Visakhapatnam: Surfing enthusiasts from Visakhapatnam and other places prefer to surf the waves at Mangamaripeta Beach, a hidden gem along the Visakhapatnam coastline.
This tranquil spot has become a paradise for water sports enthusiasts as it offers a cleaner and better environment compared to the popular Rushikonda Beach.
Surfers have started avoiding Rushikonda, where a large drainage pipe dumps sewage from parts of Vizag into the sea. It also brings plastic waste. This has caused both local and foreign surfers to flock to Mangamaripeta.
Anudeep Dopha, better known as Andy, is a prominent figure in the local surfing community. He founded a surf club in 2010, which he called Lonely Surfers. The club has since transformed into a thriving school that teaches surfing to locals, including the children of fishermen.
The surf school currently has a capacity of 45 students and offers morning and afternoon sessions to suit different enthusiasts.
In a conversation with Deccan ChronicleAnudeep said surfing is possible throughout the year, although the optimal conditions are from October to April, when the weather is cooler and the waves are smaller. The period coincides with the peak tourist season in India.
The surf coach said he is developing a Malibu Point of his own along Mangamaripeta Beach, which will be designed to provide a different beach experience for residents and surfers.
Anudeep said the continued discharge of sewage into the sea, despite raising the issue with local authorities, prompted them to move from Rushikonda to Mangamaripeta beach.
He said that during this month, the surf school had organised a competition in which enthusiasts from various places participated, including 12 surfers from Chennai and competitors from Spain, France and Israel.
The competition marked the growing popularity of Mangamaripeta beach within surfing circles at home and abroad.