Scuba Diving at Malvan
Activity: Scuba Diving
Location: Sindhubazar Malvan Beach
Depth: 15 feet
Just like all other water sports, SCUBA diving was there
since long on my “” List. Unlike water sports which can be availed at many
beaches in Maharashtra, Scuba diving is available at only few beaches like
Malvan, Vengurla. Outside Maharashtra, this underwater activity is avaialbe at
Goa, Karwar, Netrani Islands and Andaman Islands.
We had dropped at Sawantwadi in Sindhudurg for our 2 days
annual office trip to celebrate New Year party. There along with other leisure
activities we had scuba on our list. But due to unavoidable circumstances we
were late in a day to reach the Malvan beach. Also we wasted our time indulging
in other water sports like Banana ride, Jets ski, Water scooter etc. and hence
there was hardly any time left for scuba. As it gets dark at 6 pm in winters by
the time we reached for scuba, it was 5: 45 and so we have to abandon our plans
for it. We all were very disappointed to know that, but could not help it.
Next day our entire group had plans to visit Amboli Hill
station, but I had decided to go for Scuba. So after lunch myself and one of my
accomplice Gaurang Sawant we managed to rent a moped fascimo to ride to Malvan.
The plan was to also explore surrounding places if time permitted us.
It is 50 kms straight ride to Malvan from Sawantwadi. So
after refilling our moped’s fuel tank, we both set towrads Malvan via Kudal
Malvan road.
The road to my surprise are all well maintained. Leaving few
patches, the roads are in good shape. Also there was not much of a traffic on
this route. So much so that we covered
the distance of 50 Kms in straight on hour. There on the way we explored Karli
River and bridge on it.
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| Our Riding map |
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| Myself, Gaurang sawant with our ride |
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| Serene Karli River |
Riding on the road through green cover was pleasure in itself. Being winter season the climate was very pleasant. We reached Malvan Jetty around 3 pm. But being 31st December, all bookings were full. So with help of one of our local acquaintance we managed to get priority bookings. We were booked with agency named Mangalmurti Scuba Diving and there we waited for our ferry to arrive. Once we boarded our ferry, we reached the spot for scuba diving in 10 – 15 minutes.
There the organisers had another boat with participants awaiting our ferry to leave for beach. The scuba location is just near Sindhudurg Fort on its east side.
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| Myself at the scuba diving spot - Sindhudurg fort entry jetty in backdrop |
We were in all a group of 10 participants for the
activity. Once we reached the scuba diving spot our organising staff were to
take lunch break. So after their lunch break, the activity was started. There
were only four sets of SCUBA gears available there, so organisers took
participants in batches of 3-4 participants each time.
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| Just to begin scuba |
Firstly each participant is geared with metal belts to
increase their weights so that they sink in the water. Then they are geared
with Scuba Black Dive Mask followed by jacket with oxygen cylinder attached to
it. Then the guide accompanies the
participant on floating tubes to diving spot and instructs him about breathing
and safety measures in case of underwater emergency. He also provides for mock
up to breathe fluently through one’s mouth. Here in the scuba mask one’s nose is
chocked, so one has to breathe through one’s mouth. Both inhalation and
exhalation has to be done through mouth. However this is easy said than done.
As we all are accustomed to breathe through nose and mouth both, here this
change is not accounted by our body. One has to consciously try to breathe
through mouth or else you end up choking yourself.
Once you are at the diving spot, the guide releases the
participant off the floating tube diving point I had issue trying to breathe
through mouth. With water all around and nose choked, it can be deadly moment
to be in if breathing is not done properly. There my guide instructed me again
and let me off the float to sink in the water. There under water it was another
world all together. With corals and rocks at the bottom there were variety of
fishes all around. One were to hold onto
the rock at the sea bed and experience the thrill of the activity. It was one
of the wonderful moments to be with fish and experiencing the seas with fishes’
view point. The fishes were past me. There I tried catching few of them, but
you can’t catch them there as they zoomed past faster than you think. After all
it is their world. There were 3 varieties pf fish at that diving spot viz,
spotted yellow, black and grey. But the waters were not that crystal clear as I
expected; may be because many batches have visited the spot before us making
the spot slightly turbid. Also we were doing this activity in the evening with low
light intensity. So after 10 minutes of underwater exploration our underwater
photographer approached me for photography session. By now I was begun to enjoy
the activity after 15 minutes, my guide pulled out of the water and drifted me
towards the boat. There it was end of the activity.
See my scuba diving video below.
By the time all participants completed the activity, it
was 6:00 PM. Our organisers after repacking all equipment’s we all left for the
beach. There at the beach in the organiser’s office, one can get a copy of the
video and photographs free of cost. There after collecting our videos, with all
memorable experience, we both set again on our return journey to reach
Sawantwadi by 7:30 PM. We promised to repeat this wonderful activity again in
the future.
Tips to one’s planning for scuba diving:
- . One need not necessarily know to swim to experience scuba diving.
- . One need to breathe through mouth and hence participant with asthma, or other breathing problems may encounter few issues with the activity.
- . Scuba diving activity can be in experienced to its fullest in the morning hours when water clarity is at maximum.
- . There are 2 types of Scuba diving gears. Along with gears with oxygen cylinders, one can also opt for fixed tube support diving wherein oxygen is supplied through pipe attached to the hosting boat.
Scuba Diving
organiser’s details:
Mangalmurti
Scuba Diving:
Amol Sawant: 9422333446 / 9423304334
Vikrant Naik: 9405236201 / 9673670997
Additionally for
any assistance in hotel bookings at Malvan and local support for any of the
water sports, one can contact below:
Mr. Utkarsh Malvankar (Gopi)
Mob: 9730097230
Happy Diving, Keep Exploring!!!!
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