Sambalpur Girl Tisya Dives to 100 Feet on 15th Birthday, Sets Record on World Oceans Day
Jharsuguda: In an inspiring display of ambition, adventure, and love for the ocean, Tisya Panigrahi, a 15-year-old scuba diver from Odisha, created history by diving to a depth of 100 feet (over 30 metres) on her birthday, coinciding with World Oceans Day.
The dive took place at the Garden of Eden site in the Daymaniyat Islands off the coast of Muscat, Oman, a location known for its rich marine biodiversity.
This achievement makes Tisya the youngest scuba diver from Odisha to reach 100 feet and places her among the youngest in India to accomplish this milestone.
Tisya, who was born in Sambalpur and currently lives in Dubai, has shown exceptional dedication to diving. She became Odisha’s youngest certified scuba diver at age 10, and an Advanced Open Water diver at 12. However, due to age-related restrictions, she was limited to a depth of 21 meters. On turning 15, her diving license allowed her to dive up to 30 meters — a moment she had eagerly anticipated.
She was joined in the dive by her father Priyadarshee Panigrahi, also an advanced scuba diver, and Nasser Al-Khanjary, owner of Omanta Scuba Diving Academy in Muscat. The dive was also supported by Dive Tribe Dubai.
During the dive, Tisya held placards reading “On my 15th birthday” and “At 100 feet”, while her father held one that read “World Oceans Day” — making the moment deeply symbolic and emotionally powerful.
Tisya said,
“I had been eagerly waiting to turn 15 so that I could dive deeper and achieve this milestone. I’m incredibly happy that this happened on World Oceans Day. We divers are the spokespersons for the oceans, and I hope our stories and videos encourage more people to support marine conservation.”
Her father Priyadarshee added,
“To mark her 15th birthday underwater with a 100-foot dive on World Oceans Day was a dream come true — for both of us. It was more than just a dive; it was a celebration of her growth, courage, and deep connection with the ocean. I am proud of her.”
This dive also makes them one of the very few father-daughter duos in the world to complete a 100-foot dive on the daughter’s birthday.
Tisya has previously dived in Maldives, Jordan, Seychelles, UAE, and Oman, and is known for breaking age-related barriers in diving and promoting youth engagement in marine conservation.
She is the granddaughter of former Union Minister and MP Late Sriballav Panigrahi, educationist Late Sunanda Panigrahi, and former Sambalpur MLA Raseswari Panigrahi.
Both Tisya and her father are known for their unique scuba adventures, including diving with sharks, exploring sunken aircraft, and night diving with manta rays. They continue to raise awareness about ocean conservation through their diving stories and visuals.
As Tisya dives deeper into the world of ocean exploration, she serves as a shining example of how passion, discipline, and parental support can lead to extraordinary achievements — even at great depths.
