India’s Deep-Sea Exploration: reaching 6,000m deep in Atlantic

India's Samudrayaan Mission is revolutionizing deep-sea exploration, aiming to send three aquanauts 6,000 meters underwater by 2027 with the indigenous submersible, Matsya 6000. Recent dives by Dr. Raju Ramesh and Commander Jatinder Pal Singh reached depths of 5,002 meters, showcasing India's prowess among global ocean explorers. This mission supports sustainable ocean resource utilization, advancing India’s Blue Economy. Matsya 6000 symbolizes India's technological innovation in unlocking marine frontiers responsibly.

India has taken a monumental leap in deep-sea exploration with a groundbreaking mission that propels the nation into an elite global league of ocean explorers. Marine scientist Dr. Raju Ramesh and retired Navy Commander Jatinder Pal Singh recently undertook a historic deep-sea expedition in the Atlantic Ocean, marking a significant milestone in India’s ambitious Samudrayaan Mission. This venture is set to culminate in 2027, with plans to send three aquanauts 6,000 meters underwater in the indigenously developed submersible, Matsya 6000.

Descending Into the Depths

In early August, aboard the French submersible Nautile, Dr. Ramesh and Commander Singh descended to depths of 4,025 meters and 5,002 meters, respectively. These dives, lasting nearly seven hours each, represent the deepest underwater explorations by Indian experts. The experience is likened to climbing the French Alps in reverse, as the aquanauts endured crushing pressures 500 times greater than at sea level.

This success builds on India’s earlier underwater endeavors, such as a 3,800-meter dive in 1997 and a 2,800-meter dive in 2002, both conducted using international submersibles. The recent feat, however, cements India’s place among nations like the US, Russia, France, Japan, and China, which have ventured into such extreme depths.

Union Science and Technology Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted the expedition’s importance, emphasizing India’s growing prowess in both space and ocean exploration. “By 2027, we aim to have one Indian in space and another at 6,000 meters beneath the ocean, showcasing our dual achievements in these frontiers,” he said.

Training for Samudrayaan

The expedition, conducted in collaboration with France’s IFREMER (French National Institute for Ocean Science), offered crucial hands-on training for India’s deep-sea crew. The aquanauts practiced vessel piloting, manipulator arm operations, and emergency procedures, gaining valuable expertise for future missions.

Commander Singh’s 5,000-meter dive demonstrated the intricacies of underwater operations. “We worked in absolute darkness, testing systems under simulated failures like power outages and CO₂ scrubber shutdowns. Communication was a challenge, as traditional radio signals fail underwater, requiring acoustic telephones with a slight delay,” he explained.

A Nation’s Push for Oceanic Wealth

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently underscored India’s commitment to harnessing ocean resources, comparing the endeavor to the mythological Samudra Manthan or churning of the ocean. The National Deep Water Exploration Mission, launched in 2021 with a ₹4,077 crore budget, aims to sustainably tap into marine resources, advancing India’s Blue Economy.

This long-term initiative focuses on industries like fishing, shipping, biotechnology, and tourism, while also addressing global challenges like climate change. The United Nations’ declaration of 2021-2030 as the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development aligns with India’s strategic goals.

With its 7,517-kilometer coastline, nine coastal states, and over 1,300 islands, India holds a prime position to lead global ocean exploration efforts.

The Birth of Matsya 6000

India’s dream of a manned submersible began nearly a decade ago. Initially, the government explored acquiring a foreign-built vehicle but faced challenges around dependency and operational control. This realization spurred the development of Matsya 6000, an entirely indigenous submersible designed by the Chennai-based National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT).

The submersible, shaped like a large fish, features a titanium personnel sphere with a 2.1-meter diameter, capable of housing three aquanauts. Titanium was chosen for its ability to withstand the immense hydraulic pressures at 6,000 meters below sea level.

“What ISRO is for space, NIOT is for the oceans,” remarked Dr. N Vedachalam, senior scientist and project director for Matsya 6000. The vehicle is equipped with robotic arms, a sample tray for collecting seabed minerals, and advanced life-support systems capable of operating for 12 hours, with emergency sustenance for up to 96 hours.

Challenges and Future Prospects

Developing Matsya 6000 required extraordinary precision. Even a 0.2mm deviation in the submersible’s titanium sphere could lead to catastrophic structural failure at extreme depths. Yet, the dedication of over a dozen scientists from NIOT and ISRO has brought this ambitious project to fruition.

For now, Matsya 6000 and its counterparts worldwide are focused solely on exploration, not exploitation, of seabed minerals. As international regulations evolve and technologies improve, the potential for mineral extraction may become economically viable. Until then, India’s deep-sea missions remain centered on scientific discovery and sustainable resource management.

A Vision of Exploration

India’s strides in deep-sea exploration symbolize the nation’s growing technological and scientific capabilities. By 2027, the dual achievements of space and ocean exploration will showcase India’s determination to push boundaries and unlock the mysteries of two vast frontiers—the cosmos above and the oceans below.

With Matsya 6000 as its centerpiece and a long-term vision for the Blue Economy, India is poised to emerge as a global leader in oceanic exploration, paving the way for a sustainable and prosperous future.