Andhra Pradesh’s Baruva, a new diving hotspot with British-era shipwreck and marine adventure

Baruva, a sleepy coastal village in Andhra Pradesh, is set to become a tourism hub with a historic shipwreck.

The coastal village of Baruva in Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district is waking up to a tide of transformation. Once known only to a few off-the-grid travellers, this town is in the spotlight with the recent visit of Union Minister of Civil Aviation K Rammohan Naidu who unveiled plans to turn it in to a tourism hub. During the recently-concluded Baruva Beach Festival, Naidu announced a slew of initiatives that promise to reshape the region’s identity and open up new horizons for tourism and livelihood. “We are working towards making Baruva a mini Goa,” the Minister says. “Youth will be trained in scuba diving, guiding and event management, creating local employment opportunities rooted in this region’s natural strengths.”

The announcement has infused hope in the fishing village, which is located near Sompeta and cradles centuries of untapped stories. Among its intriguing features is a British-era wreck of ship SS Chilka, lying on the sea floor, a relic that could soon draw scuba diving enthusiasts from across the country.

The shipwreck was first discovered by a team of scuba divers from Livein Adventures, a Visakhapatnam-based scuba diving institute, in 2020. The SS Chilka, said to be operated by the British India Steam Navigation Company, was en route to Rangoon (now Yangon) when that sank in 1917, reportedly after a devastating fire. At that time, the ship was carrying 1,600 passengers on board. Around 80 crew and passengers perished, making this a tragic footnote of World War I-era maritime history.

Baruva has an interesting maritime history. Once a minor port town under the British, it was used for exporting commodities like rice and coconut. The presence of a lighthouse stands testament to its navigational importance during colonial times.

Old news clippings of the SS Chilka incident were shared by John Castellas, a fifth generation Anglo-Indian who was born and brought up in Visakhapatnam and is currently based in Australia. John has been doing extensive research on the region’s history and heritage. According to him, as there were no harbours with berths during the time, it was fishermen who used their masula boats to ferry cargo and passengers to steamers. They also carried out the dramatic rescue of the 1600 passengers onboard the SS Chilka at Baruva on that fateful day. 

Though largely forgotten, the ship has lived on in local lore, resurfacing now in the conversations of marine enthusiasts, heritage conservationists and adventure tourism operators. The recent buzz around Baruva has brought the spotlight back on this region, which adventure tourism organisations feel has the potential to become Andhra Pradesh’s first dedicated wreck diving destination. The 150-metre-long ship rests just six metres below the surface, making it perfect for beginner divers.

“Wreck diving is one of the most thrilling underwater experiences. It blends exploration, history, and the unexpected,” says Balaram Naidu, founder of Livein Adventures, one of Andhra Pradesh’s leading scuba diving organisations. “Baruva’s shipwreck site is a gem. It’s got everything; a compelling backstory, accessible depths and thriving marine life. With the right support, it can put Baruva on the national diving map.”