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India Aquanauts Log 5,000-Metre Dives as Deep Ocean Mission Accelerates

Training dives with France's Nautile give NIOT crews operational experience ahead of India’s first 6,000-metre submersible.

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Overview

  • NIOT scientists participated in Atlantic expeditions on IFREMER’s submersible Nautile, with two Indian aquanauts completing separate dives to depths of about 5,000 metres.
  • The Ministry of Earth Sciences told the Lok Sabha that India holds ISA exploration contracts for polymetallic nodules in a 75,000 sq km Central Indian Ocean block and for polymetallic sulphides over 10,000 sq km along the Indian Ocean Ridge.
  • Design and integration of the three-person MATSYA-6000 have been completed, and the vehicle passed wet harbour trials in January–February 2025 at L&T’s Katupalli facility.
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a National Deep Water Exploration Mission to advance mapping and assessment of offshore minerals and hydrocarbons for energy security.
  • Officials said current activities remain limited to ISA-regulated exploration with environmental assessments, noting India’s 2024 recovery of over 100 kg of cobalt-rich nodules in the Andaman Sea.