The turquoise waters of the ocean maintain a sure magic, a siren name that has captivated adventurers and explorers for hundreds of years. For Archana Sankaranarayanan, that decision was surprising but irresistible and robust sufficient to tug her away from the structured world of regulation and into the realm of free diving.
This 31-year-old, a former affiliate at a Tier 1 regulation agency, has traded courtrooms for coral reefs, turning into India’s deepest feminine freediver, radiating braveness, dedication, and profound reference to the underwater world.
Selecting the ‘best’ skilled diploma
Archana’s path wasn’t all the time so clear. After finishing her bachelor’s in commerce from RD Nationwide School, Mumbai, and a short stint with the CA exams, she understood the difficulties in cracking it regardless of clearing the MCQs on her first try. “My household was hopeful that I’d clear the ultimate exams as effectively, however I knew with full confidence that I couldn’t,” she quips.
“It would sound absurd, however since I needed to get out of CA, I appeared into the best skilled diploma I might acquire. That’s the place I stumbled upon regulation, a choice pushed extra by practicality than ardour,” she provides.
A profitable entrance examination secured her a spot on the similar faculty the place she did her undergraduate research. The ambition then was clear: a coveted place at a top-tier regulation agency. “At that time, all I needed was to get right into a Tier-I regulation agency as a result of that meant I used to be sorted for all times,” she explains. An internship at AZB & Companions, adopted by a paralegal function, after which an affiliate place in Bengaluru in 2019, appeared to solidify her plan.
But, beneath the floor {of professional} success, a unique present was stirring.
The fact of life as a regulation affiliate was removed from the glamour portrayed within the media. “It was very hectic. There was no sleep, and I used to be working nearly 24/7,” she recollects. The lengthy hours and intense strain started to take their toll.
“All my associates had been in Bombay, and at that time, I used to be careworn as a result of I had no associates,” she provides.
After eight months, in determined want of a getaway, she deliberate a New Yr’s journey to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands together with her associates in 2019. Getting scuba licensed was a mere afterthought, a approach to fill a few days between events. Little did she know, this unplanned detour would change the course of her life.
Calm just like the nonetheless waters
Havelock Island, with its tranquil magnificence and vibrant underwater world, solid a spell on Archana. “Greater than the events, I fell in love with a shallow reef,” she recounts. The magic of seeing clownfish of their pure habitat, a childhood dream impressed by the favored film Discovering Nemo, ignited a spark inside her.
Whereas her associates slept in, she was decided to finish her certification. “All the things concerning the island, the ocean, and the diving expertise simply clicked,” she says. Havelock Island had woke up a deep ardour inside her, a craving for a life related to the ocean.
She understood the impression of the ocean on her when she returned from the journey. “I used to take a seat at my desk, however I simply couldn’t cease desirous about the ocean, the fishes and the ambiance in itself,” recollects Archana with enthusiasm.
Whereas the regulation provided monetary safety, Archana yearned for the peace she felt underwater. “I realised I might be good at regulation, however maybe I might excel at diving,” shares Archana, who left regulation and began pursuing scuba diving severely.
Going again to Andaman and Nicobar Island in 2020, Archana returned to diving with renewed focus, pursuing superior certifications. “I accomplished my Superior Open Water course, turned a rescue diver, and at last achieved skilled diver standing by way of Lacadives, one in every of India’s oldest dive faculties,” explains Archana.
Regardless of her dedication to operating a dive college in Northeast India, she knew she needed to pursue this calling.
A leap of religion
Archana stumbled upon freediving when she noticed one in every of Shubham Pandey’s movies. Shubham is one in every of India’s high freediving coaches. “Seeing him swim so deep and effortlessly with out tanks was awe-inspiring,” she recollects. The concept of connecting with the ocean on such a primal degree resonated deeply. In 2023, she determined to make the leap, contacting Shubham and flying to Nusa Penida, Bali, to coach with him.
“It was a giant leap, however I felt I wanted to evolve,” she explains. Scuba diving, whereas pleasurable, felt too assisted. For Archana, free diving, with its emphasis on breath-hold and self-reliance, provided a deeper, more difficult reference to the ocean. “I questioned, why couldn’t my lungs take me deeper?” she muses.
Scuba diving was additionally saturated, and as a lady in a male-dominated trade, she knew she wanted to do one thing distinctive to make a reputation for herself.
Her preliminary free diving expertise was humbling. “I used to be terrified earlier than my first free dive and knew nothing about my lung capability,” she admits. The five-meter dive felt like an eternity, and he or she surfaced gasping for air. However she persevered, pushed by an inside conviction.
“Inside two days, I reached 20 meters, stunning my coach. That dive with manta rays solidified my ardour,” shares Archana.
Later, she reached 30 meters — a serious milestone. Shubham inspired Archana to contemplate competing, sending her to Apnea Bali, run by a bunch of inspiring ladies. “Coaching with them was transformative. Seeing their consolation and ability within the water, particularly at their age, was extremely motivating,” she says.
Archana competed in Bangalore, setting a private and nationwide file of 42 meters, making her the deepest feminine freediver in India. She additionally went to Budapest for a pool competitors, specializing in DNF (dynamic no fins). It’s a difficult self-discipline, requiring immense ability and method.
Whereas freediving as a sport just isn’t taken up by ladies, biology does have a job to play. “Girls are inclined to have extra physique fats, which naturally pushes the physique to drift,” shares Archana. “Regardless that males have a bonus right here, ladies are deep beings, making them extra comfy in-depth,” she avers.
“Water has helped me analyse my flaws and shortcomings which I’ve been actively engaged on to repair,” Archana provides.
Blessed with the correct coach
Regardless of being in a male-dominated subject, Archana was lucky to seek out the most effective steering in freediving. “Throughout a degree two course in Murdeshwar, I might see how naturally comfy Archana was within the water,” shares Shubham.
“Once I was the one one (amongst his college students) to achieve 30 meters, he urged I compete,” Archana shares. The concept appeared absurd to her since he was a nationwide file holder, and he or she was simply beginning.
However Shubham noticed the potential she hadn’t recognised. “He defined my pure capacity to equalise (adjusting the air strain within the center ear to the water strain ) as a key benefit. I initially hesitated, desirous to refine my expertise, after which devoted myself to coaching in Indonesia and the Philippines,” she provides.
Shubham’s affect has been profound. “His beneficiant sharing of information, his safe assist on this subject, and his emphasis on ocean conservation over competitors have formed my strategy to diving and mentorship,” shares Archana.
‘I wish to make freediving accessible’
Archana’s imaginative and prescient extends past private success. She is actively working to convey AIDA (Worldwide Affiliation for the Improvement of Apnea), the worldwide freediving organisation, to India, making the game extra accessible to aspiring divers.
“Thus far, we have now to register underneath different international locations to compete in a global diving competitors. If India will get its personal AIDA, then it could make this simpler and extra individuals would come ahead to compete,” she says. “My aim is to grasp the methods and produce this data again to India. I wish to make freediving accessible, so others don’t need to journey overseas as I did.”
From the structured world of regulation to the boundless realm of the ocean, Archana has carved her path, turning into a pioneer in Indian free diving and a strong advocate for its future. Her story is an instance of the braveness it takes to comply with one’s coronary heart, embrace the unknown, and dive deep into the depths of 1’s potential.
Edited by Arunava Banerjee; All pictures courtesy Archana Sankaranarayanan