Dubai: Noted Odia scuba diver Priyadarshee Panigrahi added one more milestone to his international underwater explorations by successfully diving to the submerged Lockheed L-1011 TriStar passenger aircraft in Jordan’s Red Sea.
Dubai-based senior business management professional Priyadarshee completed the successful diving exploration, which is considered one of the world’s most unusual underwater aircraft wrecks, on Sunday.
The 300-seater aircraft, 50 metres long with a 50-metre wingspan, was first used for commercial service in 1983. It was deliberately sunk in August 2019, after the end of its service life, to create an artificial reef and marine habitat, and has become one of the region’s most sought-after wreck dives as it rests between 59 and 92 feet beneath the Red Sea off Aqaba, Jordan’s only coastal city.
Schools of fish move through its cabin and cockpit, while corals and marine life transform the aircraft into a thriving underwater ecosystem.
Priyadarshee — the son of late Sriballav Panigrahi, former Cabinet Minister and three-time MP, and educationist late Sunanda Panigrahi — descended to 94 feet (28.7 metres) beneath the aircraft’s rear wings, making it his deepest wreck penetration dive to date.
Swimming through the submerged passenger cabins, Priyadarshee navigated the aisles of the once-operational massive airliner, examined the cockpit, and exited through the aircraft’s doors.
His most thrilling moment was when he entered the rear fuselage and emerged through the TriStar’s distinctive tail-mounted third engine, an exit route possible because of the aircraft’s unique S-duct design, making it one of the most unusual underwater experiences available anywhere in the world.
“This wasn’t just another wreck dive. It was like travelling through aviation history beneath the sea. One moment you are in the open sea and the next you are between the aisles of a full-sized passenger aircraft. Swimming through the passenger aircraft, which would have normally flown at 30,000 to 35,000 feet above planet Earth and is now resting on the seabed, is a surreal experience. The scale of the TriStar is breathtaking, and seeing marine life gradually reclaiming the aircraft makes it even more special. It was an unforgettable dive,” said Priyadarshee.
Over the years, Priyadarshee has undertaken dives across internationally-renowned destinations in Asia, Africa and Europe, including the Maldives, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Africa, Tanzania (Zanzibar), Cyprus etc.
Priyadarshee and his daughter Tisya Panigrahi are both Advanced Open Water Divers, making them among India’s few father-daughter advanced scuba diving duos. Together, they have explored internationally-renowned dive sites, reflecting a shared passion for adventure, underwater exploration and marine conservation advocacy.
