For me, diving is just like dancing: Dancer Rukmini Vijayakumar

A few years ago, Rukmini Vijayakumar, draped in a sari, took the plunge into the ocean, pushing her physical and artistic boundaries in a unique underwater exploration. “I was creating this piece, and part of it felt like it belonged underwater. It was just a concept initially, but something clicked inside me,” says Rukmini. That ‘click’ led her to discover a new passion — diving.

‘An overwhelming, surreal experience'Of that shoot from 2020, Rukmini says, “My friend, who’s a diver and photographer, saw me in the water and said, ‘I think you’d be great at diving. You should try it!’ That’s how it began.” She adds, “My husband had been encouraging me to try it out for ages, but I was never comfortable in the water. I didn’t feel like I could do it, because somehow I just thought I was going to be bad at it. We enrolled in courses for freediving and scuba, and since then, the ocean has become my playground,” Rukmini tells us that she got to a depth of 25 mts on a free dive, in a pool in Dubai recently. “This may not seem like a big achievement, but to me, it is a win, considering I have only taken four lessons so far.”

‘I love it and think everyone should try it’
Growing fond of diving and the underwater world was something that surprised her. “I have bad swimming technique. I can only do a lap or two. But diving is different. It’s not about brute strength, it’s about being calm and using your intelligence,” explains Rukmini. “The key is finding the right person to do it with — someone who can dispel your fear. Then, the ocean welcomes you with open arms,” she says.

‘There is a strange similarity between diving and dance’
In discovering the art of diving, Rukmini says she found an unexpected overlap with dancing. “In both, you have to be silent inside. No fear, no reservations. In the water, you cannot let the fear of running out of air get to you and when on stage, you can’t be afraid of what people think. You have to be vulnerable and open, completely calm and centred. That’s what connects the two for me,” says Rukmini.

Scuba diving vs. freediving The biggest difference between the two skills is breathing. Scuba divers use a tank of breathable air strapped to their body – and are taught to never hold their breath underwater – while free divers train themselves to hold their breath as they dive down
Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”