach safety practices, with the overall goal of reducing drowning incidents off the state’s coastline.
Participants are required to enrol directly with lifesavers stationed on the beach, while live announcements in various languages via the mobile Aurus AI-bot will alert beachgoers about upcoming sessions. In addition, QR codes displayed at lifeguard towers and Drishti Marine’s vehicles will direct visitors to the Sagar Safar website for additional details.
Originally launched as ‘Swim With Lifesavers’ in 2021, the initiative has now returned in an expanded and comprehensive format following overwhelmingly positive feedback from earlier participants. Many had described the experience as both exhilarating and reassuring, especially for first-time swimmers and visitors from non-coastal regions who are often unfamiliar with sea conditions.
According to Navin Awasthi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Drishti Marine, the decision to revive and rebrand the programme stems from its potential to save lives while encouraging responsible enjoyment of Goa’s coastline.
“Through Sagar Safar, we aim to create a stronger relationship between people and the sea. The idea is to help them appreciate the ocean, but also respect its power. Our lifesavers guide participants through safe swimming techniques, explain flag colours and demonstrate how to identify rip currents. The goal is simple — to ensure that every person who enters the water does so with awareness and confidence,” said Awasthi.
Each Sagar Safar session includes a safety briefing, a guided swim with buoyancy aids and life jackets and concludes with a brief debriefing session on sea behaviour. The format encourages participants to engage directly with the state’s lifesaving force, an effort to not only promote safer beaches but also foster respect for the lifesavers who protect them.
The Drishti Marine CEO added the initiative fits into the agency’s larger goal of ensuring the safety of beachgoers, while simultaneously promoting ocean literacy among residents and visitors. The guided swims are being conducted throughout the year, except during the monsoon months when swimming is prohibited due to rough seas.
