Ile Perseverance bay unsafe for swimmers
Beware of stiff drop-off
A man-made beach now becoming popular
poses risks
Despite its serene appearance, the small beach and its calm and inviting waters at lle Perseverance hides a dangerous threat; deeper spots, deep enough to put a child's life in danger.
The Seychelles Maritime Safety Agency, SMSA, has placed demarcation buoys off the beach to indicate to members of the public where it is safe. The buoys have been placed a little over a metre from the beach, which means that technically the water all along the beach is unsafe for swimming. However, the SMSA is yet put up warning signs to alert the public of the danger and that the sea beyond the buoys can be too deep.
Yellow buoys placed to mark the dangerous areas
For the residents of the man-made island who have just began to settle into their new houses in the housing estate, the beach, with its white sand, had been seen as such a welcoming spot. This is especially true for those who have been allocated houses further inland at the estate. The idea of having a beach close by had initially seemed ideal. It has grown to be a very popular spot with children, who have been making the most of it during the May school holidays. The discovery that the sea floor beneath the cool surface is full of deep holes and a potential hazard has been received with mixed views.
“I understand that some areas could be dangerous, but nothing serious has occurred so far, so I’m not too worried." one parent told TODAY in Seychelles, adding that they can still use the beach for picnics.
‘We just have to make the children aware that they cannot go too far out because the water may be too deep," another parent said.
The new island of Perseverance was created through dredging works which filled in the rock armouring structure that shaped the island. Over the past 10 years, the sea has been slowly building up the beach to what it is today along the man-made bay. It could be considered that in the process, the sea must have removed the sand elsewhere before depositing it along the rock armouring to create the beach.
The lesson learnt is that nature always has the last word.
Source: Today.sc 5-12-12