Saturday, 18th April 2015, Our class arranged a get together at Charna Island, the beautiful picnic spot near Mubarak Village. Millenium Mall was gathering point, so I, Ateeque & Adnan who spend night at my home, ensure our presence by 6:30 a.m. We rubbed the sleep out of our eyes as we met other class mates and waited for the rest of the group. The group left for Mubarak Village around 8:00 a.m. At around 9:30 we reached the main road connecting the Mubarak Village (near the HUBCO-Power Plant).
About Charna Island
The Churna Island (also Churna Island) is a 4×3 square kilometer barren island with no civilian population. It is famous for the marine life around it, which includes barracuda, Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel, cobia, Dorado, Tuna, angel fish, sea urchin, sea fan, oyster, ray fish and rare green turtle. The surrounding area is also popular for scuba diving because of the presence of widely varied marine life and different kinds of coral reef.
Starting the Journey to Churna Island
We had hire Scuba Club for the trip & they charged us Rs2,600 per person. On the way to the Mubarak village, we drove past rocky hills and sparse wild greenery, punctuated by brown and dusty land that seems to stretch on for miles. It took roughly an hour & half to reach Mubarak Village.
I took off my shoes & changed in the van and walked into the water. It was feeling refreshed and relaxed. After an hour, the organisers hired a small boat with noisy diesel engines for a trip to nearby Charna Island. Before we made it to fishermen’s boats a speech was in order from the organisers. As we clambered on board, our boat swayed towards the open sea.
Athar, Adnan, Usman, Me, Haseeb, Ateeque, Adnan
As we drew closer to Charna, we were given snorkelling gear and taught how to use it. After an hour on boat we reached our destination, The Charna Island. Although the reef seemed to beckon threateningly, the waters were relatively calm. Once we all got the hang of breathing underwater, however, we couldn’t help but lose ourselves in the wonders below the surface.
Cliff Jumping at Churna Island
Eventually, it was time to go cliff jumping: a 25 to 30 foot leap into the water. The idea was frightening, but at the same time exhilarating. One, two, three. JUMP! Off the cliff we went, sailing into the open arms of the sea below. We had to ensure that our arms did not flail so that the drop was as smooth as possible. It was a shock to the system when our bodies met the water, the impact and the rush of adrenaline was almost overpowering and, while it may have lasted just a few precious seconds, the feeling of the water coming up to meet you can never be forgotten.
& all of our class remember Ozain’s Cliff Jump. Haha.
Good Bye Churna Island
As the sea started to swell, it was time to say a reluctant goodbye to the island. We went back to the village, a cup of tea in our hands to prevent the cold from taking hold, ready for a change of clothes and some food. Even though we had been on the trip for almost 12 hours, we were still wide-eyed and excited. It seemed like the underwater haven had cast its inevitable spell on us.
Remember to take Sun block cream with you otherwise you will be totally changed when you come back. Do you have any particular memories of Charna Island or you are planning to visit Charna, then share in the comments??
