Sambalpur Girl becomes Odisha’s youngest advanced scuba diver  

Odia girl Tisya has achieved a rare feat of diving 70 ft deep into the Gulf of Oman on her 12th birthday on June 8. With this, she has become the State’s youngest junior advanced open water scuba diver. 

While children of her age generally show interest in indoor games and related activities, Tisya Panigrahi, a Sambalpur girl presently living in Dubai, has a penchant for this adventurous water sport like scuba diving. 

“I like scuba diving very much. Junior Open Water diver Licence had allowed me to dive up to 12 metres/40 feet. The Junior Advanced Open Water Diver Licence will allow me up to 21 metres/70 feet. I am happy that I can explore the ocean more,” said an exalted Tisya. 

The Junior Advanced Open Water Diver Licence is generally applied after 12 years. But Tisya did the diving on her 12th birthday (June 8) and was entitled to get the licence from Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI). She literally celebrated her birthday under 70 feet deep in the sea at Martini Rock dive site, on the east coast of UAE. 

During this achievement, her father Priyadarshee Panigrahi, who himself is a certified scuba diver since 2012, was all along with her. 

“I am very happy for my daughter’s achievement. She has achieved the licence on completion of five dives. I wish she would dive in new places and dedicate herself for the conservation of ocean and underwater world,” said Priyadarshee.