Indian Aquanauts Break Records in Atlantic Dive
New Delhi: India has achieved a historic milestone in deep-sea exploration, with two aquanauts, Commander Jatinder Pal Singh (Retd) and Raju Ramesh, a senior scientist, successfully diving to depths of 4,025 meters and 5,002 meters in the Atlantic Ocean on August 5 and 6, 2025. This marks the first time India has ventured so deep into the ocean, joining an elite group of fewer than six nations with such capabilities, Union Minister of State for Science & Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, announced today.
The seven-hour dives, conducted aboard the French submersible Nautile in collaboration with France’s IFREMER marine research institute, are a significant step toward India’s ambitious Samudrayan Mission. This mission aims to deploy three aquanauts to a depth of 6,000 meters by 2027 using the indigenously developed MATSYA-6000 submersible. Dr. Singh emphasised that this achievement, coupled with the recent success of Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s mission to the International Space Station, showcases India’s growing scientific prowess and ambition to lead globally in both ocean and space exploration.
The expedition, part of India’s Deep Ocean Mission, involved a five-member team from the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) in Chennai. Led by Dr. Ramesh Sethuraman, the team gained critical experience in pre-dive preparations, piloting, buoyancy management, sample collection, and acoustic communication protocols. These insights will directly inform the development of MATSYA-6000, a fourth-generation submersible equipped with advanced systems like a high-density Li-Po battery, underwater acoustic telephone, and emergency escape mechanisms. The submersible completed wet trials in early 2025 and is slated for shallow water tests by 2026, with deep-water trials planned for 2027.
Dr. Singh highlighted the strategic importance of ocean and space resources in positioning India as the world’s leading economy. With a coastline spanning 11,098 km and a vast Exclusive Economic Zone, India is uniquely poised to harness marine resources for its blue economy. The nation has already secured a contract with the International Seabed Authority to explore deep-sea minerals at depths up to 5,500 meters. The Minister noted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s consistent support for the mission, referencing his emphasis on its significance during Independence Day addresses in 2021 and 2023.
Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, underscored the operational expertise gained during the dives, which included trajectory tracking, manipulator tasks, and dive planning. These experiences will bolster India’s efforts to develop MATSYA-6000 and advance objectives like deep-sea mining and ocean climate research. The expedition surpasses previous Indian dives to 3,800 meters in 1997 and 2,800 meters in 2002, marking a new benchmark in the nation’s deep-sea capabilities.
Dr. Singh expressed personal pride in Cdr. Jatinder Pal Singh, a native of Jammu, called his achievement a moment of honour for the region and the country. With the Deep Ocean Mission progressing, India is not only catching up with global leaders but also positioning itself to spearhead future scientific collaborations. The NIOT team’s success signals a promising future for India’s exploration of the ocean’s untapped potential, paving the way for sustainable economic growth.
– global bihari bureau
