The Indian Ocean Divers Association (IODA), in partnership with the Chamber of Marine Industries Sri Lanka (CMISL) and with the backing of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), recently hosted a highly successful IODA Ocean Summit at the Cinnamon Grand in Colombo. The event brought together diving industry professionals from India, Maldives, and Sri Lanka to foster collaboration and promote sustainable marine tourism.
Call for Regional Collaboration and Sustainable Practices
Mr. Prahlad Kakar, President of IODA, delivered a compelling keynote address, emphasizing the critical need for collaborative efforts to build a stronger and more sustainable diving industry across the Indian Ocean region. He underscored the immense value of regional cooperation in unlocking the full potential of marine tourism while prioritizing environmental stewardship. Kakar highlighted Sri Lanka’s unique position, boasting year-round diving opportunities, rich heritage, and delicious cuisine, expressing optimism that the island nation could become a regional diving hub.
“This inaugural conference in Sri Lanka is historic for many reasons,” stated Mr. Kakar. “One is because of the agenda of what we are trying to do: to gather people who are like-minded, who are ocean lovers and have stakes in the ocean.”
Exploring New Horizons in Marine Tourism
The summit also featured a fascinating presentation by Mr. Anees Adenwala, Vice President of IODA, who shared his extensive experience in underwater filming for Bollywood, offering unique insights into the creative intersection of film and marine exploration.
Throughout the event, dynamic panel discussions, targeted networking sessions, and active engagement from key stakeholders across the travel and diving sectors facilitated meaningful dialogue. These interactions are expected to pave the way for future cross-border partnerships and innovations within the marine tourism industry.
Sri Lanka’s Untapped Marine Tourism Potential
Discussions at the summit particularly focused on Sri Lanka’s significant, yet largely untapped, potential for marine tourism. With an impressive 167 known shipwrecks submerged in its surrounding waters, many dating back to the world wars, the island presents a unique offering for dive tourism. Traditionally, Sri Lanka’s tourism appeal has centered on beaches, wildlife, culture, and nature. However, conference participants strongly suggested that shipwrecks and underwater exploration could become a pivotal component of the nation’s future tourism strategy.
Mr. Prasad Jayasuriya, Director of Tourism Planning at the SLTDA, acknowledged the growing interest in ocean-related tourism, especially given that Sri Lanka’s maritime area is twice the size of its landmass. He stressed the importance of developing ocean tourism strategically, with diving at its core, leveraging the country’s extensive marine resources. The concept of intentionally sinking decommissioned ships to create new dive sites, complementing existing wrecks, was also explored.
Mr. Kakar, also a co-founder of ReefWatch Marine Conservation and an experienced scuba diver, described the summit as a vital platform for all stakeholders in marine environments, including hoteliers, fishing communities, and divers. He proposed that establishing standards in dive tourism and underwater activities could “be the start of a worldwide movement.” Kakar emphasized the critical importance of preserving ocean ecosystems, advocating for the protection of shipwrecks-some of which may contain historical artifacts-from vandalism and theft. He believes promoting these wrecks through tourism can attract global interest, particularly from those fascinated by wartime history.
Mr. Anees Adenwala, Vice President of IODA and a pioneer in India’s outbound scuba diving and underwater filming industry, highlighted divers’ natural inclination to explore underwater environments, stressing their crucial role in protecting marine ecosystems.
The summit concluded with a unanimous call for the development of clear regulations and responsible practices in marine tourism. This collective commitment aims to ensure that ocean resources are preserved while simultaneously fostering sustainable growth in the tourism sector.
The IODA Ocean Summit was generously supported by MistEO, Sail Lanka, Maldives Holiday Collections, Medium Events, and Floating Asia.
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