Destination Malvan: Day 2 - Dolphins and Snorkeling

Continued from previous post: Destination Malvan: Day 1 - Pune to Malvan via Kolhapur

On Sunday, 26-Dec, we got up early in the morning, rushed to the Malvan jetty, where the guy, with whom we talked the previous night, was waiting for us. He managed a boat for us, and excited, we scrambled in

the boat for a best-view location. We were going on a dolphin-trail.

Dolphins are sighted near Konkan coast around Ratnagiri, it seems. Last time we had been to Anjarle, in Dapoli, there too, we had a chance to go on such a trail, but our laziness had killed that opportunity. This time round though, we were in the boat, and on the trail.

Early morning boat-ride, with a pleasant and cool sea-breeze, and sighting and subsequent trail of a small group of dolphins, was what we did and enjoyed a lot during the couple hour trail. We wished the dolphins would jump out of the water and give us a shot of a lifetime, but that wasn't to be. All we could see was a dolphin's tail/fins, as they were breast-stroking (to map it to human swimming styles).

After coming back on shore, our guide packed us on a boat to snorkeling destination. Now this was an interesting part. I had been looking forward to doing snorkeling, if not scuba diving, for ages, since when I was in England. Little did I know that it was available in our own backyards.

Scuba diving, it seems, was also available, but it was discontinued. God knows why!

Off we went in the boat, near Sindhudurga fort (the backside of it), where we were given, snorkel ls and goggles, and I was finally in the water looking below the water to spot anything that can be of interest! There were different kinds of fishes, sea-weeds, corals etc. The water was a little disturbed, so it was long way from being as clear as they show on NagGeo or Discovery. I had managed to pack my Samsung Marine in the pocket of my swimming shorts. I was all 'gadgety' on this trip, and it paid off. I pulled that phone out in the water, and managed to click some pics under-water. The phone, as was advertised, didn't give a single problem, and allowed me to shoot underwater. What a privilege! Have look at these pics which I took with it underwater -

The snorkeling activity lasted for around 20-mins. The guide would take us to some underwater creatures, pronounce their names, and that's it, we move on to the next. I don't remember a single name now, apart from the zebra-fish. Besides, what I felt objectionable in his practice, was using a bread slice to attract fishes, so that tourists can have a better look at them. This I found unhealthy for the marine life, because one of my bird-photographer friend had once told me that he never places baits to attract birds, so as to shoot them. Placing such baits can alter the bird's feeding habits and will make it dependent on your baits for food. This can unable the bird later to secure his own food, once you are done with your shooting and stop placing the baits.

By the time we were done with snorkeling, and returned back on the shore, it was around 11:30am, and there was a huuuuuuuge crowd going to Sindhudurga fort. So we instantly dropped the plan to see the fort. We had our breakfast that time. Came back to our room, had a bath, readied ourselves, paid the host his dues, and by 2:30pm, left Malvan for Pune.

Continued in the next post - Destination Malvan: Day 2 - A Surreal Drive on NH17 back to Pune