As the soft morning colours start to filter through the sky, a group of people — armed with red life vests — descend on the silent shores of Rushikonda. Settling themselves in bright kayaks, they soon scuttle towards the waters, leaving behind trails on the wet sand. The sounds of paddling mingle with the lap of the waves against the kayaks.
At a distance, a white-bellied sea eagle makes a magnificent dive for a catch. A little ahead, rows of fishing boats bobble along the waters, heading back to the coast. In a few minutes, the kayakers plough their way further through the water, appearing like tiny specks of colours in the midst of all that blue.
Departing at first light to enjoy the tranquillity of the coast is a group of kayakers who are taking to sunrise kayaking, a concept that is fast getting popular in Visakhapatnam. Introduced in the city a year and half ago, sunrise kayaking offers a novel experience. “The weather conditions tend to be calmer and nature is at its best during this time of the day. And we also get to enjoy being out on the water away from crowds and the noise of the tour boat engines,” says B Tarun Kumar, an M.Tech student and a regular kayaker. The summer is also the best time for sunrise kayaking, when the sun is kinder on you and the sea breeze is just about perfect. I enjoy kayaking for two hours on weekends along with my friends and then do a bit of surfing before wrapping up. It’s a great physical exercise as well,” says Kumar, who has been into kayaking from the past one year.
Expert training
The kayakers come down to the coast much before sunrise and spend their time discussing the wind and wave directions before embarking on a seamless kayaking experience at the two beaches of Rushikonda and Mangamaripeta. City-based firm Livein Adventures that conducts waters sport activities has been guiding this community of kayakers to enjoy the serenity of kayaking at the most magical time of the day. The firm at present has 10 kayaks – eight tandem and two single-seater – at the Rushikonda coast. The kayakers sail into the waters along with a guide who helps the learners to navigate the waves and assist in recovering if the water tips the kayaks.
Apart from a six-month membership programme for regular kayakers, a week-long summer basic course is currently being offered by Livein Adventures. Kayakers get to experience the thrill in the waters for an hour every morning and venture at a distance of about 2 km into the sea from the coast. B. Satyanarayana, the operational manager, says that the short beginner’s course teaches the kayakers how to paddle, crack a wave and recover a capsized kayak. “A lot of kayak slots are booked by people coming from cities like Hyderabad, Bangalore and Delhi. And most request for early morning slots. The sea is relatively calmer in the morning and that helps the beginners gain confidence,” he says. This is also an ideal time to avoid the tourist rush which starts building up along the beach as the day progresses.
Ideal location
The Mangamaripeta beach, on the other hand, is more secluded and the backwaters of that place are calmer.
“Kayaking in backwaters is an altogether different experience. It is more of a leisure activity where you get to relax and unwind. It’s a different case when you are kayaking in the sea where the waters tend to be choppy and that is thrilling, but with mild currents can overwhelm those new to the sport,” says Balaram Naidu, a kayaker, scuba diver and director of Livein Adventures.
Having explored most parts of the coastal stretch, Naidu is convinced that sunrise kayaking can be best enjoyed at Rushikonda and for a good one hour’s duration. The reason why Rushikonda has been a much-preferred watersports zone is because of the harbour breakwater, which obstructs the high waves. While there are days of high tides and choppy seas, but nothing that is too difficult for any beginner or novice kayaker. “Because of this, the beach here is very safe for kayaking. We can control the kayak whenever we need to,” says Naidu. The view from the kayaks in the sea is quite scenic and the early mornings ensure that you get to catch glimpses of birding activities as well as a stunning view of the sunrise over the coast.
The kayaks at Rushikonda have also drawn the interest of a small group of kids from the fishing community who are expert surfers, apart from many tourists, foreigners and locals that enjoy the water sport.
The growing interest in the activity has also seen a rise in professional kayaking. Kumar, for instance, won the second prize in a kayaking competition held in Rushikonda last November.
