 Walk in the sea
 H2O launched India’s first-ever underwater sea walk at Baina beach in Goa on January 8 in the presence of Karl Vaz, chairman, MPDA. Now, for Rs 1,500 one can walk underwater for 20 minutes - up close with the pristine and beautiful water world.
Swimmers and non-swimmers alike can enjoy this unique opportunity to explore the heart of the sea safely. Baina beach has been chosen for the underwater sea walk after considering the visibility and safety factors.
That 85 per cent of H2O’s sales are derived from the ticket priced at below Rs 60 for the motorboat ride in Mumbai, demonstrates the company’s intentions and efforts to make water sports accessible to the common man.
Baina Watersport Festival, a two-week festival, was organised by H2O in collaboration with Marmagoa Muncipal Council (MMC) and Karl Vaz, MLA and chairman, MPDA, in order to introduce high-quality tourism at Baina beach. The festive occasion has been marked by the launch of underwater sea walk which is claimed to be the first-of-its-kind in India.
India is one of the fastest growing countries in terms of the tourism demand and there is a huge vacuum that needs to be filled in the leisure sports and entertainment sector, says Rajiv Somani, managing director, H2O.
"The sea walk is yet another achievement in revolutionalising the water sport culture in India. It will boost the tourism industry and thereby contribute towards the economic growth of the country," added Rajiv
Somani.
Karl Vaz said, "The launch of the underwater sea walk has enhanced Goa's standing as one of the top tourist destinations in the world."
Somani said H2O, with its launch of the underwater sea walk, was well on its way to becoming India’s largest and safest, environment-friendly ‘adventure sports’ company. Conforming to the latest international standards, the underwater sea walk promises a thrilling experience previously only found abroad.
H2O, a company incorporated in July 2000, is a special purpose company formed inter-alia to develop and operate Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation’s (MTDC) water sports centre at the prestigious Girgaum
Chowpatty.
H2O was chosen by the Indian Navy to be a part of the international Fleet Review in February 2001. Commercial trials were begun on April 1, 2001, and H2O was inaugurated on May 1 by the deputy chief minister of
Maharashtra.
R Rangaraj
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