Surfing in Chennai

Blue and seemingly bottomless, the ocean calls out to us to explore its hidden depths. For those of us who love the water, the aquatic world is our dream destination, with delicate jellyfish fanning out their tendrils, manta rays swimming serenely under the waves, lionfish with elegant spikes and more, splashing about their natural habitat. Scuba diving in Chennai takes you into the mysterious Bay of Bengal and treats you to the beautiful sight of its ocean bed. 

Although you might be ready to begin scuba diving in Chennai, this lovely coastal region does not have many dive sites and the visibility is low. However, right near Chennai is Pondicherry, and this enchanting Union Territory has plenty of stunning dive sights to leave you spellbound and fulfilled. 

So, if scuba diving in Chennai is on your mind and you’re disappointed you can’t dip into the Bay of Bengal, we give you the next best thing with scuba diving in Pondicherry! Scroll through this page to discover the spectacular dive sites that are available in Tamil Nadu. 

You might be familiar with scuba diving but have you ever heard of snorkeling? For those of us that aren’t too comfortable with diving into the mysterious depths of the ocean, snorkeling is a great segue into the exhilarating world of water sports. For snorkeling, you wear a mask and a breathing tube called a snorkel to take in the beautiful aquatic world that lies below the surface of the gentle waves of the ocean. The key difference is how deep you go into the water; snorkelers can catch panoramic vistas of marine life while floating close to the surface while scuba divers immerse themselves deep into the ocean as they explore coral reefs and sea wildlife. 

Although Chennai is surrounded by the frothy curls of the Bay of Bengal, snorkeling in Chennai hasn’t taken off due to strong currents and low visibility. There’s also significant fishing activities that happen near the ‘Detroit of India’, and while snorkeling in Chennai, this can muddy up the water, making your vision cloudy. 

But when you’re a watersports enthusiast, you should know that where there is a will, there is a way and if you’re in this cultural hub, you can still put snorkeling in Chennai on your to-do list. Pondicherry is 163 kms away from Chennai by road and is a beautiful spot for you to snorkel, giving you a chance to catch a glimpse of lionfish, manta rays, red snapper and so much more! If you’re ready to board a flight for a vacation on a beautiful island, catch one to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands which is also located in the Bay of Bengal and provides a fantastic snorkeling and scuba diving experience. 

Browse through our pages on Pondicherry and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and discover the different dive sites that are well worth a visit! 

Located on the Bay of Bengal, this beautiful seaside capital draws you in with its vibrant, energetic South Indian culture. Chennai in Tamil Nadu is more than its iconic Marina beach and for tourists ready to discover the many shades of their travel destination, it can open up hidden secrets that will enrich your journey to this coastal region. 

With long golden beaches, seaside markets filled with fish sellers calling out their wares in cheerful voices, stone temples embedded with rock art and majestic sculptures, and food that carries with its flavours, the taste of this state; sightseeing in Chennai will leave you spellbound. 

Travel to the multi-domed Thousand Lights Mosque, a place of religious worship that lights up the surrounding area with different neon lights so that you feel like you’re looking at a sparkling gem. Sightseeing in Chennai isn’t complete without making your way to the one-of-a-kind Marina Beach, the longest beach in India and one of the longest in the world. Slurp on an ice-cream cone sold beachside and take in the blues of the ocean, as its waves crash gently onto the shore. 

Other great spots for sightseeing in Chennai include Elliot’s Beach, Dakshinachitra, Ashtalakshmi Temple, Valluvar Kottam and for film lovers, MGR Film City! The list goes on and its going to be tough to fit all the spectacular wonders of Chennai in this page, but we’re going to try our best. 

Scroll through our list of the top places to visit in Chennai and discover the tiny special elements about it that make these spots a must visit. 

Have you ever wanted to take control over your own watercraft and sail your way down to a new adventure? Chennai is a beautiful city but after days of walking down roads in the sweltering heat or navigating through throngs of tourists, your heart begins to long for the simplistic beauty of the outdoors, adorned with cooling greenery and water bodies perfect for you to dip your toes into its refreshing depths. Kayaking in Chennai offers you the chance to paddle on serene bays, gently flowing rivers or on placid lakes as softly coloured birds take flight above your head. 

Kayaking in Chennai is fairly new with only one or two spots for you to enjoy kayaking. But this shouldn’t stop you from taking up this adrenaline pumping water sport that will give you a different perspective of Chennai from atop its grayish-blue glistening water. New to kayaking? Kayaking in Chennai is taught by experienced instructors and guides that will make sure you glide across the waters with confidence and all safety measures in place. If you’d love to take up a course in kayaking or try your hand at a different yet exciting water sport, you can check out the Bay of Life Surf School and Ocean Literacy or other surfing/kayaking schools near Chennai and take up a beginners or pro course! 

Steer yourself into a world of fun with kayaking in Chennai.