About Us » The Team

The Lacadives team are a diverse and multifaceted collection of individuals with two things in common…we dive because we’re passionately in love with the sea, and we do everything we can to help conserve this wondrous liquid world. Beyond our numerous certifications with PADI, CMAS and DAN, here is a little introduction to the Lacadives team.

Sumer Verma & Umeed Mistry:

The working partners of Lacadives, Sumer and Umeed have been diving the waters of India for the last 15 years and are two of the most experienced dive instructors & underwater photographers in the country. Their underwater imagery has earned them a number of national and international awards, and their work has appeared in a number of magazines, books and a variety of education material. They are both passionate educators who are constantly striving to increase public awareness about the beauty and fragility of the underwater world, whether by teaching diving and photography, or conducting awareness programs in schools. Dividing their time between the Andaman Islands and the Lakshadweep Islands of India, Sumer and Umeed have done more than 12,000 dives in these waters. In-tune and completely besotted by the wonders of the sea, they are a pleasure to dive and learn with.

Siddharth Pujari:

With a first dive at Kadmat involving a rubbing-noses kind of encounter with dolphins, sharks and turtles, Sid is understandably hooked to diving. Sid’s love for the sport combined with his past experience in the travel trade makes him the voice of Lacadives in Mumbai. A cheerful and enthusiastic fellow, he puts the most important ingredients together to ensure everyone diving with us is treated warmly and professionally from the start.

Jurgen Van Duffel:

PADI Specialty Instructor, SSI Advanced Open Water Instructor, and EFR Instructor. After hearing many awe-inspiring stories of the ocean, Jurgen signed up for open water training in 2003. After completing his first open water dives in a freezing quarry in the middle of a Wales winter, he booked himself a nice holiday to the Red Sea where for the first time he encountered the bliss and beauty of the ocean and its inhabitants.  Floating weightless in a tranquil and vast arena of exciting colors, creatures and objects he never looked back. Having worked in Thailand and India as an instructor he is now living with this wife Mandira and daughter Jannat in Mumbai. His passion for diving shows in his teaching, and he only wants you to connect with the blue planet as the safest and most comfortable diver. Jurgen and Mandira look after the pool training and dive travel of Lacadives.

Seemant Saxena:

Seemant walked away from his former profession as a hotelier after working at the Bangaram resort and watching our dive boat leave every morning for “work” while he organized rooms for the guests checking in. He still wears the same “Alice in Wonderland” look he acquired when he first dived with us in Bangaram, and cannot seem to help himself thinking it’s all a dream. A passionate teacher, you can be sure you’re in good hands while diving with Seemant.

Shyam:

Having worked his way from a boat hand to finally becoming a PADI Dive master, Shyam is a valuable asset to the team. His work ethic and knowledge of the islands, both above and under the water, have given many divers a true insight and great diving experience. He has been part of our team for the past 10 years.

Mohammed:

Dive Master at Bangaram since the CGH-Earth resort first opened, Mohammed has been diving the islands for over 15 years now and knows the reefs like the palm of his hand. A first rate diver and an islander from the Lakshadweep, Mohammed brings his native knowledge and experience of the seas to his work. Relaxed and mellow – that describes a dive with him, until he starts doing his flamboyant somersault entries into the water!

Rajesh Ramakrishnan:

Our liaison officer at Cochin, Rajesh ditched his career with Indian Airlines after his life-altering interview with Prahlad and decided that Lacadives had a cooler bunch of people to work with! He is one of our most valued members because he never uses the word “impossible”. From organizing flight tickets to island permits to mouth-watering South Indian lunches in Cochin, Rajesh can certainly do it all.