A young girl of 10 from Goa has successfully completed her Junior Open Water Diver certification, thus becoming one of the youngest divers in Goa to reach this milestone. Varuna Unnikrishnan, a Class 6 student of the Navy Children School, the daughter of a navy man, was introduced to the sea at 9. Varuna means God of Oceans and her love for marine life began at an early age, and her passion for the ocean led her to take the plunge into scuba diving.
Her love for water and diving
Varuna, a very confident young girl, said, “I am super comfortable in water. I have seen so many things under water like coral rocks and different kinds of fishes. I also got used to dealing with different situations. Like when the glass is filled with water and when the regulator comes out of your mouth. You have to keep calm and not panic. If you panic then no one can help you. I love the ocean and everything in it. Diving is like stepping into a new world where everything is calm and beautiful,” Varuna shared, her face lighting up with excitement. “I can’t wait to explore more of the sea!”
Her future plans
Varuna's instructor, Madhuli P Karmalkar, a highly experienced dive professional, guided her throughout the training process. Under Madhuli's patient and thorough mentorship, Varuna demonstrated incredible focus, learning both the technical aspects of diving and how to safely navigate the open waters. Her dives took place off the near Grandi Island of Goa, where she encountered vibrant coral reefs and a variety of marine life, making her achievement all the more special. Her father said he was preparing to go to the Lakshadweep Islands after the monsoons to go diving. With the Open Water Diver certification now under her belt, Varuna has set her sights on expanding her diving horizons. She hopes to make this her career and someday even become a diver in the navy. Perhaps when she is grown up the navy will have a place for someone like her.
Her training
She started her Open Water Diver course with Scuba Evolution Dive Centre, where she learned essential skills such as dive theory, buoyancy control, and underwater navigation. Her course included a mix of theory, confined water training, and four open water dives, which she completed successfully with flying colours. She is currently qualified to dive up to a depth of 12 metres.
Who is Varuna?
• Her passion is to become a shooter and is preparing for the upcoming Goa State Shooting Championship.
• She later hopes to become a diver and work for the Navy in the years ahead.