As researchers turn their attention toward the species off the east coast, you can embark on an immersive adventure too

A 2.5 km-long table of rock sits in the sea off the Puducherry coast where a thriving coral reef teases scuba divers with its unique flora and fauna. Found at a distance of 13 km into the sea, the wall — it is almost that — is becoming quite popular with its colourful living corals that belong to species that go by names like Turbinaria, Monitors, Hydropora, Parona and Anacropora.

S. B. Aravind Tharunsri, master instructor, Professional Association of Diving Instructors in Australia, who first stumbled on the rock table, says that there is a rock formation off Chennai just beyond Neelankarai where there are corals too.

“The rocky formation here is at a distance of about 4-6 km and at a depth of 18 m. It runs up to Kovalam and then joins the shore and curves outwards till Pattipulam. The reason why the corals off Chennai are not growing very well and there is no reef is because there are a lot of rivers emptying silt into the sea. At Puducherry, it is further in the sea, hence the waters there are conducive to the corals,” said Mr. Aravind, who is currently associated with Annamalai University in training their students in scuba diving.

Happy down under

For a fee of ₹7,500, the basics of scuba diving can be learned in a day. The payoff? The sight underwater.

Nineteen-year-old D. E. Deebika of Puducherrry, who had been under the sea up to a depth of 18 m twice in the past month and a half, said it felt as if she were inside an aquarium, only some of the fish were bigger than she was. “I went along with a group of students. Though I was afraid initially, when I saw the fish I felt very happy. Now I want to go diving wherever I can,” she said, adding that the time spent inside the water just flew by.

Those diving off Puducherry can also see an artificial reef created by Mr. Aravind, who has placed three old bikes and two cars on the sea bed, so that fish can thrive there too.

“We removed the paint, oil and other movable parts and placed the vehicles with government permission. Corals are quite a sight. It relaxes you as if you do yoga, there is no pollution or traffic there. It’s just the water, fish, corals and you,” he said.