Visakhapatnam: Surfing enthusiasts from Visakhapatnam and elsewhere are preferring to ride the waves at Mangamaripeta Beach, a hidden gem along the Visakhapatnam coast.
The serene spot has become a heaven 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 releases sewage from parts of Vizag into the sea. In addition, it also brings plastic waste. This has made local as well as outside surfers shift to Mangamaripeta.
Anudeep Dopha, popular as Andy, is a prominent figure within the local surfing community. He had founded a surfing club in 2010, calling it Lonely Surfers. The club has transformed into a thriving school that teaches surfing to locals, including fisherfolk’s children.
Currently, the surfing school accommodates 45 students, offering sessions in the early morning and late afternoon to suit different enthusiasts.
In a conversation with Deccan Chronicle, Anudeep pointed out that surfing can be enjoyed throughout the year, although optimal conditions are from October to April when the weather is cooler and waves are smaller. The period coincides with India's peak tourism season.
The surfing coach said he is developing a Malibu Point on his own along the Mangamaripeta beach, which will be designed to give a different beach experience to residents as well as surfers.
Anudeep maintained that the ongoing sewage discharge into the sea, despite raising the issue with local authorities, prompted them to shift from Rushikonda to Mangamaripeta Beach.
He said during this month, the surfing school had hosted a competition in which enthusiasts from various locations 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 in the country and abroad.
