Adventure Sports in Pondicherry

Some famous adventure activities in Pondicherry are-

Scuba Diving: Pondicherry is known for its enchanting marine life. Thus, Scuba Diving is one of the best adventure activities to do in Pondicherry. When you dive into the piercing blue waters of the Bay of Bengal, you explore a whole other world and come across exotic sea creatures such as sea snakes, kingfish, lionfish, manta rays, sharks, dolphins, colorful reefs, etc. All the divers are given basic training by the experts before diving in the middle of the ocean. The charges generally start from INR 5,000 and can go up to INR 90,000, depending on the package you choose. The minimum time required for the dive ranges between 2 to 4 days.

Cycling: The vibrant city of Pondicherry is best explored through cycling. There are guided cycling tours provided by many companies. When you cycle through the city, you get an opportunity to get to know the culture, architecture, and heritage of the city in depth. Unlike other modes of transportation, cycling also lets you traverse through the narrow but colorful lanes of Pondicherry. Also, the French, Muslim and Tamil quarters are worth a cycling-tour. The tour should ideally start in the morning. However, you can start your tour at any time of the day. The bikes are usually offered on rent and look vintage in every sense of the word. Do not forget to carry a camera with you to capture the gloriousness of the city.

Paintball: One of the best adventure activities near Pondicherry is paintball. Escape the daily routine of your life by shooting by paintball guns across the room. It is even better when you are a big group and want to indulge in some thrilling activities. The minimum people required to play the game is usually 4. Basically, you are given a gear, a paintball gun and are divided into teams before you head into the warzone and start shooting the other party. You will also be given the details and rules to follow while playing. It is great fun! Also, you learn how to build a great team. Isn’t that incredible?

Quad Biking: One of the most popular Pondicherry adventure activities, Quad biking is an extreme sport that requires the rider to sit on a seat resembling that of a motorbike. The only difference is that a quad bike has four wheels. It is also known as ATV, which is short for All-Terrain Vehicle.’
The 8X8 ATVs in Pondicherry will make you feel like the Incredible Hulk and you will enjoy having that kind of power when you drive the giant bike across an intense hilly terrain. What a rush it is to drive a 330 cc engine over diverse trail. If there is one word to describe Quad Biking, it’s thrilling!

Surfing: Spending a day in the ocean and under the sun while learning how to surf seems like a great idea, doesn’t it? And it also helps you in getting that body shape you crave—yes, surfing in Pondicherry is one of the best things to do on your vacation. The surfing packages are usually of one day, which includes training followed by surfing amongst the ocean waves. You are accompanied by a trained instructor. Life jackets and surfboards are also part of the package. One can take the lessons privately as well as in a group. It is recommended to wear round neck t-shirts and board shorts to be comfortable at the time of the activity.

There are numerous places in Pondicherry that offer camping. The most famous of them all is in and around Auroville. You will have to acquire permits for the authorities to pitch a tent in the area but it’s all worth it once you spend a night amongst a sky full of stars and the pure Auroville. Some other camping places in Pondicherry are Chunnambar, Le Aham, Rock Beach, Ousteri Lake, Serenity Beach, Promenade Beach, Bharathi Park, and Backwaters of Pondicherry.

There are a lot of hotels, homestays and other accommodations that arrange for camping for the visitors. It is highly recommended to add bonfire to your camping itinerary, along with a menu of local food to make your camping experience a night to remember.

Yes, you can go for scuba diving in Pondicherry. In fact, it is one of the most popular adventure activities in Pondicherry for you to indulge in. Some of the best places to go scuba diving in Pondicherry include Temple Reef, Coral Shark Reef, Arvind's Wall, and The Hole. Rock Beach, Promenade Beach, and Karaikal Beach are quite famous for scuba diving adventures.

The duration of each dive can last from 20 minutes to 2 hours. The cost of scuba diving in Pondicherry varies from INR 5,000 for a day’s training and dive to INR 85,000 (approx.) for a full-fledged two-week course.

The best time to visit Pondicherry is during the months of October to March. The weather is at its best during this time of the year. The temperature drifts between 15 - 30 degree Celsius, which is an ideal time to indulge in some popular adventure activities in Pondicherry such as Scuba Diving, surfing, snorkeling, canoeing, kayaking, cycling, etc.

The cost of surfing in Pondicherry ranges from INR 1,500 per person to INR 20,000 per person, depending on the package you choose. The minimum cost of the package is generally INR 1,500, which includes a day’s training, surfing, a trainer, and surfing gear and is usually applicable to group training.

Private lessons generally start from INR 2,000 per person. There are training packages from 5 days to 15 days, both for groups as well as private lessons.

The best adventure activities for kids in Pondicherry are wall climbing, trekking, paintball, canoeing, camping, sailing, parasailing, go karting, boating, cycling, yachting, high rope traversing, surfing, scuba diving, swimming, rock climbing, and kayaking.

Apart from the above activities, kids can also visit numerous places in Pondicherry, such as, Kallialay School, Auroville, Pondicherry Museum, Dune Eco Village, Roof Gardens, The Pelican Playhouse, and Sita Cultural Center.

Pondicherry has a tropical climate. So, cotton clothes are the best to wear during your visit to the city. Men are recommended to wear pants and shirts and women can wear Indian clothes, pants, skirts, dresses, blouses, tops, etc. In any case, wear clothes you feel most comfortable in. If you are going for adventure activities near Pondicherry, then wear clothes recommended by your trainer.

The best place to do snorkeling in Pondicherry is Aravind’s Wall. The place is well-known for its diverse range of sea creatures, such as parrotfish, eels, lionfish, triggerfish, whales, reef sharks, sea turtles, sea snakes, and rays. It is also known as the ‘go-to-destination’ for snorkeling.

Since snorkeling is one of the top Pondicherry adventure activities of all time, there are numerous places and packages that offer this adventure sport. A few other recommendations for snorkeling in Pondicherry are The Hole, Danny’s Eel Sanctuary, Temple Adventures, and Cool Shark Reef. You can also opt for professional snorkeling lessons and become an instructor of the same.