Scuba Diving at Netrani Island & Banavasi Tour | Plan The Unplanned - April

If you are seeking some underwater adventure and wondering where to go, then we are here to put a pause to your thoughts and take you for the most amazing experience of your life! Well, we believe it’s time that you tick off SCUBA DIVING from your bucket list, and no, you need not travel abroad for that!

Plan The Unplanned is all set to take you for an exciting trip to Netrani Island, which has one of the clearest diving sites in India. Well, for Bangaloreans, this isn’t anything short of an adventure, to know that Karnataka has its own diving site and it’s just stone throw away! Being a coral island, the area is perfectly suited for snorkeling and scuba diving.

DAY 0

Leave from Bangalore at 6.30 PM

 DAY 1

• Reach Banavasi around 7 AM
• Freshen up
• Have Breakfast
• Leave for Unchalli falls
• Rejenuvate at falls
• Have lunch
• Leave to Murudeshwar
• Rest for the Night

DAY 2

• Early Start to the day by a Morning Warm up session
• Freshen Up & have breakfast at a Restaurant around Murudeshwar Beach
• Start your ride to Netrani Islands (20 KM ferry ride)
• Briefing about the dive sites and wildlife / Basic lessons about Scuba Diving will be given by Trained Instructors on the way to the Islands
• Diving at Netrani for 30 to 40 min and snorkelling
• Journey back to Murudeshwar Beach
• Dinner
• Head off to Bangalore and Reach approx by 6:00 AM on Day 3 ( Approx )

SCUBA DIVING

• Onward & Return Boat (Murudeshwar beach – Netrani Island – Murudeshwar beach)
• Light snacks on Boat
• Services of an Internationally certified Scuba Instructor.
• First-aid, Life Jacket, Snorkeling Gear, Scuba diving equipment
• Video and Photos of your diving

STAY

• Accommodation in three/four sharing basis, separate room for men & women at Murudeshwar
• Washrooms/Changing room facility available

MEALS

• Breakfast on Day 1 & Day 2
• Packed Lunch on Day 1 & Day 2
• All meals included will be Veg

TRANSPORT

• A/C Tempo Traveller or Mini-bus with push back seats depending on group size
• Bangalore to Bangalore

OTHER INCLUSIONS

• Trip Leaders from Plan The Unplanned Team

OTHER EXCLUSIONS

• Any kind of insurance
• Personal Expenses (snacks, mineral water etc)
• Other water sports activities
• Anything not included above

GROUP SIZE

• 10-30 Members
• We have an equal male to female ratio for most of our treks
• We require a minimum of 8 members to confirm the event
• In case we fail to obtain the required minimum, full refund or the option to transfer to any other event will be provided. (Option of transfer shall be subject to payment/refund of balance amount if any)

Day 1: Banavasi Tour and Unchalli Falls

Plan The Unplanned presents Banavasi – The First Capital of Karnataka.

We all feed and learn from our Kisans!

India’s heart lies in its villages. Every rural community is steeped in folklore and indigenous craft. The traditional way of life will greatly enrich anyone’s energy. Deep into the roads from Sirsi, lies a small village with a bus stand being the only source of transportation for its people, pineapple the daily snack which the whole village rejoices on, milk freshly brewed from the buffalo every morning and different authentic cuisines at every point of time, all experiences that make one feel like a true Kannadiga.

Let us explore one of the most unseen and unexplored historical places in Karnataka.

The Kadambas were the first indigenous dynasty to use Kannada, the language of the soil, at an administrative leave in the history of Karnataka.

This is Banavasi – the oldest and the First Capital of Karnataka. It lies deep in the rainforests of the Western Ghats with the Varada river flowing around it on three sides.

Existing since 4000 BC, the period of Mahabharata, Banavasi was known as ‘Vanavasika’. Greek geographer Ptolemy mentioned Banavasi as ‘Banousi’ in his famous book in the 1st century A.D. It was called ‘Jayanthipura’ or ‘Vaijayanthi Pura’ during the Kadamba period in the early 4th century A.D. Huen Tsang the Chinese traveller-monk who was in India between 630-644 C.E, visited Konkanapura called Konkanapulo (referred in Chinese scripts) or Banavasi.

It’s an eco-tourism destination which is rustic and rural flavours, and you can look forward to real cultural experience while enjoying the beauty of nature.

The meal which we serve you comprises a wide range of fresh powders and chutneys made of lentils, chillies, tamarind, and oil cake with Rice / Millets. The food is made by local families. It is noncommercial and healthy.

Don’t forget to try the fresh Pineapples. The best Pineapples are grown in Banavasi.

Day 2: Scuba Diving at Netrani Island

If you want to experience Scuba diving, but aren’t quite ready for a certification course, then the Introductory Dive is for you. To do the Introductory Dive, you must be at least 10 years old. No prior experience with Scuba Diving is necessary, swimming is NOT needed but you need to be in good physical health.

You will learn the basic safety guidelines and skills needed to dive, under the direct supervision of a PADI or SSI Professional.

Please be informed that the participants need to go through the self-Assessment medical questionnaire, as it will give them an indication of whether they are medically fit for SCUBA or not. A Medical officers (Doctors) NOC will be required for any of the concerns listed in the medical form is a positive – ‘Yes’.
It will be prudent for individuals to undergo a general check-up to make sure all their readings are within normal range.

Depart for Bangalore by 8 PM on Sunday. Reach Bangalore by 5:00 AM on Monday.

ADVISORY

• Consumption of alcohol, intoxicants and smoking would not be tolerated during the entire course of the journey and the trek. Kindly co-operate with us to make the experience more fun.
• Do not expect any luxuries on the trip. The locations that we host are at remote places and we do our best to arrange the basic facilities. The goal is to be outdoors.
• The Food that shall be provided will be Basic Veg Food. We do not serve Non-Veg Food.
• Put Litter in its place, do not trash your travel.
• Plan The Unplanned shall not be responsible for any of your belongings, valuables, jewellery etc.  Kindly do take care.
• Once registration is done for this event, there will be no-refund
• Each diver is responsible for carrying her/his dive equipment [from shore to boat and from boat to shore]. Each diver is also responsible for the care of her/his equipment. [Prices for lost/Damaged Mask – Rs. 2000; Snorkel –Rs. 1000; Wet Suit – Rs. 5000; Other equipment as per market rate]
• Persons bringing their own dive kits are responsible for them. Plan The Unplanned will not store/wash personal dive kits.
• Children under 12 and not diving are discouraged on our boats. No supervision is possible and weathers conditions/equipment/boats may be hazardous to children.
• Dive sites and in water activities are chosen based on the judgement of the Instructor/Boat Captain.
• In the event of cancellation due to Naval activities or adverse weather conditions and acts of God, a refund will be given for portions of the SCUBA Diving activities not completed.

• In the case of traffic delays or breakdowns, expect a little delay in reaching the destination.