Courtroom to deep ocean: Meet Archana Sankara Narayanan, corporate lawyer turned India’s deepest female freediver

Hyderabad: Beneath the surface of the ocean, where sunlight fades and silence deepens, Archana Sankara Narayanan has found her true calling. A former corporate lawyer from Chennai, Archana is now the deepest female freediver in India, holding National Records in all four depth disciplines.

Her journey from towering stacks of legal documents to the tranquil vastness of the ocean is not just a story of change, but of profound transformation—a journey defined by rebellion, self-discovery, and an unyielding love for the sea.

At the AIDA Mabini Depth Quest in the Philippines this May, Archana made history, setting four new national records, including surpassing her own. She now holds the titles for Constant Weight (CWT) with a stunning 34m dive, Constant Weight No Fins (CNF) at 20m, and Constant Weight Bi-Fins (CWTB) reaching 32m.

The event was a challenge not just for its competitive spirit but for the new environment and the presence of world champions vying for continental and global titles. Yet, she thrived, drawing inspiration from the best while pushing her boundaries.

Newsmeter caught up with Archana to talk about her journey from law to the ocean’s depths, her record-breaking dives, and her vision for the future of freediving in India. Excerpts:

Newsmeter: You went from corporate law to freediving—a leap most people only dream of. What was the moment that triggered this shift? Was it sudden or gradual?

Archana Sankara Narayanan: It was gradual. The trip to Andaman during my corporate law stint introduced me to that beautiful island and the ocean. Then I went back for my scuba diving journey, which eventually led to freediving after several years. It wasn’t a sudden decision; it was a slow unfolding of a new passion.

Newsmeter: Coming from such a high-pressure environment, what emotions came with that transition? Did it feel like an escape, a rebellion, or a return to self?

Archana: It started as a rebellion—to prove that we don’t have to work under constant pressure. But looking back, I chose a path where I’m under constant pressure underwater, also known as hydrostatic pressure! The only difference is that I enjoy and crave this underwater pressure. So maybe it was all about finding the kind of pressure I was okay with.

Newsmeter: Your journey began in the Andaman Islands. What was it about that first scuba dive that struck such a chord?

Archana: It was the moment I jumped into the ocean from the boat after the pool training. Something changed; it felt like a new me or just a version of me I hadn’t seen before. There was this sense of confidence and calm while others were panicking a little during their first dive. Now, looking back, I think that was my body telling me, “This is where you truly belong.”

Newsmeter: You’ve returned there multiple times—what does that place mean to you now? Is it just where it started, or something deeper?

Archana: It’s something much deeper. Although freediving training is relatively new there, and I’m more used to scuba diving in the Andaman, it’s the most untouched, most natural form of an island I’ve ever been to. I’ve dived at all the sites across Havelock and Neil Island, and that entire place has my heart. Andaman will always be the place where I found my one true love, which is the ocean. No matter where I go, I’ll always come back to Andaman, just like how sea turtles imprint on their natal beach and return years later. That’s me and Andaman.

Newsmeter: When did you first learn about freediving, and what made you think, “I need to try this”?

Archana: I first heard about freediving when I was a dive master in Havelock. A few divers kept talking about Shubham Pandey, and his video showed up on my feed one day. That kind of oneness with the ocean, without any oxygen support, drew me to the sport. It was pure, raw, and beautiful.

Newsmeter: Watching Indian freedivers like Shubham Pandey inspired you, but what was it that pulled you into the sport? Was it the grace, the silence, or the self-control?

Archana: It was honestly the desire to search for anything that I enjoy doing in the ocean that I could be good at. Freediving not only inspired me to work on myself but also gave me the silence and peace to do that inner work. It’s not therapy, but it can be therapeutic. Freediving is a sport that requires physical and mental strength—it’s demanding, but that’s what I love about it.

Newsmeter: Freediving is a discipline of both lungs and the mind. How do you train mentally to stay calm and composed underwater?

Archana: My usual routine during training involves still practice with Aastha Gupta. She has an app called “Still,” which has holistic training for your lungs and overall health. It helps me so much to start my day with clarity and peace. I also do strength training at Creed in Chennai with Sheba Devraj. And then there are my usual breathwork sessions to improve lung capacity and CO2 tolerance.

Newsmeter: You trained in Bali, a global hub for freediving. What were the biggest takeaways from that experience?

Archana: Meeting an all-women’s team at Apnea Bali and diving with female divers for the first time inspired me every single day I was there. I went for my master's training and took away a lot of learnings, especially the hope that someday, female freedivers in India will also achieve that kind of excellence.

Newsmeter: You pushed through illness right before your record-setting dive at nOxyCup. What did that experience teach you about mental resilience?

Archana: That competition taught me to be grateful for the mental strength I’ve built over the years. Freediving teaches you to accept reality as it is and to work with it, not against it.

Newsmeter: As the deepest female freediver in India, do you feel a sense of responsibility to grow the sport, especially among women?

Archana: Definitely. I’m constantly trying to make waves in numerous ways to show that freediving need not be a one-dimensional sport. I think we all feel that sense of responsibility because we are laying the foundation for what’s about to come.

Newsmeter: You’ve got your eyes set on another national record in the Philippines. What’s your headspace going into that? Is it more about the numbers or the experience?

Archana: My headspace right now is that I’m going back to the Philippines, where my national record journey began last year. I’m more confident in my skills and technique now, and I want to enjoy the experience rather than focus solely on numbers. Sometimes you just have to let go and let the ocean take you.

Newsmeter: Beyond medals and records, what do you hope to build through your journey in freediving?

Archana: It was never just about medals and records. Freediving saved my life in many ways, and I hope to share that hope with the rest of the world. My GP Birla Fellowship for Women Leaders is my first step in increasing access to the sport. I want to address the issue of access. If more women, like the seaweed divers of Tamil Nadu, get involved, the world won’t stand a chance.

Newsmeter: If you could go back to that first trip to the Andamans and whisper something to your past self, what would it be?

Archana: Baby girl, mother ocean’s got you.