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

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