Tamil Nadu-based Uma Mani became to deep-sea scuba diving on the age of 49. These days, a decade later, she has made it her lifestyles’s challenge to lift consciousness about marine air pollution.
Equipped in a wetsuit, flippers, a diving masks, and about 20 kg of different paraphernalia, 49-year-old Uma Mani used to be about to take her first plunge into the deep sea waters of Maldives.
“I used to be status on the fringe of the diving board and once I seemed on the huge sea, I were given scared. My scuba diver yelled at me to leap. However I refused,” she remembers in a dialog with The Higher India.
“It used to be like taking a large step into the water ahead of going deep within it with the drive. To start with, this procedure seemed a bit messy to me. I doubted myself, however then I closed my eyes and remembered that it used to be my first and the ultimate alternative. If I give up now, I’ll remorseful about it for the remainder of my lifestyles,” she provides.
Uma, who used to be coaching to turn out to be a licensed scuba diver, took this resolution a 12 months ahead of turning 50. Since then, there was no taking a look again. “Once I dived, I in any case noticed the coral reefs for the primary time. My age by no means got here into my thoughts,” she stocks luckily.
These days, the homemaker-turned-scuba diver has made it her lifestyles’s challenge to lift consciousness about emerging marine air pollution and protective coral reefs.
From a contented homemaker to a scuba diver
Born right into a conservative circle of relatives in Chennai, Uma didn’t have many aspirations. After pursuing upper research in literature from the Madras College, she were given married and moved to the Maldives in 2004 the place her husband labored as a physician.
“I used to be at all times focused on portray since formative years however I by no means were given an opportunity to be told artwork professionally. I used to be now not presented to an environment that fosters skilled expansion or dialog for ladies. So, I were given married and focussed on being a just right housewife,” she says.
“I used to be tutoring children at house however I by no means did a full-time process. I travelled with my circle of relatives, anyplace my husband’s paintings took us. Even though I used to be a contented housewife, I couldn’t lend a hand however really feel that I will have to have focussed on my profession or pursued a PhD,” provides Uma, who lately is living in Dindigul, Tamil Nadu.
It used to be best on the age of 45 that Uma revived her hobby in portray. “Once I began to color, I felt like I used to be reborn. Then, I noticed a documentary on coral reefs which inspired me to learn extra about them. I began portray them and preserving exhibitions,” she stocks.
As soon as whilst talking at the have an effect on of air pollution on coral reefs, she used to be mocked through one in all her cousins. “He requested me if I had observed coral reefs in actual lifestyles, or how the sea even seemed underwater, or what the color of the sea used to be. Even though it seems that to be blue and lovely out of doors, it’s filled with air pollution within. This sparked my interest to dive deep into the water,” she provides.
Sooner or later, Uma took up swimming to turn out to be a diver. “My circle of relatives supported me on this resolution. The similar 12 months, my husband and I have been to have fun our twenty fifth wedding ceremony anniversary. As a gift, my son paid for my certification direction and inspired me to learn how to dive. I suggested myself to clutch the chance because it hardly ever involves any person at this age,” she says.
As Uma dived in deep, she used to be stunned through the underwater good looks. “It’s a surreal international. When the water envelopes your frame, you disregard in regards to the out of doors international and the concerns. In spite of sporting such heavy equipment on my waist and shoulders, I felt mild as a feather. It appeared the time had stopped, and ahead of me have been those superbly colored coral reefs. I used to be crushed to look them for the primary time,” she provides.
For oceans becoming rubbish boxes
With time and revel in, Uma’s hobby within the coral reefs slowly was a deep worry.
“Each and every time I dive into the water, I see the coral reefs destroyed additional through irresponsible waste disposal, oil spills, untreated sewage, and poisonous chemical substances which are dumped into the ocean. That is very disheartening. Oceans are the most important carbon sink serving to us breathe just right oxygen however we stay the use of them as our biggest rubbish boxes,” she says.
Consequently, coral reefs — regarded as some of the vital marine ecosystems — are demise at an alarming charge. Motivated to do so, she met documentary filmmaker, Priya Thuvassery, to induce her to make a movie on coral reefs.
And her efforts paid off and the way!
In 2019, their award-winning documentary titled ‘Coral Girl’ used to be launched, that includes Uma’s adventure to lift consciousness of the wear and tear being led to to marine lifestyles. “In India, we don’t communicate in regards to the coral reefs, so this movie used to be an eye-opener,” she provides.
Over time, Uma hosted a number of portray exhibitions around the nation to attract hobby to the topic. “The coral reefs in my artwork don’t seem to be glad anymore. These days, I depict the partitions of the sea on my canvas and paint their sufferings. I consider artwork is an important medium to result in social transformation.”
It’s been a decade since her first dive, however Uma continues to lift consciousness about marine air pollution in faculties, schools, and company organisations. Not too long ago, she used to be named the ‘Earth Champion of the Month’ through Sony BBC Earth.
“Individually, the transformation from being a homemaker to a scuba diver has given me an immense sense of duty. The oceans would not have a voice. I’m some of the few who may just be in contact the truth. My paintings is small and it’ll take a whole village to convey a couple of trade. We don’t simply want to communicate the debate however stroll the stroll as neatly,” she provides.
(Edited through Padmashree Pande; All pictures: Uma Mani)