Engineer quits high paying corporate job for deep sea diving: He now lives without even a 'wash basin' but is happier

Career success is often associated with a stable job, a good salary and a comfortable lifestyle. But for some people, job satisfaction comes from doing what they truly enjoy, even if it means giving up financial security. A recent post by Careers360 founder and chairman Maheshwer Peri has drawn attention after he shared how his son left a promising corporate career to become a deep sea diving instructor. While the decision came with a lower income and a much simpler way of living, Peri said it also brought his son genuine happiness.

The founder's heartfelt post on X offered a glimpse into the emotions of a parent watching a child choose an unconventional path. Although the decision worried him, Peri said he eventually realised that trusting his son's judgment was more important than trying to protect him from every risk.

A career that looked perfect but didn't feel right

Peri said his son Vinayak is an engineer by education and had built a successful career in product. From a parent's perspective, everything seemed to be in place.


"Vinayak is an engineer by education. He was in product, good at his job, well liked and adding value. Everything about it looked right from where I stood: Security, salary, work place etc."

Despite that, Vinayak felt he did not belong in the corporate environment. Peri explained, "But he felt that he didn’t fit. Not as a complaint but a quiet truth. He didn’t like the closed spaces, the stillness and the daily routine."

A family holiday changed his direction

According to Peri, the turning point came during a family holiday when Vinayak tried deep sea diving. The experience stayed with him, and he soon returned to the same diving site to learn more.

Over time, he trained, interned with the diving team and helped tourists by checking oxygen cylinders, conducting demonstrations and giving safety instructions. He later earned certification as a deep sea diving instructor.

Peri recalled the moment his son decided to leave corporate life behind. "And one fine day, he announced that he is quitting from his corporate life. He went abroad and learnt more. And more. And more. He trained. Got every certification - On diving, surviving etc."

Choosing passion over comfort

Today, Vinayak works as a deep sea diving instructor in Indonesia. The work is physically demanding and pays less than half of what he earned in his previous job, but Peri said his son has accepted those sacrifices without regret.

"He is now a deep sea diving instructor, working in Indonesia. He earls less than half the pay, carries cylinders, spends long hours underwater, lives without the comforts I spent a career trying to provide. No AC room. Not even a wash basin in his room. No safety net."

Even so, Peri believes his son has found the life that suits him best. "He is happy. Underwater, undercompensated, and, by every real measure, more himself than he ever was in that office."

The founder admitted that his fears as a parent have not completely disappeared. Reflecting on the journey, he wrote, "He didn’t need me to protect him from this choice. He needed me to trust that he knew himself better than I did."

Ending the birthday tribute to his son, Peri shared his admiration for the decision Vinayak made. "I am proud. He had the courage that I didn’t have. He gave up comforts and chose what his heart said. He trained. Learnt. He was happy to be a subordinate than be the promoters son. He chose the difficult path. The not so treaded path. He is happy. And I am proud."