Post News Network
Bhubaneswar: Internationally known scuba diver Sabir Bux has established a training centre for wind surfing on the Mahanadi river. Named ‘Kalinga Divers Foundation’, the permanent facility is to offer youths free training in wind surfing and scuba diving.
The facility has been established at the jetty opposite Odisha State Maritime Museum at Jobra in Cuttack and 132 persons are being trained there.
“I started this facility to promote water sports, water tourism, and river cleaning campaign. Through this we are also trying to create awareness among youths to preserve and protect water bodies,” Sabir told Orissa POST.
The department of sports and youths services is supporting Sabir in promoting water sports in the state. “The sports department gave me `10 lakh as funding for the project last year,” he said
As reasons for selecting Mahanadi to set up the training centre, Sabir said: “We did snorkeling and scuba diving in the river and found the water quality good. Plenty of fish and aquatic invertebrates are found in these waters and that makes scuba diving here interesting. The river is also clean as winds in Mahanadi and also the water is clean we thought it would help beginners to learn wind surfing and scuba diving. First I will teach them about swimming underwater which is quite difficult, after they get perfect in underwater swimming, I will teach them scuba diving. After training here, I will send the best trainees to training center in Goa for further training.”
Apart from students, Sabir has involved slum children, beggars and even alcoholic youngsters lead a decent life.
“I am training them in various water sports. So far I have trained 18 tribal children. Some are even doing kite surfing,” Sabir said.
Speaking of his future plans, Sabir added: “I am planning to train transgenders and will also engage them
as trainers.”
