Srimanimegala left her corporate job after finding peace in the ocean. --COURTESY OF SRIMANIMEGALA/ The Star
PETALING JAYA: Corporate life paid the bills, but it couldn’t feed her soul. Srimanimegala Sathiavelu found the peace and purpose she had been searching for elsewhere: out of office, beneath the waves.
The 28-year-old from Hulu Langat left her high-paying job after getting her diving and surfing licences.
The petroleum geosciences graduate shared that she finished her studies at a local university during the Covid-19 lockdown and amid job market instability.
For survival, she worked as a food delivery rider for over a year.
“And then opportunities came; I got a job as a geotechnical engineer at a property company in KL,” said Srimanimegala.
“However, it was not the life I wanted and the pay was low. So I decided to quit and join another oil and gas and company in 2022.
Brave plunge: Srimanimegala said watching other divers inspired her to obtain her own diving licence, while a trip to Sri Lanka introduced her to the joys of surfing. — Photos courtesy of Srimanimegala
“I worked for three years and was paid very well. While working, I travelled a lot. Among the countries I visited was the Philippines. Then the turning point came. The beauty of the oceans there attracted me.”
Although she could not swim confidently and had no diving licence then, watching other divers inspired her.
“I immediately enrolled in the open water licence (diving certificate) in Pulau Tioman and achieved the advanced open water licence three months later at Pulau Perhentian.
“Everything felt quiet underwater, unlike being on land. All I could hear was my own breathing.
“For the first time in a long while, I felt fully in the moment.”
Some of her dives took her to the Maldives, Weh island in Indonesia and a brief trip to Sri Lanka, where she discovered a liking for surfing.
“Malaysia has many places to surf; it’s not necessarily a ‘Western’ ocean activity as most Malaysians perceive it. I first tried it in Pahang this February.
“There are plenty of opportunities to learn water sports. Even foreigners come to Malaysia for this,” she said.
All of this unfolded while she was still in the corporate grind.
“I did not spend my money on a car or a house. Instead, I invested in diving courses and signed up for surf lessons.”
She quit her corporate job in August 2025 and became a content creator and earned some from there to stay afloat.
Srimanimegala hosts water adventure trips on social media.
As her dives became more frequent, she started noticing how human behaviour impacts the ocean. For example, some people tend to kick or trample on coral reefs.
“Coral reefs are extremely sensitive; they die off by turning pale.
“It’s important that we, as ‘ocean encroachers’, respect the life inside. When I am in the ocean, I also notice how bad the plastic pollution is, besides seeing fish chewing on plastic.”
Srimanimegala said while Malaysians should take the opportunity to enjoy nature, they must also preserve it.
“Start with snorkelling or beginner-friendly activities, as it’s affordable and accessible in Malaysia.”
