KOCHI: Are you afraid of water? Do you shy away from water sports? Or are you a person who is interested in becoming a water sports professional? Water sports and diving are less known among the public. And there is limited knowledge on how one can become a professional diver. But thanks to ‘Scuba Cochin’, anyone can become a professional diver or just have fun.
Started in 2007 by Justin Jos, Scuba Cochin conducts rafting and diving in a pool in Thiruvankulam. There are two types of Underwater Diving - one which goes 10 metres underwater, while the other, a professional course, which goes 18 to 30 metres underwater.
Scuba Cochin is the first to introduce backwater kayaking in Kerala. It starts from Kothad Island, passes through Kadamakudi and Pizhala and finally reaches Kothad. The ride lasts for three hours. The other type, which is of Olympic standards, is meant for experienced people. The institute is all set to introduce water sports like Banana diving, Stand-Up Paddling and Ball walking. To do all this, there are two packages a four-day crash course and a ten-day programme.
“We are equipped with all sorts of safety measures like pre-training, doctor-on-call and ambulance facilities during deep diving,” says Joseph Deleesh, the manager. “We have a system known as the ‘Buddy System’, where a qualified instructor will accompany a trainee diver when he goes underwater.”
The institution received a certificate from the US-based Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) in 2010. It is the first authorised dive centre by the government in Kerala. Their mission, according to their website, is to attract youth to do more adventure activities.
Following the completion, a trainee gets a PADI Open Water Diver certificate. So far, Scuba Cochin has trained 300 people.
Scuba Cochin also has foreign trainers. One of them is Nicholas from France. “We are promoting diving and other water sports the world over as volunteers of PADI,” he says. “It is great to work here.”
Pointing out the potential in water-rich Kerala, Deleesh says they could do wonders with Government support.
Interestingly, the water bodies in Kerala have high visibility, which makes underwater diving fascinating. Recently, the fishermen in Kollam saw colonies of fresh corals underwater and reported it to Scuba Cochin.
“If such a coral colony could be made into a diving spot, it would give people the feel of Lakshadweep and would attract tourists to Kollam,” says Deleesh.
Incidentally, they have taken films of these corals and shown it to the scientists of the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, who have used these images to do research on corals.
Scuba Cochin also has a shop in Kadavanthra where they sell accessories like kayaks, swimming suits, and diving equipment.
On June 5, World Environment Day, Scuba Cochin is planning to select talented students in swimming from various schools and take them to Alappuzha from Kochi on kayaks. This programme is also aimed at promoting water transport, and making people aware about the hazards of water pollution.