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Twenty-four metres deep into the ocean lies Inket, a Japanese ship that sank during the Second World War in the Andamans’ Duncan Island. The shipwreck has become a tourism attraction that deep-sea divers are flocking to for adventure tourism as well as to experience the tragic war history.
The bow of the ship rests on its starboard side with hatches and cargo hold clearly visible. An enormous propeller is the star attraction at the stern, which sits upright in 18 metres of water with parts of the boilers and engine room still intact along with a second spare propeller. The sunken ship has received visitors ranging from school students and business executives to marine biologists and adventure tourists.
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“Last year, we took about 400 tourists for Inket tour and this year we are expecting a 10-25 per cent increase once the season starts in October,” said Sunil Bakshi, CEO of Infiniti Live-aboard.
Infiniti was founded by Bakshi, an avid diver, about a year ago. With demand increasing for deep-sea diving tours, the company has been scouting for sites around Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The cost of one diving trip, which includes a diver’s certificate along with board and lodging, is Rs 85,000-90,000 exclusive of the airfare. The company provides a 39-metre live-aboard vessel with four decks, eight guest rooms, lounges and a full on-board crew. For those who have never done it before, there are five days diving courses available for an additional cost. The company also provides one-day refresher courses for those who have dived before.
“A shipwreck usually becomes an artificial reef with a habitat for many types of marine life. It also often presents new skill challenges for diving and is a microcosm of our maritime heritage,” said Bakshi. Divers can experience the coral that encrusts the ship’s skeleton, the giant grouper or barracuda and much of marine life endemic to Andamans, besides the tragic tales of the war and how the ship sank.
When Bakshi is not conducting tours, he is busy exploring the ocean for newer and untouched diving sites with his team.
Apart from Inket, a smaller wreck, MV Mars, near Havelock Island is also an attractive spot for a comparatively easy dive, ideal for students and beginners. It is a small fishing boat that sank during a storm in 2006 and came to rest on the sandy bottom just off the reef in 15m of water.
Divers who have already experienced the depths of the Great Barrier Reef and are looking for newer adventures are now keen to explore Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Only 26 of its 576 islands are inhabited and the government has now started allowing limited and environmentally-conscious tourism.
