Do you believe in magic : SCUBA diving at Malvan
Getting there:
In December 2016, we welcomed an unexpected notification for a
two-day SCUBA event closer to home. Fast forward three months of anticipation,
Christmas and new year and the night of 10th February 2017 arrived.
We, 12 participants were about to embark upon a laborious journey towards our
neighbouring state for two days of fun. Malvan is the southernmost town in
Sindhudurg District in Maharashtra and is well known for Sindhudurg Fort. Our
journey began with a 12 hour train ride to Balgaum starting from Bangalore City
Station, followed by a 5 hour bus ride to Sawantwadi through Ghat sections. We
stopped briefly for comfort breaks where we relished Vada pavs and tea. Upon
reaching Sawantwadi, we settled into another bus that would take us towards
Kudal in half an hour. When we reached Kudal, it was way past our estimated
time of arrival and upon our unwillingness to embark another bus journey, we
decided to make our last leg of journey a bit more exciting. The 12 of us then
herded into a good’s carrier vehicle, making quite a spectacle, as we took the
last hour ride towards Malvan.
The day before:
We reached our guesthouse late in the afternoon and after sorting
our rooms, we quickly freshened up and set out in search of any restaurant that
would serve us lunch at 5 pm. Obviously, the only available food was pav. Being
ravenous enough, we ate to our heart’s fill and rushed to catch the last ferry
towards Sindhudurg fort. The fort is a massive stand-alone stone structure
situated in the Arabian Sea. It offered picturesque views of the sun set along the
waves of the sea. After spending time in the fort we took the last ferry back
to the shore. We spent the rest of the evening playing Frisbee on the beach.
Before we knew it, our stomachs reminded us that it was dinner time and we headed
out in search of a good restaurant. The local cuisine was delicious, especially
the seafood. After dinner we sauntered along the beach enjoying the breeze, the
moonlight and creepy stories. We finally returned to our guesthouse around 11pm
and settled in for a good night’s sleep.
SCUBA day:
We decided to have an early start for SCUBA. Around 8 am, after a
light meal, we headed out to board our ferry which would take us toward the swath
of SCUBA. On our boat the instructor briefed us about the process, the gesticulation,
safety measures etc. The dive depth was around 25 - 30 feet and suitable for
beginners. We were even given a brief training of how to breathe under water.
Every individual was assigned a diver and each of us was given 20 minutes under
water. As nobody in the group had dove before, we were filled with anticipation.
But seeing others successfully completing, we were getting more relieved.
Being underwater is truly magical. It is mesmerising to realise one
has been transported to a whole new dimension. Personally, I was overwhelmed
with the colours of the fish and reefs and the tranquillity under water. Being
surrounded by so much beauty, the mind achieves a state of zen. Although the
water is not extremely clea, it does not entirely impair visibility or reduce
the feeling of awe. It is natural to feel pressure in your ears and your mouth
growing dry. But it is imperative to stay calm and enjoy the moment. We were thrilled
as all 12 of us took turns and successfully completed the SCUBA. We were also
greeted by a smaller boat vending vada pav and tea in the middle of the sea and
enjoyed our snack as we lazed on the boat.
By the time we returned to shore, we still had enough time to parasail,
which most of us intended to try. There were various other water sports but the
majority preferred parasailing. After finishing, we returned to our guesthouse
to freshen up and pack up for our long journey back. We boarded the tempo
traveller that would take us back to Belgaum from where we would take a train.
We stopped briefly for lunch and continued our journey making it right in time
for our train to Bangalore. The day
ended with hilarious conversations, dinner and sharing our SCUBA experiences.
We returned to Bangalore on Monday morning at 7.30 am, already devastated by
the throes of the coming week although our spirits were relishing the excitement
of the past weekend.
SCUBA tips for newbies:
Getting into water may cause trepidation for those who cannot swim.
However, it does not mean that one cannot experience the underwater world at
Malvan. The deal is to completely trust the diver and not attempt to swim. Under water, it helps to concentrate on breathing
and ignoring the pressure. The body slowly gets acclimatized to the water pressure
and you will enjoy the experience more. The reefs and corals are not smooth to
touch and there is a small chance you may bruise your legs. It is better to dress
comfortably, if not in wetsuits, which the company offers.
Lastly, it is prudent to be ecologically conscious and enjoy the
beauty of nature without contaminating it. Avoid littering and also refrain
from using grooming products that largely contain plastic microbeads, before
entering the water. These seeping microbeads absorb toxins in millions and are
consumed by fish, which is not only detrimental to them but also finds its way
onto our dinner plates. The oceans are beautiful and need to be preserved in
their pristine state. If we want to continue to enjoy the treasures of the
seas, we must repair the damages we as human have caused!
Written By : Aasiya Aslam
Organized By : Kamal Tanwani,Jigeesha Gottipati & Raksha Kondagal
Date of event : 11-12 Feb 2017
Place : Malvan
Pictures : BTC FB Page
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