Because the water closes in over Susan Mtakai‘s head, she will’t assist occupied with how the depths she’s about to descend to are so very alien to the life she was as soon as used to. Born within the highlands of Taita, a county inland from the coast, her early experiences had been of a panorama of hills and verdant forest. Rising up removed from the ocean was hardly what one would count on of somebody who was to change into knowledgeable diver.
But, within the deep waters of the Indian Ocean, Susan Mtakai is a peaceful and thoughtful crew chief. Donning a well-worn dive go well with that bears traces of numerous missions, her eyes present focus and confidence; the underwater world is now a well-recognized area for the rescue diver.
On this present day, Mtakai and her colleagues are on a mission to retrieve the physique of a younger woman who drowned whereas swimming. As she guides her crew down underneath the floor of the heaving sea, she ensures that her crew perceive the significance of their mission.
“After we get the decision for retrieval operations, the very first thing I do is put together my squad. We should plan cautiously as a result of it’s dangerous. We should have all of our gear prepared to make sure that the duty runs efficiently,” the 35-year-old defined after the mission.
Mtakai’s maritime story started in 2011 when she travelled to the busy Kenyan seaside for the primary time. She found a love of the water, of the sounds of the crashing waves and the mews of seagulls. A reference to the atmosphere, which had led her to change into a park ranger, now had a wholly new focus.
“After I moved to the coast, I started as a Kenya Wildlife Service ranger in Mombasa Marine Park. That is after quite a few coaching within the area and college. I principally assisted within the preservation of marine ecosystems and different features of marine conservation. I had by no means been within the ocean earlier than, in reality, I didn’t even know the way to swim,” Mtakai mentioned.
She spent 9 years specializing in marine conservation, security, and training. Within the course of, she found the fascinating world beneath the waves.
“One extraordinary day, as we patrolled the seashore to make sure the ocean was clear, an sudden problem threw us into an unprepared rescue mission. There was a ship and the occupants had been in misery. With out a lot data on search and rescue, we discovered ourselves in a tough scenario, compelled to depend on our fundamental data.”
Intrigued and desperate to be taught extra, Mtakai took up diving. With the encouragement of her buddies, she went by vigorous coaching, first mastering open water diving after which taking specialised programs. Her newfound talent set opened the door to a very new world – each bodily and metaphorically – pushing her from her acquainted responsibility as a land-based ranger to the thrilling depths of the ocean.
In 2020 she was seconded to the Kenya Coast Guard Service. This allowed her to completely immerse herself in her love for diving and reveal her expertise beneath the seas. However right here she encountered one other problem: she had her work reduce out to commonly show her capability as a girl in a tricky atmosphere.
“There have been only a few folks, particularly ladies within the Coast Guard service, particularly free diving,” she defined.
Past the difficulties of working in an understaffed and underskilled service, Mtakai additionally ensures that she and her crew are correctly outfitted with well-serviced scuba diving gear.
“I take advantage of fins for smoother motion and a weight belt to manage my buoyancy. A diving masks is crucial for excellent underwater imaginative and prescient, and a water-proof watch permits me to exactly monitor time. For security and higher visibility, I additionally carry flashlights and use distinct security markings.”
After retrieving the physique in the course of the present mission, Mtakai and her crew deal with the stays with utmost care and respect. As soon as again on the floor, they bear a complete debriefing to make sure all crew members get the emotional assist they want. They then hand over the physique to the authorities.
“We work with authorities to facilitate the suitable procedures for the correct documentation and handover of the deceased to their households. That is the place our work ends as search and rescue.”
Whereas search and rescue could also be one among her hardest duties, Mtakai wears a number of hats inside the Kenya Coast Guard Service. She additionally oversees fishing security coaching applications and her crew administration expertise has been referred to as on to assist construct a tradition of security and professionalism within the service.
Maybe extra importantly, Mtakai can also be a frontrunner decided to interrupt down outdated boundaries and has change into a robust champion of the marine sector as an open and welcoming atmosphere for girls. That has provided alternatives to extra ladies wishing to hitch the Coast Guard.
“I’ve been right here for 9 years. After I began, solely 5 ladies had been working with us. I joined them, and now now we have 15 ladies in numerous departments, even in administration,” mentioned Beatrice Jeroop, a corporal with the Kenya Wildlife Service.
Millicent Omido, an engineer by career and a senior sergeant within the service, is liable for the service’s boats. Having risen by the ranks, the rising alternative for girls has meant her expertise translated right into a senior function. She ensures all vessels for diving and different duties on the Kenyan Coast Guard Service are effectively maintained and serviced.
“I’ve spent 16 years within the marine business, and it’s seen some unimaginable modifications. You realize, it’s usually the place the lads take command. So, seeing ladies making an excellent affect right here now could be like reaching an enormous milestone,” Omido mentioned.
“Having ladies within the maritime business is kind of essential. They supply quite a lot of talents and viewpoints to the crew. It’s not nearly breaking norms; it’s about guaranteeing that now we have a various and motivated crew to guard our oceans,” mentioned John Wanyoike, Director of Enforcement and Emergency Response on the Kenyan Coast Guard Service.
Mtakai’s work additionally sees her have interaction with different emergency companies, authorities businesses and the area people. Purity Amondi and Lynet Kerubu are two members of the group who now take vacationers diving, due to Mtakai.
“Susan has made a distinction for girls right here. She has made us consider that we are able to do that job simply in addition to anybody. Due to her, extra ladies really feel they will be a part of us and make a distinction within the marine sector,” Kerubu mentioned.
Whereas Mtakai’s work and group engagement paint an image of perseverance, willpower, and a robust dedication to saving lives and enhancing maritime security, there’s additionally an extra component to her work within the ocean.
“After we go diving and I see the corals flourishing and the ocean clear, it makes me completely happy. It seems like our personal little world,” Mtakai mentioned, her face beaming as she defined the fixed delight of discovering the fantastic thing about the underwater world, even in any case this time.
“I goal to guard and have a good time this watery realm. We’re working to protect its magnificence for future generations and girls like me,” Mtakai concluded.
Mtakai makes waves on land too – her work was recognised by the Nationwide Heroes Council, with a Nationwide Hero award.
Story Credit score: Velma Pamela for Chicken Story Company
