A 26-year-old software professional from Mumbai, Kshitij Zodape, says his Apple Watch Ultra saved his life during a scuba diving mishap in Puducherry.
A dive that went wrong
During the dive, Zodape descended to around 36 metres when his weight belt became detached, sending him into an uncontrolled ascent toward the surface. With visibility limited to five to ten metres and choppy waters overhead, the situation quickly turned dangerous. Without the ability to stabilise or signal properly, he was at risk of lung overexpansion injuries and other decompression-related trauma.
The role of the Apple Watch Ultra
According to India Today, Zodape’s Apple Watch Ultra registered the abnormal ascent using its depth sensor and first issued a warning to “slow down.” When he failed to respond, the device triggered its emergency siren, a loud, alternating-frequency alarm designed to be heard up to 180 metres away, even underwater.
Zodape admitted he did not know the watch had this feature until the alarm sounded. The siren was loud enough for his instructor, who had swum ahead, to turn back. The instructor intercepted him at about ten metres depth and prevented a potentially fatal surface rush.
As Deccan Herald reported, the timely intervention helped him avoid serious medical complications.
Aftermath and response
Shaken but grateful, Zodape wrote directly to Apple CEO Tim Cook to share the story. Cook responded personally, writing: “I’m so glad your instructor heard the alarm and quickly assisted you. Thanks so much for sharing your story with us. Be well.” The reply was confirmed by IANS Live.
The incident highlights the safety features embedded in the Apple Watch Ultra, such as depth sensing, dive-tracking apps, and its emergency siren. As Apple Insider notes, the siren alternates between two sound patterns designed to cut through environmental noise until it is switched off or the battery depletes.
While some reports, including iDrop News, have raised questions about whether the siren can always trigger automatically without manual activation, the Mumbai diver’s experience suggests that wearable technology could provide an additional line of safety during dives.
Apple Watch Ultra Available at Amazon
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