Story of a Local Lad from the Southernmost tip of India who Survived Tsunami to Realize his Passion

Port Blair, Jan 25: Being born and brought up in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, trekking, fishing, swimming, diving etc. are routine for many of us. Many of us have in-depth knowledge of the locality, which might take years for the ‘qualified’ to learn. Unfortunately in spite of having the best of knowledge of our own Islands, we fail to en-cash our knowledge for a decent living. The reason being lack of proper guidance.

When the islanders complain of lack of employment opportunities, there are people like Santosh Dayarkar who have quit government jobs and are happily chasing their passion, while making a decent living out of it.

Dayarkar, 32 hails from the Southernmost tip of India which is called 24 Km (Laxmi Nagar) in Campbell Bay. At the age of 14 he could survive the Boxing Day Tsunami and recollects how he managed to stay inside the jungle for three nights, managing his own food through nature in order to survive. The situation was such that while his parents and neighbours were searching for his dead body, all of a sudden the young lad makes his way to the camp to surprise everyone.

Having done his schooling in Campbell Bay, where he explains how a Peon used to teach them, in the absence of teachers in the government school, Dayarker could make it to DBRAIT where he completed his Hotel Management course. But then, he realized soon that hotel management was not his area of interest. Instead he opted to be trained as a Professional Scuba Diver and did a course for PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer. This was followed by courses from Open Water Diver to Master Scuba Diver Trainer #371599.

Among the other courses which Dayarker pursued were PADI Emergency First Responder Instructor, YAI Power Boat Handler, YAI Kayaking Guide, YAI Snorkeling Guide and YAI Life Saving Guide. These qualifications again fetched him a decent government job in the ‘Indian Institute of Scuba Diving and Aquatic Sports’ under the Maharashtra Government. Unfortunately again, Dayarker found himself lost in a ‘system’, which he could not adjust to.

The young lad decided to quit the government job for the second time, just to start his own travel agency in his Islands. Since he had all the required qualifications, Dayarker also started a Scuba Diving Centre, which fetched him a decent income. It was during one such diving expeditions that he happened to meet Michael de Min aka Mike Andaman, the best angler known in Southeast Asia. Mike made Dayarker realize his talent in Game Fishing and the potential that the trade has. He encouraged Dayarker to such an extent that today the local lad from the Southernmost tip of India, is known to be the best angler of A&N Islands, who aims the sky as his limit.

Dayarker has spent hundreds of hours in Game Fishing, with or without his guests, exploring the nook and corners of Andamans.  He has worked with the local fishers as well as the best in the Game Fishing industry and concludes that trade of Game Fishing while earning him a decent livelihood, has also enabled him to realize what he has been destined for.

As a local Island lad, Dayarker wishes to inspire his fellow islanders to explore the world of Scuba and Game Fishing, which is not out of the blue for the islanders. It’s just that our islanders are not aware of how to proceed or may not know the potential of the trade, he explains.

“I have seen the best of anglers among the local youths. If guided properly, they can challenge the best in the trade from across the world”, opines Dayarker.

“I suggest my fellow islander youths to pursue a course in Scuba Diving as Dive Master. The minimum duration of the course is six months and would cost a maximum of Rs. 80,000/-. The course can also be done as OTJT of ‘Zero to Hero’ programme with a much cheaper cost and one can start earning a minimum of Rs. 35 – 40,000/- a month”, explained Dayarker.

“There are other fields like Game Fishing, Kayaking, Snorkeling which is not new to the islanders. It’s just that one has to make his mind to get the right certification. Many talented Islanders do not consider these as special trades and fail to understand that these trades are sufficient to earn the required bread and butter for a family”, Dayarker observes.

Dayarker today wishes to guide the Islands’ youths, who wish to explore the fields, for a decent livelihood opportunity.  “I am most willing to guide our youths free of cost. I will feel blessed if I am able to guide my fellow islanders, who are interested in exploring these fields”, said Dayarker.

“In life, do what you love to do and not something, which makes you lose your happiness and identity”, adds Angler Dayarker.