Thirty kilometres throughout the Palk Strait from Rameswaram temple lies Kathadi North, a boutique lodge providing a novel mix of journey, surroundings and consolation. Located at Pirappanvalasai village in Ramanathapuram district, it’s run by Quest Adventure Sports Academy that gives programs in scuba diving, kitesurfing, sea kayaking, snorkelling, swimming, and stand-up paddling. The academy’s windsurfing chapter in Rameswaram kicked off when Jehan Driver, a passionate kitesurfer who began the academy in 2011 (it was referred to as Quest Expeditions then), started his personal quest alongside India’s East coast for good high quality water and robust winds.
“My heart settled on Rameswaram because of the Gulf of Mannar with its pristine water and islands,” says the 42-year-old who moved to the city from Mumbai in 2014. “Setting up base at a place with good geography and community made sense to me,” he provides.
Kathadi isn’t only a place to lounge by the seashore and soak in the daylight. People from throughout India in addition to from Europe corresponding to France come right here to study to dive and sail. The title ‘Kathadi’ refers to the windmills that encircle the property and additionally the wind that drives the sails of windsurfers and kitesurfers. Every weekend since 2018, the academy has been holding free coaching classes as a part of its WaterBabies programme.
The programme, which has educated over 100 youngsters from close by villages, goals to equip native youth with water sports activities abilities and create consciousness about doable profession choices, in addition to educate them about sustainability in the marine business and environmental conservation. Last yr, the native WaterBabies gained 21 medals in SUP and kayaking at a nationwide occasion held at the academy. For Jehan and the local people, it was a proud second.
Palk Bay is a novel sheltered bay on the northern shore of the Rameswaram peninsula. It is blessed with six months of lake-like situations that make it ultimate for scuba diving and snorkelling, whereas South-West winds batter the southern coast.
People from throughout India in addition to from Europe corresponding to France come right here to study to dive and sail.
| Photo Credit:
Special association
“On a good day, we have visibility of up to 15 metres and on bad days, up to five, which is excellent by the standards of mainland India,” Jehan notes. Palk Bay provides a chance to explore its seagrass meadows, coral reefs and macro marine life whereas studying and rising by way of water sports activities.
Every Sunday, locals from Pirappanvalasai, aged between eight and 17, dive into the water for a number of hours of coaching
| Photo Credit:
Special association
As a part of the WaterBabies classes, each Sunday from 10am to midday, locals from Pirappanvalasai, aged between eight and 17, dive into the water for a number of hours of coaching in sea kayaking or stand-up paddling. Following this, Quest’s 12 guides conduct a variety of consciousness classes from 3pm to 5pm, from the sports activities tourism business to sustainable fishing.
However, the children have already got extra prowess than one might imagine.
“Most of these children go fishing for squid in the morning, on makeshift thermocol rafts they built themselves. Little do they know that the same movements coupled with technical gear and their natural understanding of currents and the sea can fetch medals,” explains Jehan
“What I love is their enthusiasm, and also the outcome. Everyone loves winning medals. Moreover, a few youngsters have taken up competitive sports, while some want to be instructors. Out of the seniors who continued with the programme, over 70% have taken up jobs in the adventure sports industry,” he explains.
Jehan Driver, a passionate kitesurfer, began the academy in 2011
| Photo Credit:
Special association
Reefs and biodiversity in the Palk Bay are affected by many environmental issues. “Last year, we started noticing changes in the weather patterns, including heat waves in April and May. Heat waves bleach the corals and, along with mechanised fishing, exemplify the effects of human interference in the bay,” Jehan notes.
He has additionally taken issues into his personal fingers and engaged in reef reconstruction and synthetic reef-building to heal the bay. These reefs, created from concrete, calcite and corals, are constructed one nautical mile offshore from the Rameswaram coasts and price roughly ₹25,000 per unit. These reefs play a significant function in reversing and controlling the consequences of human actions in the bay.
With its thatched-roof cottages, meals of freshly-caught fish awaiting one after each dive or dip in the ocean, and a staff of locals and specialists that decision the ocean their dwelling, Kathadi is not only a spot to trip. It is an area of studying, conserving and rising — for oneself and the surroundings.
For particulars concerning the academy, go to quest-asia.com, name 8657195551
