Our Story

Project NADAR is inspired by a lifetime love of swimming and a commitment to community safety. This journey started with a personal milestone: a young swimmer’s dream to conquer the waters around Alcatraz Island. From the coast guard’s initial refusal to a successful swim at age 13, this early accomplishment sparked a passion for the water. But with time, the goal shifted from individual achievements to a community mission. Swimming went beyond a sport; it became a call to action to improve water safety knowledge in our city.

Living in West Phoenix, a vibrant, diverse community with a large Spanish-speaking population, it is clear that language should never be a barrier to lifesaving information. Through collaboration with local resources and a growing fluency in Spanish, Project NADAR was born to bridge the water safety knowledge gap in our community.

Project NADAR is committed to helping everyone in our community gain the knowledge and resources they need to enjoy the water safely. Through multilingual resources, basic education, and accessible outreach, we are working to foster a culture of safety and respect for the water—one that empowers people to enjoy the water confidently while prioritizing safety at every turn.

Anaya Bhattacharya

Anaya Bhattacharya, the founder of Project NADAR, has had a lifelong bond with the water. She was swimming before she could walk and has been competing for over 11 years, including in challenging open-water events. Her connection with the water has always been tied to her profound understanding of water safety, a value shaped by personal experiences and the guidance of mentors along the way.

Anaya’s passion goes beyond the sport; it is a mission to ensure nobody ever faces the pain of losing someone due to preventable water accidents. For the past five years, she has been learning Spanish and pursuing a Seal of Biliteracy to make information accessible in both English and Spanish, Arizona's two most spoken languages. In her work with Project NADAR, she is committed to breaking down barriers to water-safety materials—financial, cultural, or otherwise—to protect lives.

Through Project NADAR, Anaya is dedicated to empowering communities with water safety tools and education. She hopes to inspire change, ensuring no one has to say, “If only I had known.”