Introduction

Our event was led by Aurofilio, a distinguished ocean expert and specialist in Tropical Coastal Management from Newcastle University. His passion for the sea comes from his diverse hobbies—swimming, diving, surfing, windsurfing, and sailing. He founded the Pondy Yacht Club, the only one of its kind in our bio-region.

Understanding Tides and Currents

Aurofilio began the session with an engaging explanation of tides—highlighting how the gravitational forces of the moon and the sun interact with the Earth to create these rhythmic movements. He shared fascinating insights into ocean currents and monsoon winds, illustrating his points with a map of India and the ocean around it.

Perception of Ocean Winds

One of the enlightening parts of the session was the ocean winds. Aurofilio explained that winds are an invisible but vital resource—something many of us overlook unless a storm occurs. He shared how its become his second nature to watch the movement of tree tops and leaves to read the wind’s signals. Inspired by him, I started noticing the gentle breeze on the coconut trees and surrounding foliage, realizing how much we often take the wind for granted.

Experiencing the Marine Environment

Later, we went in a motorboat with life jackets and set out upstream towards a mangrove forest along the river. It was high tide, and the roots of the mangroves were submerged, causing crabs—usual residents of the roots—to climb onto the tree trunks, seemingly engaged in their own discussions about the latest news. Unlike beach crabs, these creatures were not afraid of us, undisturbed by the boat.

Under the canopy of the mangroves, we felt transported to an enchanted tunnel—immersed in the serenity and mystery of nature. However, it was disheartening to observe the water quality; untreated wastewater from the Guindy Canal and local drains flows directly into this delicate ecosystem, turning it into what resembled open sewage.

Preserving our Coast

The most significant message was the importance of preserving our coastal areas. Human interference—such as building dams—can disrupt natural sand migration processes that sustain our beaches. For example, Pondicherry’s beaches have suffered because the construction of the harbor blocked the natural sand flow, leading to erosion and loss of shoreline.

In conclusion, our coastal environment is a delicate, interconnected system. Actions upstream or along the coast have far-reaching consequences.