Ultimate water baby Zandile Ndhlovu is leading South Africa’s ocean conservation revolution. She stopped by ClubX HQ this month to make a quick (but very profound) splash! 

At the southern tip of Africa, where the rugged, mountainous coastline meets the endless expanse of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, a remarkable individual fondly known as ‘The Black Mermaid’ is making waves both above and below the surface. Zandile Ndhlovu, a true force of nature, has become a beacon of hope for ocean conservation and freediving enthusiasts around the world.  

Zandile’s connection with the ocean is deeply rooted in her childhood. Growing up, she felt drawn to bodies of water and spent her early years immersed in the vibrant culture of coastal life. It was during these formative years that her passion for the ocean began to take shape. 

“The ocean is the place where I’m perfect just as I am, that affirms my truth and gives me more courage.” 

The life aquatic  

I wasn’t surprised to hear that a wonderful adventure to Bali in Indonesia in 2016 was when her true awakening came – travelling and wanderlust has a way of doing that to most of us.

“While I was there, I ended up on this snorkelling trip. I jumped into the water and then full-on freaked out!” she recounts. “As my panic subsided, I looked beneath the surface of the water and my mind was blown… I watched bright yellow fish coming past us, a honeycomb moray eel swimming through the frame; the bottom of the ocean and the reef looked like it was lit up from beneath as the sun rays danced on its colourful coral. It was the most incredible sight I’d ever seen… I fell in love.” And, as they say, that was it.  

Today, Zandile is a freediving instructor and conservationist with a zest for life and high-spirited happiness. Her mission is to help young people find their safe haven in the ocean, just like she did. And with all her hard work and dedication to this cause, she’s earned ‘The Black Mermaid’ moniker. “I love that title. We don’t often see black people underwater, not in real life or movies or animation. To be able to be a physical representation of this is not only powerful, it’s narrative expanding, which is important,” she exclaims.

What is it about the sea that means so much to her? “The ocean is my place of freedom. It is the one place where I’m perfect just as I am. It is the one place that affirms my truth and gives me courage to speak truth to power on land. It’s a place where my body can rest, my skin can rest, my mind can ease… The surface of the ocean is my joy, but the deeper I dive – here is where my heart beats. You can’t take the land things to the bottom of the ocean in one breath.”

Freediving (diving without oxygen apparatus, using only your breath) “allows you to cleanse your soul on each dive, so when you reach her depths, you can take it all in, the gift that is, the peace that is, the joy that is… all held on a breath while you fly to the bottom of the sea. She is my heart.” 

From dreamer to diver

Zandile funded and launched The Black Mermaid Foundation to inspire countless individuals to dive deeper into their passion for the ocean and to take action in protecting this invaluable ecosystem.  

Her unwavering commitment to the sea has transformed her into an icon in South Africa’s conservation landscape. With her foundation’s ever-expanding reach and her ongoing collaborations, Zandile is not only exploring the depths of the ocean but also charting a course towards a brighter and more sustainable future for our planet’s most precious resource.  

“My vision for the foundation is to have Ocean Hubs in all provinces of South Africa, including the land-locked provinces, because all our water comes from the sea and there’s value in creating connection in non-coastal areas. Of course, the greatest dream would be having Ocean Hubs all along the coast of Africa, redefining the narrative, telling our own stories, in our own way, through our own voices and experiences,” she says.  “This is the thing, only 7% of the ocean has been explored. There’s so much opportunity here, in careers, in exploration but also understanding the science of water.”

Whether she’s teaching basic freediving courses, giving career advice, or guiding the youth to find wellness and balance through the natural benefits of yoga by the sea, Zandile is living her dream. But there’s more to it than pleasure. In fact, ocean conservation is a pressing issue globally. 

“We cannot change the trajectory of our current ocean threats without having all hands-on deck and we need to expand the idea of who belongs in the water,” she tells me. “Redefining this notion means knowing that the phrase ‘Black people don’t swim’ is not only incomplete but is based off an oppressive history. We as black people have no business holding on to this narrative, limiting our world experiences based off an umbrella with gaping holes in it.

“We need to reclaim the ocean space, build the connection, see what lies beneath the surface in order to understand the greater meaning of protecting our oceans,” she explains.

“As we become guardians and stakeholders in our oceans’ health, we go back to our lineage, where we came from before we were city dwellers. In my culture, we have always lived with nature and been one with it.”

Telling the ocean’s story  

In addition to her diving and conservation work, Zandile recently published Zandi’s Song, a children’s book combining her delightful storytelling with her knowledge of marine life. Her words act as powerful tools for inspiring change and action in a new generation of ocean warriors. “The rights have been bought by Amazon, which means the book is going to be available globally – a dream come true,” she says.

Of course, Zandile has a few things to say after watching Disney’s recent film, The Little Mermaid.” Oh, I loved it so much, I saw it twice! And the controversy was not surprising. To be the first at something is hard; you witness the backlash, you witness resistance to change and becoming inclusive. The stories we see on the big screen are powerful – they tell us of value, beauty and possibility. They allow us to dream anew.” 

We have no business holding on to this narrative that black people don’t swim. Limiting our world experience. 

“Having Halle Bailey be able to touch so many lives from this film, with so many little black girls who had never seen themselves represented in this way, not only as a beautiful explorer daughter who is deeply loved by her father, but also underwater as a mermaid… It’s so powerful. The old will always fight to keep the old; our work is to break the walls open and allow for the ushering in of new dreams. What a time to be alive!”  

In parting, Zandile wanted to convey an important message to our readers: “Each time I’m afraid, I know I need to do whatever scares me most. There has always been gold to be found on the other side of fear. So, I encourage you to touch your fears! Regardless of where you come from, regardless of how old you are, you can start – and change the world. Not because you set out to change the world but because you were brave enough to start.” 

Ocean Privilege

“Access to the ocean is a privilege. Proximity doesn’t equate to access. It requires resources, physical skills, financial ability and time. These can all be hard to come by, so I talk about this daily – the privilege it is to be able to access these waters at will.  

We can change this by making swimming a basic skill that every child learns; this provides a base from which exploration is possible and people know they can save themselves. I think this is part of the fear and the largest part of the inequality in access. Swimming skills open the opportunity to pursue more water-facing sports and careers with confidence.” 

Get to know Zandile…  

Birthday:
25 August 1989  

Birthplace:
Soweto, Johannesburg  

Current location:
Fish Hoek, Cape Town 

Quick Q&A  

Favourite colours:
Blue and yellow

Ocean icon:
The humpback whale  

Hobbies:
Freediving, painting, reading, writing, photography and spending time in nature with the trees.  

Fashion staple:
My rings

Pet peeve:
The sound of cutlery– that metal sound as knives and forks are thrown around… I. Can. Not!  

Favourite song:
‘This Is Why I Love You’ by Major  

Favourite Book:
Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist  

Describe yourself in one word:
Joy 

A quote you live by:
“Stay present to the gift that is.”  

What would your superpower be?
To place light in hearts that have forgotten where their switch is. 

Words by: Charndré Emma Kippie
Photography: Zhann Solomons