Odia Scuba Diver Explorers Underwater Aircraft Wreck in Jordan
By;Mr.Anil Dhir
Aqaba Jordan : Dubai-based prominent Non-Resident Odia, senior business management professional and noted Odisha-born scuba diver Priyadarshee Panigrahi has added another milestone to his international underwater explorations by successfully diving the submerged Lockheed L-1011 TriStar passenger aircraft in Jordan’s Red Sea, one of the world’s most unusual underwater aircraft wrecks, last Sunday.
The 300 seater 50-metre-long aircraft with a 50-metre wingspan, which entered commercial service in 1983, now rests between 18 and 28 metres (59–92 feet) beneath the Red Sea off Aqaba, Jordan’s only coastal city. It was deliberately sunk in August 2019, after the end of its service life, to create an artificial reef and marine habitat, and has since become one of the region’s most sought-after wreck dives.
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, he navigated the aisles of the once-flying airliner, examined the cockpit, and exited through the aircraft’s doors.
According to Priyadarshee “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. It was an unforgettable dive.”
Over the years, Priyadarshee has undertaken dives across internationally renowned destinations in Asia, Africa and Europe, including Maldives, Malaysia, Indonesia South Africa, Tanzania and Cyprus etc., building a diverse portfolio of underwater explorations and further strengthening his reputation as one of the prominent Odia underwater adventure enthusiasts on the global stage.
Priyadarshee’s passion for scuba diving is also shared within his family. He 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.
Priyadarshee also happens to be the son of late Sriballav Panigrahi, former Cabinet Minister and three-time Member of Parliament, and educationist late Sunanda Panigrahi. He is also the nephew of late Dr. Raseswari Panigrahi, noted gynecologist and former MLA from Sambalpur.
