Azim Asger is a 29 year-old born and raised in Mombasa. His life always revolved around the coastline. He is a professional scuba diving instructor, keen on water sports and considers the ocean as his everyday playground. His underwater photographs and videos will have you awing at nature’s beauty.
Why do you love the waters? What’s so special about water that’s different from other outdoor activities
My love for the ocean dates back to my childhood days. It may sound corny but my first memory is that of the ocean. The ocean gives me a sense of freedom. I am inspired by the colors of the ocean especially during sunrises and sunsets. For me it’s a special way to engage and connect with nature. The variety of marine life is beyond beautiful. Whenever I am out in the waters, I get a sense of peace and tranquility. I have equally met amazing people in my life because of getting myself out there.
How did you get started on diving and surfing to a point of now being an instructor?
I was 5 years old when I first went scuba diving with my father, as he used to be a scuba diving instructor. My love for this activity had me enrolling at PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) and from there became a certified Scuba diving Instructor! As an instructor, I advocate for Marine life and Coral reef conservation as well as plastic free oceans! I involve divers and non-divers in beach clean ups and underwater clean ups as well.
As for surfing, I would go to the beach, rent a cracked board for KES 40 or simply find a plank of wood and try balance whilst pretending to be surfing. After a great deal of practice and learning, I am now a windsurfing instructor.
Your best moments under water plus your scariest moments while at sea
I remember swimming with 2 giant whale sharks which was an unbelievable experience! It’s always pleasant encountering a pod of dolphins during dives and joining them for a swim. Another best moment was seeing a shark while undergoing my training with PADI. The excitement was comparative to seeing a lion during a safari game drive.
My scariest moment at sea is when my student divers get too excited upon seeing something interesting and they tend to swim away to explore. This is always a risk and I can only hope I am fast enough to stop them.
Follow @wind_obsession on Instagram
