In a landmark achievement, two Indian aquanauts descended over 5,000 meters into the North Atlantic Ocean, marking India’s first foray into deep-sea human exploration. The dives, conducted on August 5 and 6 in collaboration with France using the Nautile submersible, are a critical step toward India’s Deep Ocean Mission, also known as Samudrayaan.

On August 5, Raju Ramesh, a scientist from the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), reached a depth of 4,025 meters, followed by a 5,002-meter dive by retired Indian Navy Commander Jatinder Pal Singh on August 6. The expeditions, part of an Indo-French research collaboration, provided hands-on experience for India’s upcoming indigenous submersible, Matsya 6000.

Union Earth Sciences Minister Jitendra Singh hailed the achievement, stating, “India’s quest for a double conquest—space and the deep ocean—has taken off, adding value to our economic growth through unexplored sectors.” He noted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis on the blue economy, highlighted in his 2022 and 2023 Independence Day speeches.

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M. Ravichandran, Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, explained, “This expedition equips our team with critical expertise in deep-sea operations, preparing us for Matsya 6000’s deployment by December 2027.” The NIOT-led mission aims to harness resources from India’s Exclusive Economic Zone, focusing on polymetallic nodules and marine biodiversity.

Matsya 6000, a titanium alloy submersible designed to carry three aquanauts to 6,000 meters, features advanced sensors, communication systems, and a 96-hour emergency endurance capacity. With this mission, India is poised to join an elite group of six nations capable of crewed deep-sea exploration, enhancing its blue economy and global maritime standing.

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