Visually impaired students experience the sea for the first time

Panaji: For 16 visually impaired students from the National Association for the Blind (NAB), the sea came alive not through sight, but through sound, touch, and the feeling of an ocean of possibilities. The roar of waves, the rush of cool water against their skin, and the soft crunch of sand beneath their feet marked a series of unforgettable firsts for them at Dona Paula’s Hawaii beach.
Drishti Marine created a special swim zone for the students as a part of an initiative towards inclusive recreation. This initiative builds upon the earlier scuba training given to the students, along with a river cruise that aims to make the visually impaired students comfortable in water. The young students experienced swimming in the sea for the first time besides boating and racing amongst themselves.
“I didn’t know how to swim, but now I know. I liked floating and playing with the small boats,” said an eleven-year-old boy, Gauresh Gawde, after his day out on the beach. Drishti Marine, which organised the outing along with the NAB, said that the opportunity offered the students a chance to connect with the ocean through “senses often overlooked, yet deeply attuned” in visually impaired children.
Teachers accompanying the students observed a clear change in the children’s confidence and energy. “Our students are connected with the environment. It gave them a new sense of joy,” said Resha Vernekar, NAB’s music and computer teacher.
Drishti Marine said it plans to conduct similar inclusive events for senior citizens and other underserved groups in Goa. “My favourite part was the rescue board. I loved playing in the sand with my friends,” said Misfaar Bagwan, 11, another student.
To ensure the safety of the students, a full team of trained lifesavers and rescue equipment was kept on standby. “We wanted the children to have fun but also be safe. We had rescue boards, a jet ski, and a rigid inflatable boat. All the children wore life jackets, and 8–10 qualified lifesavers were inside the demarcated swim zone with them,” said Ananyaa Bath, a 29-year-old Drishti Marine lifesaver.
President of NAB Goa, Joe Noronha, said that for most of his students, this was their first-time experience.