Meet Our
Leadership Team

Sham’aa Hameed [Anna]

executive board member

Dr Sham’aa Abdullah Hameed, known as Anna, is a dedicated marine conservationist and medical professional with over ten years of expertise in marine research and project management. She is the founder of the Ocean Warriors Institute and as an SSI Instructor Trainer and a PADI Platinum Course Director, with a strong commitment to cultivating the next generation of diving instructors, Anna emphasizes rigorous safety protocols and environmental stewardship within the diving community.

Mohamed Rifshan Shaheem

executive board member

Rifshan is the head of Dive RAID Maldives PVT LTD and the Maldives representative of Dive RAID International. Rifshan is an elite Instructor Trainer with expertise of more than 15 years in the industry.

Praladh Kakkar

president

Prahlad Kakar is the co-founder of ReefWatch Marine Conservation, set up in 1994, which aims at creating marine-life awareness. Prahlad Kakar supports and plays an important role as the Chief Advisor & Trustee of Natura Outdoor Education Trust. Lacadives, India's Premier Sports Diving Organization was set up in 1995, by Prahlad and Mitali Kakar in Kadmat Island with the active collaboration of the administration of Lakshadweep. Lacadives has set standards, which are on par, if not better than any other in the world, for safety and committed teaching of students, Indians and Foreigners. It is the only CMAS certified Dive Centre in India and is also the only establishment to have Six CMAS Instructors working with it on a full-time basis

Anees Adenwala

vice president

Anees Adenwala – Founder PADI Master SCUBA Diver Trainer (MSDT) & CMAS Instructor Anees Adenwala is one of the pioneers of India’s outbound scuba diving and underwater filming industry and one of the nation’s first certified scuba instructors. With a career spanning over 30 years and more than 15,000 dives, Anees has trained thousands of divers and helped shape India’s underwater adventure landscape. He established one of Lakshadweep’s earliest dive centres in 1996 and later brought professional dive training to Mumbai through Orca Dive Club. His work has made scuba diving more accessible to urban India. As Brand Ambassador of the DRT Show India, he is widely recognised as a leading voice in Asia’s diving community. Anees is also the founder of Underwater Film Services (UFS), India’s premier team for underwater cinematography and stunts. Since 2003, UFS has contributed to over 100 films and commercials, working with top names in Indian cinema and television.

Hussain SENDI Rasheed

vice president

Rasheed began diving in 1981 and became a PADI Divemaster in 1986, an Instructor in 1993, and Course Director in 2000. He is the former Dean of the Faculty of Marine Studies at Villa College. He is also affiliated as an Executive Director of all Villa Dive Centres under his company Dive Oceanus. He is also a founding member of the Divers Association of Maldives (DAM). Sendi currently focuses on teaching PADI Professionals and has been a mentor to thousands of new divers, including more than 1,600 divers he had trained in his ongoing career. In 2019 he received the Scuba Diving Hall of Fame Honorary award.

Suraj Khan

secretary general

Suraj is a versatile management professional and entrepreneur with an MBA in Marketing and HR. After a successful stint working with multinational corporations, he ventured into building businesses that reflect his passions—travel, adventure, education, and storytelling. He is a director and investor in one of Kerala’s leading marine adventure companies, offering a wide range of water-based experiences including scuba diving, parasailing, game fishing, kayaking, and mermaiding. His deep interest in experiential travel also led to a bespoke travel venture that curates luxury escapes across the Maldives, with a focus on yachting, liveaboards, and private island stays. Suraj is the Co-Founder and Vice President (India) of the South Asian Travel Awards, a prestigious platform that celebrates excellence in hospitality and tourism across the SAARC nations. Most recently, he has entered the edutech space with a company dedicated to delivering future-focused training in advanced technologies to learners in Kerala. Alongside his business ventures, Suraj is an accomplished photographer with a keen eye for capturing architecture, interiors, lifestyle, and travel stories. His work blends technical precision with a storyteller’s instinct, creating compelling visual narratives that elevate spaces, brands, and experiences.