About Institute

The National Institute of Watersports (NIWS) has been setup by the Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India as an apex institute for meeting the challenges of fast evolving leisure-based watersporting in India . Since inception, Institute has been endeavouring creatively to fulfill the mandates. With the focused strategies and actions, it has already emerged to position itself as nodal body in India in matters related to developing and promoting watersports as part of the burgeoning tourism business. 

This Institute is first of its kind in South East Asia . It performs a variety of functions: impart training in a wide range of leisure-based watersporting, prepare development report for the state government agencies, feasibility study for the private entrepreneurs, framing safety norms, watersports awareness campaigns, water safety campaigns, inspection and certification of watersports centers and so on.

The Institute has been envisaged to function as a ‘Model’ organization for manpower development and to collaborate with the stakeholders to develop and promote leisure-watersporting. It also strives to set high standards of the sporting and safety in addition to guiding the private entrepreneurs in matters of watersports business. Those include: preparation business development reports, feasibility studies, qualified manpower, training infrastructure, state of art watersport equipment and specialized repair and berthing facilities. The institute is in the process of expanding its activities to other adventure sports comprising of watersports, wintersports, aerosports and mountain sports so as to transform itself into an Institute of 'Adventure' sports. 

Presently, training is offered in the entire range of watersport disciplines such as powerboat handling, sailing, windsurfing, water skiing, SCUBA diving, river rafting and kayaking. The certification in life-saving techniques for watersport operators, beach life-guarding, pool life-guarding and water-park are very unique in content and training pedagogy. A total of 22 courses have been developed and admissions to those are opened to the watersport professionals, enthusiastic entrepreneurs and the tourists.

General Information 

(a) Venue: Most training programmes are conducted at Institute's premises at Caranzalem, near Dona Paula Circle in Panjim (Tel No 91-832-2453898). However, some of the basic training programmes requiring safer inland water conditions and specialized training programmes like river rafting and SCUBA diving are conducted at suitable off-campus locations. Location and other details of such courses are intimated to the participants well in time.

(b) Accommodation: The Institute presently does not have own boarding & lodging facility. Therefore, trainees are advised to make arrangements themselves. However, Institute would provide assistance to trainees for arranging their stay at private accommodation(s) near the institute's premise. The dormitory accommodation and catering charges would be nominal and the trainees shall settle such payments directly with the hotel/ caterer.

(c) Confirmation of admission to the course: Confirmation to the course applied by the candidates will be confirmed only on deposit of required course fees. 

(d) Mode of payment: Course fees are to be paid by Demand Draft only and the same be drawn favouring the National Institute of Watersports payable at Panaji. 

Arrival Information 

By Bus: From Panjim interstate bus stand, person can board local bus from near-by Kadamba bus stand to reach NIWS training campus at Caranzalem. It is located nearly 8 KM away from Kadamba bus stand, and all buses plying between Panjim and Dona Paula can be boarded. Person may get down at ' NIO Circle ' stop or a stop before. Auto rickshaw, Motorcycle (popularly called ‘pilot’) and taxis are also available at Panjim bus terminal. 

By Train: Thivim/ Karmali/ Madgaon are major railway stations in the Konkan Railway. Karmali is nearest railway point (about 18 KM) to Panjim, but not all trains stop here. Visitors/ trainees may confirm the stoppage of trains. But, all trains passing through Goa had stoppage at Madgaon. From Madgoan, economic way of reaching Panjim (approximately 40 km) is by the non-stop shuttle bus service, which leaves from Madgaon Kadamba bus stand. Taxies and rickshaw are available but fare needs to be bargained. Those getting down at Karmali or Thivim railway stations can board a Kadamba bus or hire other conveyances outside the station to reach Panjim bus stand.