From the desk to the depths

A dive into deep underwater, just you and the ocean, and imagine there is no breathing support.

- AASHNA REDDY

For most of us, it's a distant a place we might go in our dreams or vacation fantasies. But for Archana Sankaranarayanan, freediving has transformed from an unexpected passion into a career and a way of life.

Just this month, Archana, a former corporate lawyer from Chennai, set a new national record in freediving at the noxyCup 2024 in Hungary. Competing in the Dynamic No Fins (DNF) category, she swam an impressive 37 metres underwater, a remarkable feat requiring immense physical and mental endurance. What's even more impressive? She achieved this despite setbacks from an illness that interrupted her preparation.

So how does someone go from working at one of India's top law firms to setting records in a sport that demands absolute focus and calm? Archana's journey begins in 2019, on a holiday to the Andaman Islands. Like many others seeking an escape, she booked a Discover Scuba experience, the kind that gives a brief taste of underwater exploration. "I absolutely loved it, but I didn't like the idea of someone holding me while diving," she shared. This initial experience left her with a spark, a desire to return to the ocean and experience it on her own terms.