Imagine yourself swinging more than 100 feet above the ocean. As the boat stops, you steadily flow downwards and just when you are about to plunge into the water, the boat zooms again swinging you back into the air. 

This is the exhilarating sport of parasailing where you get to fly like a bird with your wings open to capture an experience of a lifetime.

The rider is hitched to a parachute like canopy called as parasail which in turn is attached to a motorboat or a jeep in parasailing.  As the vehicle moves, the parasail soars into the air. All you have to do is snap yourself into a comfortable harness attached to the parasail and enjoy free flying as the vehicle speeds away. Depending upon the length of the tow rope connecting the vehicle to the parasail one can fly up to hundreds of feet in the air. 

Parasailing primarily is of two types- Terrestrial and Aquatic. In aquatic parasailing the parasail is attached to a motorboat whereas in terrestrial it’s attached to a jeep. Whatever the type be, the sheer thrill and excitement offered by this sport makes it a popular family sport as well as a hot favorite amongst adventure enthusiasts.

These days parasailing is more of a joyride than a sport. With some basic training and equipments in hand one can experience the thrills offered by it. Some necessary equipment required for parasailing are a parasail chute, harness, rope, yoke, carabineers and a vehicle to which the sail is attached.

India offers a plethora of locations for parasailing. In Maharashtra there is Matheran and Kamshet. Then there are some spectacular beaches in Goa for this sport. Himachal Pradesh in North India encompasses a number of parasailing locations like Kangra Valley, Garhwal, Solan and Kullu. Moving West, Rajasthan again offers wonderful locations like Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Udaipur. Uttranchal is another good location for parasailing in India.

Parasailing provides an enthralling experience where one can transform into a human kite fulfilling the lust of free flying. But make sure to take all precautions so that your parasailing experience is contended and complete. Always use good quality licensed equipments and practice with a certified parasailing company. 

So now billowing high into the blue sky is no longer a dream. Try parasailing and feel the vast blue at a hand stretch distance.

What can be more fascinating than venturing into the deep blue ocean with its diverse marine life? The joy of watching rich flora and fauna of the sea in their natural habitat is both thrilling and challenging. In addition, the very thought of floating like a fish amidst the mysterious aquatic life is unparalleled.

Scuba diving gives us this chance to delve into the wonders that lie beneath the water’s surface. From oceans and seas to lakes and hidden caves, those who scuba, get a chance to see things that can only be imagined from the land.

The word scuba, as the ardent water sport fan would know, is an acronym for self contained underwater breathing apparatus. It refers to the device used to breathe underwater. Earlier this technique was used for biological or archeological research. But lately it has developed into an exciting water sport and is gaining tremendous popularity.

Exploring the unknown, having a tete-a-tete with diverse marine creatures and   venturing into the untouched, unheard world underwater is what scuba diving is all about. However it can be clubbed with exciting activities like underwater photography and fish identification.

To dive into the mystifying sea of adventure all you need is your scuba diving equipment which includes a wet suit, fin, mask, oxygen cylinder, snorkel, a knife, a pair of leather/canvas gloves, underwater flashlights, dive tables and dive watch. No matter whether you are an amateur or a professional the underwater experience is thrilling at all stages. So just don your scuba gear and get rolling.

Spanning the mighty waters of the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal, Indian subcontinent serves an array of some of the finest beaches, cliff promontories, mangroves, backwaters, jewel like island groups and marine life. With all this to offer India has carved a unique niche for itself in the adventure tourism market. The sheer variety of marine life coupled with exceptional locations adds to the ecstasy of water sport enthusiasts.

For a complete and fun filled experience with scuba diving one should take all necessary precautions. In case of beginners, always perform the activity under expert supervision. Danger there is, but only enough to add the sense of adventure and excitement. With your the scuba gear in place you are all set to have an experience of a life time.

There is a whole new world underwater for you to discover, so don’t think, just dive in!

Wilderness First Responder: A First-Hand Account

Tarsh Williams is Manager, Outdoors at Wildcraft. An HR professional who chose to follow his heart into the hills, he runs Wildcraft’s adventure-based training programs. Here he speaks of the Wilderness First Responder Program he underwent that equips you with skills necessary to administer first aid and treatment when conventional care may not be at hand.

One of the best places in the world to learn about the outdoors and wilderness adventure is the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) in Wyoming, USA. I’ve been among the fortunate few from India who has got a chance to go through a 120 day semester that covers everything from winter camping to wilderness medicine.

The Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course is one of the memorable programs I went through. 30 participants and 80 hours didn’t sound particularly out of the ordinary until it actually began and I realized that it was rigorous to a point of being extreme! We put up in a ranch in Wyoming, one of America’s most scenic states, but what we were about to go through was anything but scenic!

I remember one exercise where 3 members or our class were chosen to be volunteers who would subject themselves to extreme cold water to bring on hypothermia and it was our responsibility that we took action required.