Indian Aquanauts – Record 5 km Deep Dive

Key Highlights

• First-of-its-kind expedition for India in deep ocean exploration.

• Conducted in partnership with France using French submersible Nautile.

• Participants:

  • Aug 5: Raju Ramesh (NIOT scientist) – 4,025 m depth.

  • Aug 6: Cmdr (Retd) Jatinder Pal Singh (Indian Navy) – 5,002 m depth (Indian record).

• Location: North Atlantic Ocean.

Purpose

• Part of preparations for India’s Deep Ocean Mission (DOM) / Samudrayaan.

• To gain firsthand operational experience before deploying India’s indigenous submersible Matsya 6000 (planned deep dive around Dec 2027).

• 4th generation deep-ocean submersible Matsya-6000

Deep Ocean Mission (DOM) 

• Approved: Union Cabinet, 2021.

• Objectives:

  1. Develop crewed & uncrewed submersibles.

  2. Build Matsya 6000 (capacity 3 crew, depth up to 6,000 m).

  3. Develop deep-sea mining technologies.

  4. Provide ocean climate services.

  5. Conduct biodiversity research.

  6. Harness energy from the ocean.

• Scope: Harness resources from India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental shelf.

Significance

• India to join elite group of 6 nations with manned deep-sea mission capability 

• (US, France, Russia, Japan, China, India).

• Potential to boost blue economy and resource security.

• Supports scientific research, climate studies, and technology innovation.