The turquoise waters of the ocean hold a certain magic, a siren call that has captivated adventurers and explorers for centuries. For Archana Sankaranarayanan, that call was unexpected yet irresistible and strong enough to pull her away from the structured world of law and into the realm of free diving.
This 31-year-old, a former associate at a Tier 1 law firm, has traded courtrooms for coral reefs, becoming India’s deepest female freediver, radiating courage, determination, and profound connection with the underwater world.
Choosing the ‘easiest’ professional degree
Archana’s path wasn’t always so clear. After completing her bachelor’s in commerce from RD National College, Mumbai, and a brief stint with the CA exams, she understood the difficulties in cracking it despite clearing the MCQs on her first attempt. “My family was hopeful that I would clear the final exams as well, but I knew with complete confidence that I could not,” she quips.
“It might sound absurd, but since I wanted to get out of CA, I looked into the easiest professional degree I could obtain. That’s where I stumbled upon law, a decision driven more by practicality than passion,” she adds.
A successful entrance exam secured her a place at the same college where she did her undergraduate studies. The ambition then was clear: a coveted position at a top-tier law firm. “At that point, all I wanted was to get into a Tier-I law firm because that meant I was sorted for life,” she explains. An internship at AZB & Partners, followed by a paralegal role, and then an associate position in Bengaluru in 2019, seemed to solidify her plan.
Yet, beneath the surface of professional success, a different current was stirring.
The reality of life as a law associate was far from the glamour portrayed in the media. “It was very hectic. There was no sleep, and I was working almost 24/7,” she recalls. The long hours and intense pressure began to take their toll.
“All my friends were in Bombay, and at that point, I was stressed because I had no friends,” she adds.
After eight months, in desperate need of a getaway, she planned a New Year’s trip to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands with her friends in 2019. Getting scuba certified was a mere afterthought, a way to fill a couple of days between parties. Little did she know, this unplanned detour would change the course of her life.
Calm like the still waters
Havelock Island, with its tranquil beauty and vibrant underwater world, cast a spell on Archana. “More than the parties, I fell in love with a shallow reef,” she recounts. The magic of seeing clownfish in their natural habitat, a childhood dream inspired by the popular movie Finding Nemo, ignited a spark within her.
While her friends slept in, she was determined to complete her certification. “Everything about the island, the ocean, and the diving experience just clicked,” she says. Havelock Island had awakened a deep passion within her, a yearning for a life connected to the ocean.
She understood the impact of the ocean on her when she returned from the trip. “I used to sit at my desk, but I just couldn’t stop thinking about the ocean, the fishes and the atmosphere in itself,” recalls Archana with enthusiasm.
While the law offered financial security, Archana yearned for the peace she felt underwater. “I realised I could be good at law, but perhaps I could excel at diving,” shares Archana, who left law and started pursuing scuba diving seriously.
Going back to Andaman and Nicobar Island in 2020, Archana returned to diving with renewed focus, pursuing advanced certifications. “I completed my Advanced Open Water course, became a rescue diver, and finally achieved professional diver status through Lacadives, one of India’s oldest dive schools,” explains Archana.
Despite her commitment to running a dive school in Northeast India, she knew she had to pursue this calling.
A leap of faith
Archana stumbled upon freediving when she saw one of Shubham Pandey’s videos. Shubham is one of India’s top freediving coaches. “Seeing him swim so deep and effortlessly without tanks was awe-inspiring,” she recalls. The idea of connecting with the ocean on such a primal level resonated deeply. In 2023, she decided to take the plunge, contacting Shubham and flying to Nusa Penida, Bali, to train with him.
“It was a big leap, but I felt I needed to evolve,” she explains. Scuba diving, while enjoyable, felt too assisted. For Archana, free diving, with its emphasis on breath-hold and self-reliance, offered a deeper, more challenging connection with the ocean. “I wondered, why couldn’t my lungs take me deeper?” she muses.
Scuba diving was also saturated, and as a woman in a male-dominated industry, she knew she needed to do something unique to make a name for herself.
Her initial free diving experience was humbling. “I was terrified before my first free dive and knew nothing about my lung capacity,” she admits. The five-meter dive felt like an eternity, and she surfaced gasping for air. But she persevered, driven by an inner conviction.
“Within two days, I reached 20 meters, surprising my coach. That dive with manta rays solidified my passion,” shares Archana.
Later, she reached 30 meters — a major milestone. Shubham encouraged Archana to consider competing, sending her to Apnea Bali, run by a group of inspiring women. “Training with them was transformative. Seeing their comfort and skill in the water, especially at their age, was incredibly motivating,” she says.
Archana competed in Bangalore, setting a personal and national record of 42 meters, making her the deepest female freediver in India. She also went to Budapest for a pool competition, focusing on DNF (dynamic no fins). It’s a challenging discipline, requiring immense skill and technique.
While freediving as a sport is not taken up by women, biology does have a role to play. “Women tend to have more body fat, which naturally pushes the body to float,” shares Archana. “Even though men have an advantage here, women are deep beings, making them more comfortable in-depth,” she avers.
“Water has helped me analyse my flaws and shortcomings which I have been actively working on to fix,” Archana adds.
Blessed with the right coach
Despite being in a male-dominated field, Archana was fortunate to find the best guidance in freediving. “During a level two course in Murdeshwar, I could see how naturally comfortable Archana was in the water,” shares Shubham.
“When I was the only one (among his students) to reach 30 meters, he suggested I compete,” Archana shares. The idea seemed absurd to her since he was a national record holder, and she was just starting.
But Shubham saw the potential she hadn’t recognised. “He explained my natural ability to equalise (adjusting the air pressure in the middle ear to the water pressure ) as a key advantage. I initially hesitated, wanting to refine my skills, and then dedicated myself to training in Indonesia and the Philippines,” she adds.
Shubham’s influence has been profound. “His generous sharing of knowledge, his secure support in this field, and his emphasis on ocean conservation over competition have shaped my approach to diving and mentorship,” shares Archana.
‘I want to make freediving accessible’
Archana’s vision extends beyond personal success. She is actively working to bring AIDA (International Association for the Development of Apnea), the international freediving organisation, to India, making the sport more accessible to aspiring divers.
“To date, we have to register under other countries to compete in an international diving competition. If India gets its own AIDA, then it would make this easier and more people would come forward to compete,” she says. “My goal is to master the techniques and bring this knowledge back to India. I want to make freediving accessible, so others don’t have to travel abroad as I did.”
From the structured world of law to the boundless realm of the ocean, Archana has carved her path, becoming a pioneer in Indian free diving and a powerful advocate for its future. Her story is an example of the courage it takes to follow one’s heart, embrace the unknown, and dive deep into the depths of one’s potential.
Edited by Arunava Banerjee; All images courtesy Archana Sankaranarayanan
No comments:
Post a Comment