Posts

Image
A Day in the Life of a Maldivian Dive Instructor Island Lens | Maldives If you search for “dive instructor Maldives,” you will find clear water, coral reefs, and smiling divers. What you do not see is the preparation, responsibility, and quiet respect for the ocean behind every dive. This is a real day in my life as a Maldivian dive instructor. Morning: Reading the Ocean Before checking messages or schedules, I check the sea. Wind direction. Surface texture. Cloud movement. In the Maldives, the ocean decides how the day will unfold. As a local instructor, reading the water is instinct. Scuba tanks inspected and analyzed Regulators pressure-tested BCDs organized Dive site conditions reviewed Safety is not a checklist. It is preparation built on habit. Dive Briefing: Clear and Controlled A good dive briefing stays simple: Maximum depth Bottom time Entry and exit plan Current direction Marine life awareness Emergency procedures Many first-time divers in ...
Image
🦈 Sharks of the Maldives: Why Protecting Them Matters More Than Ever Tiger shark photo by IslandLensLife 🌊 Quick Facts About Sharks in the Maldives πŸ“Œ The Maldives introduced a nationwide shark fishing ban in 2010 , becoming a shark sanctuary. πŸ’™ Shark-diving tourism earns roughly USD 14–23 million per year for the Maldives. 🌊 One living reef shark can generate USD 30,000–50,000+ in lifetime tourism value. ⚖️ A dead shark is worth only about USD 100–300 for meat/oil. 🧩 Sharks are keystone predators that keep reefs balanced and healthy. 🚨 Allowing shark fishing risks long-term reef damage and a drop in dive tourism. If you’ve ever slipped beneath the waves in the Maldives, you already know this: sharks are not the villains of our ocean — they’re the heartbeat of it. As a diver, I’ve watched these beautiful animals glide through blue water with calm confidence. They’re misunder...
Image
Breathing Underwater: Scuba Diving as Meditation One of the things I love most about diving is how peaceful it feels beneath the surface. Down there, the world becomes quiet — no noise, no rush, no stress. Just the sound of your own slow breathing and the rhythm of the ocean. Over time, I began to realise that scuba diving is more than a sport — it’s a form of moving meditation . And interestingly, science agrees. Quick Science Insight: Research shows that exposure to “blue spaces” like the ocean significantly reduces stress and anxiety, improves mood, and enhances mental well-being. PADI Mental Health Article 🌬 Slow, Deep Breathing — The Core of Meditation In scuba diving, we learn to breathe slowly and deeply — not just for air efficiency, but for calmness. This is the same breathing technique used in traditional meditation and yoga. Science Behind It: Slow deep breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system , lowering heart rate, reducing ...

Welcome to IslandLens Life — My Journey Beneath the Waves

Image
Hey there! I’m Nittu — a dive professional and ocean lover from the Maldives 🏝️. Welcome to IslandLens Life — a space where I share my journey through diving, underwater photography, and everyday island life. I’ve spent countless hours exploring coral reefs, swimming alongside turtles, manta rays, and colorful marine life — and every dive reminds me how beautiful and fragile our oceans truly are. This blog is my little corner of the internet to tell those stories, share what I learn, and connect with others who love the sea as much as I do. πŸ“Έ About the Blog IslandLens Life isn’t about being perfect — it’s about growing, learning, and exploring. I’ll be sharing simple underwater photography tips, camera settings that work for me, editing ideas, and real stories from my dives around the Maldives. Whether you’re a diver, traveler, or just someone who loves the ocean, I hope you’ll feel right at home here. πŸŒ… What to Expect 🌊 Dive adventures and behind-the-scene...