August 15, 2025

India’s adventure is not just in space anymore – the deep ocean is the new playground! Just one month after Shubhanshu Shukla made history by reaching the International Space Station, two Indian aquanauts took plunge into the North Atlantic Ocean's mysterious depths. On August 5, scientist Raju Ramesh dived 4,025 meters below sea level inside the French submersible Nautile. The very next day, retired Indian Navy Commander Jatinder Pal Singh went further down to a jaw-dropping 5,002 meters! These spectacular undersea rides are part of the build-up for India’s own Deep Ocean Mission (DOM). Union Earth Sciences Minister Jitendra Singh proudly said, "We have an Indian going into space and an Indian going into the deep ocean almost simultaneously." He added, "India's quest for a double conquest has already taken off... that will mark the beginning of value addition to India's economic growth from two sectors that have been largely unexplored for decades." Singh also revealed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a big fan of the Deep Ocean Mission and the blue economy. Modi even mentioned these efforts in his Independence Day speeches in both 2022 and 2023! The dream? "India may have one Indian going into space in an Indian spaceship and simultaneously one or more Indians going into the deep ocean in an indigenously developed submersible," said Singh. M Ravichandran, Secretary of Earth Sciences Ministry, explained the plan. "This expedition is part of India's Deep Ocean Mission. We want to develop technology to harvest ocean resources and a submersible to take humans to the ocean’s deepest parts." To gain real experience, five NIOT team members joined the French Nautile dives under an Indo-French collaboration. But here’s the thrill: India’s very own submersible, Matsya 6000, will carry three people down to 6,000 meters. It features a tiny 2.1-meter titanium alloy sphere that can survive crushing deep-sea pressures. It will also have advanced scientific sensors, communication systems, and safety gear allowing up to 96 hours of emergency endurance. The indigenous dive with Matsya 6000 is expected around December 2027. Once ready, India will join a very elite club of only six countries with manned deep-sea mission skills! The Deep Ocean Mission, also called Samudrayaan, was approved by the Indian government in 2021 and covers more than submersibles. It includes deep-sea mining, ocean climate research, biodiversity, and ocean energy, all aiming to unlock riches from India's Exclusive Economic Zone. So, India is boldly exploring not just stars but the ocean’s depths too – making a splash in science and technology that promises new treasures beneath the waves.

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Tags: India deep ocean mission, Indian aquanauts, Deep-sea exploration, Matsya 6000, French submersible nautile, Ocean resources,