Irrespective of the number of movies that you may have seen or books you have read or heard stories recounted by experienced sailors, nothing can prepare you for how compact, or even constricted, a submarine really is.
This was the first observation that your correspondent made as she descended down a narrow hatch into a submarine, for the first time ever. Barely 10 m long and 2.8 m wide, it had space just for 10 seats, arranged in two rows like aboard an aircraft with an aisle that was barely broad enough for even one person. The sole crew member, the captain, sat at the controls, situated in the bow or right at the front of the submarine.
The submarine is operated by Blue Safari, said to be one of only 12 operators of leisure submarines in the world. Our adventure for the submarine journey began at Trou aux Biches in northern Mauritius where we received a comprehensive briefing about what to expect on the journey. Next, we board a speedboat to reach the submarine base, "Le Betty des Mascareignes", situated about 15 minutes away in the open sea.
Here, we step on the submarine and follow the captain through the hatch into the belly of the submarine, after another security briefing, where he explained to us what needed to be done in case of emergency.
The dive, which takes the submarine 35 m below the surface, lasts barely half-an-hour. We first head to a shipwreck, Star Hope, that was especially planted here. Over the decades, the wreck has become the home of many kinds of marine life and is located in an area with vibrant, natural corals that abound in a variety of species of colourful fish.
Though we were 35 m below the surface, the crystal-clear waters meant that the visibility was very high, allowing us to take in the marine ecosystem in its entirety. After the dive, we retraced our path, after some refreshments and collection of our certificates in the reservation.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September - October 2023-Ausgabe von India Outbound.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September - October 2023-Ausgabe von India Outbound.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
La Mamounia is an oasis for travellers
In order to cement its foothold in the Indian market, Moroccan luxury resort La Mamounia, located in the picturesque town of Marrakech, recently organised a visit to Mumbai and Delhi, engaging with top-tier travel industry partners from India. General Manager Pierre Jochem tells India Outbound that the resort, which recently completed 100 years, is targetting the Indian visitors seeking to explore Morrocan art, culture and heritage, besides its captivating beauty.
Africa has come a long way as travel destination for Indians
The perception of Africa as a tourism destination has come a long way in India as travellers from India have gone beyond safaris to discover other elements that make travel to Africa attractive. The change is not just amongst Indian tourists, but destinations have also learnt more about their Indian clients and are taking steps to customise their offer to the Indian visitors, writes Alpa Jani, Founder, Ace Connect, a tourism marketing company.
ASCENIC RAIL TRIP ACROSS BALKANS
A rail journey through the Western Balkans, from Serbia's vibrant capital Belgrade to the culturally rich Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is a more tranquil, scenic way to explore the region's breathtaking mountains, lakes and historical towns at a leisurely pace.
Shahnaz Husain's cool tips for skincare during travel
Celebrity beautician and hair care expert Shahnaz Husain tells India Outbound on her secrets for skin-care and hair-care while travelling.
Plovdiv: Timeless jewel in Bulgarian crown
With a history spanning over two millennia, Plovdiv is not only one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe, but also a vibrant conduit linking Bulgaria's past and its present.
Navigating Natural Wonders of UNESCO World Heritage Sites
For us city dwellers, even the sound of a cuckoo might seem exotic. So now imagine discovering a vastness filled with shifting dunes and interlaced emerald lagoons.
Explore the Jewel of Southern Spain, Seville
Home to one of the largest historic centres of Europe and three world heritage sites, the stunning city of Seville, located by the picturesque Guadalquivir River in southern Spain, offers tourists an experience rich in history, culture, art, gastronomy and much more.
UPI IN INTERNATIONAL MARKETS A GAME CHANGER FOR INDIAN TRAVELLERS
Having revolutionised digital transactions in India, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is now expanding globally. After tepid beginnings in the immediate neighbourhood, UPI is gaining acceptance in many countries making a win-win for Indian tourists and businesses overseas that are increasingly eager to tap the burgeoning Indian outbound travel market.
Debuting at COP29, can tourism lead march towards curbing carbon emissions?
Tourism will make its debut in global climate change negotiations in the next round of discussions, COP29, that opens in Baku later this month. So far, the discussions have spectacularly failed to produce any notable outcome, besides platitudes and numerous missed commitments. The global tourism industry has a golden opportunity to lead the way and show the world the true path to curbing carbon emissions. But the sector's own record in this aspect is hardly blemishless.
Bintan Island: SEESE
A haven of nature, with thriving flora and fauna, the Indonesian island of Bintan, that is barely an hour away from Singapore by ferry and comes with easy visa regimes, is an ideal extension for any Indian visitor to Singapore, looking to add a touch of wilderness to the experience.
