Parineeti, who has always loved the ocean, discovered the magic beneath the surface when she took her first breath underwater in Bali in 2013. She was hooked as soon as she came up for air after that dive, and protecting the ocean became very personal to her, earning her PADI Open Water Diver certification later that year in Palau. Since then, she has inspired people all over the world, from her family and friends to fans in India, to try scuba diving and join her in her quest for adventure and the preservation of the ocean.
“The first time I came up to the surface after diving, I was crying because it was such a life-changing experience,” says Chopra. “It is now something I can’t live without. I make sure I do a diving trip every 3 months despite my work schedule because it is my form of meditation. And it is the place I am immensely passionate about protecting.”
“We are all equal underwater and all speak the same language. Over the years I have seen the changes that have taken place beneath the surface. During my time as a brand ambassador for Tourism Australia, I witnessed the bleaching and damage that has occurred to the Great Barrier Reef. I was so sad to see so this and am now committed to be a diver with a purpose. I have also seen first-hand how marine reserves, like the ones in Sipadan and Palau, show how valuable protected areas are. As a PADI Diver, I want to make sure that our entire blue planet gets the protection it deserves.” continues Parineeti.
Parineeti Chopra has big plans for 2022, including becoming a real-life PADI Mermaid and participating in citizen science projects while diving around the world.