1 million people learn to dive every year
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How did you get started in this business?
It was in 1997 and I was 20 years old. I have very clear memories of making that trip from Cochin to Lakshadweep and then not being able to believe how deep blue and crystal clear the waters were. Memories of those brilliant colours stayed on with me and I decided to get into diving seriously.
I did a standard course - the basic CMAS underwater programme Lacadives offered at that time, for beginners. Then I came back again for more and made a few trips up and down to the islands and in 1998 decided to do a rescue diving course and spend some more time on the islands.
And the first time that you took someone diving - as an instructor?
You have to earn your instructor's licence to do that. I did a rescue diver's course in 1999 in Mauritius and then a dive master's course. In 2000, we at Lacadives launched the first instructor's course in Bangaram in Lakshadweep.
It was the first CMAS course in India (PADI had not come in at that time). We used to consider ourselves kachcha nimboos (unripe lemons) at that time since hardly anyone was doing diving. In fact, I had done about 350-400 dives by the time I became an instructor.
What's life like for a diver in India?
You are working six-seven months a year during the diving season. The industry too is growing at a phenomenal pace with one million people learning diving every year. In India, in 1997, we (Lacadives) were the only people who taught diving, and now there are about 22 dive shops in Goa, Mangalore, Pondicherry, Mumbai, the Andamans and Lakshadweep.
One can choose to work in these dive shops and also make money by getting commission for every diving equipment one sells. You also have a great lifestyle, free food, boarding and lodging (probably a house on the beach) and quality clients.
I remember one of my first students, a European guy who was very comfortable with what we taught him. It was very easy to teach him diving and both he and I enjoyed the five-day course. It has usually been smooth sailing for me. I have never been overwhelmed by my duties as an instructor.
Oh yes, but there was a time when my parents came to learn. Both are in their mid-sixties and I was their instructor. They were not comfortable and had preconceived fears and even I was edgy and irritable with them. In retrospect, after 10 years of training I am able to be much more patient and my teaching has become much more streamlined and better.
Author: Ayesha Banerjee (HT Horizons)
Date: 20th August, 2010
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