Most of us visit Mumbai’s beaches for sunset photos or a quick breather. Sahir Doshi goes there to meet the city’s quietest residents, like the cone snails, clams, blue buttons, nudibranchs and a full cast of tidepool characters we barely notice. A wildlife content creator and nature educator, Sahir has turned @SahirDoshi into one of Mumbai’s most fascinating windows into marine life. His reels decode the creatures that wash up, crawl in, spray water, drift ashore or build tiny habitats beneath our feet.
The Clams that make Juhu splash
In one of his recent reels, Sahir captured the odd little water jets that startle visitors on Juhu’s rocky stretch. They come from bivalves buried under the sand, which push water through their siphons to breathe and feed. For first-timers, it feels as though the shore has developed a quirky personality. For Sahir, it’s a chance to explain how these molluscs help keep the intertidal zone clean and balanced.
A Blue Button arrival
Then there are the blue buttons, Porpita, which appear along Mumbai’s coast during cyclonic winds and seasonal tides. Recently, Sahir stumbled upon more than twenty of them during a post-rain walk. Each disc isn’t one animal but a whole colony of zooids working together, drifting with the waves like tiny ocean travellers.
Researcher at heart, an educator by instinct
What sets Sahir apart is the way he blends solid research with everyday language. You will often see him referencing global studies, local marine data, evolutionary behaviour, or ecological roles, but in a tone that feels like a friend explaining something cool.
He spends hours studying Mumbai’s intertidal zones like Versova, Worli, Haji Ali, Juhu, and Girgaon. Many of his discoveries aren’t planned rather result of patient, consistent exploration. His approach is simple: remove the fear, spark the curiosity and let the ecosystem do the rest. He’s also collaborating with HarperCollins India on a project that delves into the city’s Pani Prani.
Why Sahir’s work matters for Mumbai
Mumbai sits on a coastline rich with biodiversity; however, decades of urbanisation have pushed most of its natural stories to the background. Sahir brings them back into focus. His content encourages viewers to understand that corals, hydroids, sponges, worms and tiny colonies are foundation of the city’s coastal health.
