India recently marked a historic moment in its Deep Ocean Mission, when two Indian aquanauts successfully dove over 5,000 metres beneath the North Atlantic using the French submersible Nautile, planting the tricolour and French flags on the ocean floor.

This remarkable feat saw Raju Ramesh reach 4,025 metres on August 5, followed by retired Navy Commander Jatinder Pal Singh plunging to 5,002 metres on August 6 both dives were part of joint Indo-French scientific efforts.

The dives serve as crucial field trials ahead of India’s much-anticipated Samudrayaan mission, where the indigenous Matsya 6000 submersible is expected to ferry a crew to depths up to 6,000 metres by 2026. Scientists from the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) view this dive as a stepping stone, both scientifically and symbolically, toward mastering extreme undersea environments.

What does it mean to India? First, it holds India in the category of selected countries that have the ability to explore the manned deep sea. Second, it opens the path of access to precious resources at the sea level such as polymetric nodules and rare maritime lives within the special economic zone of India. Third, it strengthens the "blue economy", which provides opportunities for sustainable development, employment creation and technological innovation - as well as protects the maritime ecosystem.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh noted this feat mirrors India’s dual frontier from sending humans to space via Gaganyaan to exploring the deep ocean. It marks “India’s quest for a double conquest,” signalling a balanced push for scientific dominance in both arenas.

In coming months, scientists plan more tests from shallower harbours to unmanned deep dives before the manned mission launches. For India, this is much more than a dive: it’s a demonstration of ambition, resilience, and readiness to lead in the next frontier of exploration.