Zandile Ndhlovu
The 32-year-old can hold her breath for almost five minutes, has electric blue hair and feels most at home in the ocean. She is, by all accounts, a real-life mermaid! We chat to her about her journey towards becoming South Africa’s first black freediving instructor. What is freediving? It’s where you use breathhold techniques to explore the underwater world, instead of a scuba tank. You take a deep gulp of air and see where your lungs can take you. Freediving is freedom. Have you always loved the ocean? I grew up in Soweto and I first met the ocean when I was 12 years old. Back then, we were taught to fear the water, so the furthest I’d dare go was up to my knees. It wasn’t until 2016 when I discovered how closely I was connected to the sea. What happened in 2016? Following a difficult season in my life, I went on holiday to Bali. There I tried snorkelling for the first time and glimpsed the magical world beneath the ocean’s surface. Upon returning home, I immediately got my scuba-diving qualification, but it wasn’t until 2018 that I discovered freediving via a video posted on Instagram. Three women were exploring a reef without any gear strapped to their backs, and I knew I wanted to be like them and share my passion for the ocean through teaching. What does it mean to be South Africa’s first black freediving instructor? I think it speaks of a country’s ability to dream. South Africa has a difficult history with regard to whom the ocean has historically been accessible to. I think my achievement is an important milestone in changing the narrative around black people and water. You’ve just been chosen to be part of the Free Range Humans project. Tell us more. It’s a YouTube series created by Corona beer, which celebrates eight humans from around the world who have pursued work that has them spending most of their time outdoors, outside the confines of a nine-to-five routine. ( Check out Zandi’s episode
on YouTube, Free Range Humans // Episode 6: The Black Mermaid.) Where’s your favourite place to dive? Hmm… this is a hard one! I live in Cape Town now and I’m beyond fascinated with its kelp forests – they’re like nothing I’ve ever seen or experienced before. I’ve been doing daily dives in the crisp, great African sea forest, and I’ve been hypnotised! Bucket list dive destination? Dominica – I’d love to freedive with sperm whales… What does your daily routine look like? On a normal day, it’s waking up to a sunrise dive, coffee with friends, and work. This consists of teaching freediving, organising excursions on behalf of my Black Mermaid Foundation ( blackmermaid. co.za), creating content for social media, and a sunset swim if possible. On Instagram, you’ve started a #fridaybrag channel. What is a Friday brag? The word “brag” has a bad rep, but I think we can turn it around to share our wins and celebrate the choices we make. The greater idea is to make us all realise that it’s okay to be proud of yourself and your achievements, no matter how small. After all, the small things add up! What’s next for Zandi the mermaid? I’m currently learning about underwater cinematography and storytelling with NEWF (Nature Environment and Wildlife Conservation Trust). I’m also working towards my divemaster qualification in scuba-diving.
I’d like to make underwater-inspired films that focus on South Africa’s oceans, creating much-needed representation, and educating young people on how we can work together to conserve this immense body of water that sustains all life on earth. What’s the most important lesson the ocean has taught you? To be present – as present as the space between one breath and the next. In life, we’re taught to constantly think about the future, while parts of us are stuck in the past. We have forgotten how the power of now builds our tomorrow and heals our yesterday – that truth liberates, every single time.
Follow Zandi on Instagram @zandithemermaid, or check out her website blackmermaid.co.za