Port Blair Oct 29: The turquoise waters of North Bay are set to come alive on November 1, 2025, as the Department of Tourism, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, in collaboration with the Sports Authority of India and Andaman Water Sports Adventures Pvt. Ltd., launches an exhilarating Kayak Festival under the theme “Paddle to Paradise: Explore, Engage, Conserve.”
Designed to celebrate skill, safety, and teamwork, the event will bring together the Islands’ best registered and certified kayak guides and instructors in a spirited competition that highlights precision, endurance, and rescue readiness — key elements in the region’s growing adventure tourism sector.
The festival aims to promote professional excellence, camaraderie, and environmental consciousness among licensed kayak operators from North Bay, Swaraj Dweep, Shaheed Dweep, Sri Vijaya Puram, and beyond. It also serves as a live refresher in navigation skills, safety protocols, and eco-friendly kayaking practices.
Four adrenaline-pumping events will headline the day — the Obstacle Course Race, Capsize Challenge, Tug of War, and the Out & Back Beach Start — each testing participants’ control, coordination, and power on the waves. Winners will receive certificates and cash prizes of ₹8,000, ₹5,000, and ₹3,000 respectively.
To make the celebration even more engaging, tourists and visitors can enjoy special discounted kayak rides at just ₹400 per person for 35–45 minutes throughout the day. Lifeguards and safety boats will be stationed along the course, ensuring a safe and spectacular show of skill and spirit.
The Department of Tourism has invited locals, stakeholders, and adventure enthusiasts to witness the spectacle and cheer for the islanders’ homegrown talent. Registrations for the competition are free, and forms can be obtained from the Adventure Water Sports Cell (Directorate of IP&T) or from the SAI Kayak & Canoe Coach at Sri Vijaya Puram.
With the rhythm of paddles slicing through crystal waters, “Paddle to Paradise” promises not just a competition — but a celebration of adventure, conservation, and island pride.
