[BolliBatlu]

Flower show begins at Kadri Park
Diving into the deep

Scuba diving takes off in Mangaluru with the identification of three spots close to the city

There is a new adventure on the coast. Just a year ago, scuba diving was restricted to just one spot at Nethrani island, 19 nautical miles from Bhatkal. It was only accessible to foreigners who frequented Goan beaches. Though Nethrani is still the preferred scuba diving centre for its coral reef, scuba diving will become more accessible according to beach tourism experts.

“We have chosen three spots within the 15 to 20 kilometre radius from the city,” says Yathish Baikampady of Panambur Beach Tourism Development Project. The dives would be at 20 to 25 fathoms deep in the Arabian Sea. It is a one-day outing.”

On the importance of having scuba diving spots close to the city, Ranjit Punja, a world class scuba diving trainer, says, “All scuba diving centres must have a good urban connectivity which we have in plenty in Mangaluru.

Since this is a lifestyle sport, it has to be well-connected offline and online; there should be fun night life, good dining and stay options.”

The centres in Karwar (Uttara Kannada) Kaup (Udupi) and now in Mangaluru gives a boost to scuba diving in coastal Karnataka. In the past, scuba diving was only available in Goa and in Havelock in Andaman Islands. “It used to be so expensive to go there and each expedition used to cost me a bomb. I am excited that I can dive close to home,” says Anita, a scuba diving enthusiast of the city.

“Scuba diving in Mangaluru will be on two levels — training level and try diving, also called Discovery Scuba Dive (DSD),” says Punja. “Under the DSD model, people can go on an expedition guided by a diver certified by the Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI) from Australia.

INTACH to open new chapters in Mangalore, Palakkad in Feb

A non-profit organisation established in 1984 and headquartered in New Delhi, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) works on protection, conservation and promotion of tangible and intangible heritage.

Mangalore is dotted with ancient Hindu temples and several colonial-era buildings besides churches dating back to 16th century.

'Hakki Habba' begins in Mangaluru from today
Wings on water , see the sea birds

Kambala organized on Sunday on the banks of the Nethravati river at Jappinamogaru

INTACH chapters in Mangalore - the eleventh in Karnataka

Following the turtle trail in coastal Karnataka

Ullal beach festival on February 10, 11

Construction of Beach Resort and Golf Course - Incomplete Applications

Owl be watching you! Hilarious photo shows bird peeping out of a trunk in India
Bird festival starts on a grand note
Karnataka to prepare action plan to protect Great Indian Bustard

Whether captive breeding centre will be setup in Pilikula like Kota?

India Exempts Biometric Enrolment to Promote Cruise Tourism

Saalumara Timmakka Tree Park in Birumala Gudde
Install statue of Rani Abbakka in Mangaluru, Ullal: Deve Gowda

SC order: Temporary respite for Kambala organisers

Happy 'tern' of events for birders

“The birders were happy to find pelagic birds like Arctic skua and masked booby. But we did not spot shearwaters, storm petrels and bridled tern​s. We are expecting these birds to begin their migration during this month. The presence of arctic skuas and gulls indicates a good number of fish population. We sighted tropicbirds last month, and were hoping to see them, but none of the teams got to see it,” Shivashankar said.

The birders also spotted a lot of dolphins.

Dr S Shishupala, professor Microbiology, Davangere University, said, for people from other than coastal areas, pelagic birding is an excellent experience to record the birds in open sea. “We could get many gulls- brown headed, black headed and terns. There were interesting sights- like a bird resting on a swimming turtle. It gave me a different perspective.”

Swimmers train in Sydney on advanced life saving skills, beach rescue

The Lightning Bronze Medallion Course that they underwent provided them with in-depth knowledge of hazard identification, risk control, resuscitation techniques, performing Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), patient management techniques, patient retrieval with and without equipment and performing radio communications. Silver Medallion Beach Management course included advanced search and rescue techniques covering both day and night, executing complex patient rescue and demonstrating recovery. Beach management also included complete beach surveillance, managing rescue recovery requirement and preparing for the rescue, excelling the effectiveness of team, responding to the casualties, building up leadership qualities, undertaking work activities, setting performance requirements and maintaining team performance, communicating with management and management of aquatic spinal injuries.

Kumarswamy, see this is so scientific. Hope you will also save us scientifically from drowning in Yettinahole.

Govt okays tourism dept's house boat, floating canteen proposals

Which bugger didn't give permission to set up Urban Haaths in Coastal Karnataka and North Karnataka?