Manipal, 26th April 2023: Kasturba Hospital and Kasturba Medical College, in collaboration with the Centre for Wilderness Medicine, launched the very first Scuba diving school at a university in India- Manipal SCUBA School and a sport climbing wall- Marena Boulder. Both the facilities were inaugurated by Dr. HS Ballal, Pro Chancellor of MAHE, Dr. MD Venkatesh, Vice Chancellor of MAHE, and Dr. Sharath Rao, Pro Vice Chancellor, in the presence of Dr. Arun Maiya, Dean of MCPH, Dr. Anil Bhat, Associate Dean of KMC Manipal, Dr. Anand Venugopal, Chief Operating Officer of the Teaching Hospital, and Dr. Avinash Shetty.
The Manipal SCUBA School is the first of its kind in the area to offer scuba diving instruction to medical professionals, students, and enthusiasts at a University in India. The School has state-of-the-art facilities and offers courses ranging from beginner to advanced levels through internationally recognized Scuba School International. Anyone who gets certifies can dive anywhere in the world.
Dr. HS Ballal stated at the launch, “We are proud to launch the Manipal Scuba School and Marena Boulder, which will provide medical professionals and students with the opportunity to learn scuba diving and Bouldering, while learning about wilderness medicine essential skills for emergency responders and researchers in the field.”
Dr. MD Venkatesh added, “The Centre for Wilderness Medicine has been at the forefront of this field’s training and research.” With the opening of the Manipal Scuba School and Marena Boulder, we hope to reinforce our dedication to advancing medical education and research in Wilderness Medicine.”
Dr. Sharath Rao, Pro Vice Chancellor of Manipal University, added, “We are proud to partner with the Centre for Wilderness Medicine, Kasturba Hospital, and Kasturba Medical College in this initiative. Their expertise and experience in wilderness medicine and environmental conservation will be invaluable in providing a comprehensive and holistic learning experience to our students.”
Dr. Freston Marc Sirur, Emergency Department Assistant Professor, introduced the Manipal Scuba School and Marena Boulder as facilities to learn the sports in a safe learning environment through structured and mentored courses, while Dr. Jayaraj M B, Emergency Department Head, gave the vote of gratitude.
The Manipal Scuba School Marena Boulder is open to anyone interested in learning scuba diving and sport climbing through structured courses which will be announced from time to time and will provide a one-of-a-kind opportunity to explore the undersea world while also acquiring vital first response medical skills.
By 
ForthFocus™