When a few divers took a plunge near Rushikonda beach in Vishakhapatnam, they discovered a natural underwater arch. The discovery is a matter of fascination for the entire diving community. By Kumar Shree
When scuba diving in Vishakhapatnam resumed after a gap of nearly a year, little did anyone know that it would reveal a hidden underwater marvel! Recently, a team of four scuba divers from Livein Adventures came across an arch-shaped rock formation while exploring diving sites near Rushikonda beach.
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Since the formation is located just 30 ft below sea level, it is easily accessible to even beginners, a factor that will add to its popularity. The natural underwater arch is about a metre tall and a one-and-a-half metre wide. The divers who discovered this arch also said that a person could easily wade through the structure.
As reported by The Hindu, Balaram Naidu, founder of Livein Adventures said, “This is the first time I have seen such an arch in this part of the coast. There is a good presence of underwater life surrounding the arch.” Talking about the best time to explore the arch, he added, “Now is a perfect time to explore this arch. This [winter] season, the visibility has been particularly excellent.”
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The marine life near this arch and Rushikonda beach, in general, is quite fascinating. It consists of stonefish, sweetlips fish, pufferfish, parrotfish, napoleon fish, starfish, lionfish, barracuda, goliath groupers, feather stars, moray eels, and electric rays among several other species.
The scuba divers who discovered the arch also claim that it is similar to the famous arch at Mangamaripeta beach, which according to geologists date back to the last Ice Age, around 10,000 years ago. Notably, this is not the first time that Livein Adventures team members have discovered an underwater structure. Earlier, they had found a centuries-old shipwreck under the sea, near Visakhapatnam.
Related: Don’t Miss Out On These Marvels While Exploring Visakhapatnam
