Bhubaneswar: Odia girl, Tisya, made waves beneath the surface of the ocean. Born in Sambalpur and now based in Dubai, Tisya Panigrahi has become the youngest from Odisha to dive 100 feet deep in open waters, a feat she accomplished on her 15th birthday, June 8, 2025. The achievement also coincided with World Oceans Day, making it all the more meaningful for the young diver.
The milestone dive took place at the picturesque Garden of Eden site in the Daymaniyat Islands, off the coast of Muscat, Oman. Tisya, who began diving at the age of 10, was previously certified to go no deeper than 21 metres. Turning 15 allowed her to upgrade her licence, enabling her to descend beyond 30 metres — a goal she had waited years to fulfil.
With her father and diving partner Priyadarshee Panigrahi by her side, she completed the dive along with Omani national Nasser Al-Khanjary, owner of Omanta Scuba Diving Academy. The plan was supported by Dive Tribe Dubai.
Tisya said, “Underwater, you’re not allowed to touch marine animals. But a sea turtle swam right up to me and brushed past my gear. It felt like a scene out of Moana and I got to live my Disney moment. In all my years of diving, nothing like that has ever happened.”
She admitted to feeling nervous before the dive. “I had dreamt of this since I was 11. I worried about my breathing, but when I reached 100 feet, I was just happy. The dive was very easy and I was doing fine.”
Priyadarshee said, “As a father, I feel great pride for my daughter’s achievement. Now that we can dive to the same depth, we can explore the world’s best diving spots together.”
Tisya’s achievement is a proud moment for Odisha, proof that even those born in small towns can set deep-sea records on the global stage.
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