INS Viraat can also become a huge wreck-diving destination

Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba was not talking through his peaked hat when he posited this week that the mighty INS Viraat — decommissioned after 30 years in the Indian Navy — may find a post-retirement calling underwater.

While deliberately sinking the pride and joy of the fleet may seem callous, a new avatar as a wreck-diving attraction is not a bad idea. India, after all, has only has one other such site to offer aficionados of this increasingly popular wreck-reational diving sport: the Inket, sunk in the Andamans. And while the offer by Andhra Pradesh to make aircraft carrier a luxury destination hotel sounds exciting, who would want to spend an estimated Rs 1,000 crore to retrofit it — as the current accommodation on-board would be unlikely to make the cut —is not clear. Even turning it into a training ship or amusement park, suggestions also mooted for the now dismembered INS Vikrant, would require considerable investment too.

But no one wishes Viraat to be reduced to scrap as well.

A submerged Viraat could, however, soon become a great carrier reef, supporting diverse marine life — a tourist attraction in itself. And, more importantly, as there are only three dive-able aircraft carriers in the world so far — off Florida, off Batticaloa in Sri Lanka and in the Bikini Atoll — India can offer a tempting fourth, at practically no investment