Aquatic mornings in Mulki
A town near Mangalore, begin slowly. Breezy winds move through the palms, boards are lined across the sand, and the sound of conversations mixes with birds chirping somewhere in the background. At Aquatic Indica Surf School, everyone seems to move at their own pace, yet by sunrise, there’s a shared energy in the air. Rashguards go on, surfboards are waxed, and the ocean slowly becomes the center of attention.
It was during one of these mornings that Shaw Manta found its place in the water.
Why Shaw Chose Surfing?
I’ve always been drawn towards travel and adventure sports, and surfing was something I wanted to experience for a long time. While scrolling through Instagram, I came across Aquatic Indica Surf School.
At that moment, I happened to be wearing the Manta on my wrist, and the thought clicked instantly-why not test the watch in real waters, where it naturally belongs?
What started as curiosity slowly turned into a collaboration.
After connecting with Druva from the surf school and sharing the idea behind Shaw Watches, the conversation moved beyond watches. He spoke about supporting and training young surfers to compete internationally, and introduced us to 16 year young Pradeep-a calm yet competitive surfer who has been surfing since the age of five.
Meeting Pradeep
Surfing in India continues to grow quietly, carried forward by passionate communities and young athletes like Pradeep. Being able to support that journey, even in a small way, felt genuinely meaningful to us. When asked why he surfs, his answer was simple: “Feels happy to be in water.”
And when asked what the ocean means to him: “Ocean is love.”
There was something honest about that simplicity. Pradeep represents a side of surfing that feels raw and unfiltered. No performance for the camera, no noise-just consistency, hard work, and a genuine connection to the water. Supporting him with a Manta felt natural. Not as a marketing exercise, but as a small encouragement towards someone deeply committed to his craft.
Living with the Manta in Real Waters
Over the following days, the watch became part of his routine.
Most sessions were spent wearing the Manta on a rubber strap and sometimes NATO, exposed to salt water, strong evening currents, wet sand, and long hours under the sun. Apart from a few small marks around the crown, it handled the environment effortlessly.
The Red Hour
For Pradeep, the fit mattered too.
“Since my wrist is small, it fits perfectly,” he mentioned casually after one of the sessions.
What stood out most, however, wasn’t technical performance alone. It was the way the watch quietly blended into the experience.
“One evening after a surf session, I noticed the dial catching the last bit of sunlight differently. It was a small moment, but it stayed with me.”- said Pradeep.
That line stayed with us too.
From One Wrist to Another
What we didn’t expect was how naturally people connected with the watches. Between surf sessions and slow evenings around Mulki, the Manta kept moving from one wrist to another-surfers, travellers, filmmakers, and instructors trying different straps, wearing them into the water, and returning with genuine curiosity about the brand. It never felt staged. The watches simply felt at home there.
Because that’s what SHAW has always aimed to create-watches that don’t demand attention, but naturally become part of the moments around them. Built for movement, everyday capability, and real experiences.
Mulki itself reflects that same feeling. Slow mornings, colorful cafés, solo travellers working remotely, filmmakers exchanging stories, and sunsets that turn magical once the kayaks hit the water.
There’s a calmness to the place, even when the currents grow stronger towards the evening.
For us, the collaboration was never only about surfing. It was about placing the Manta where it truly belonged in motion, in nature, and in everyday life.
Or as Pradeep puts it best; “Born to surf.”
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