In a dramatic underwater incident, an Apple Watch Ultra helped save the life of a 26-year-old Mumbai techie during a scuba diving trip near Puducherry.
Kshitij Zodape, who works with an e-commerce company, was diving this summer in the Bay of Bengal when his equipment malfunctioned, putting him at serious risk. An experienced diver since 2020, Kshitij was approximately 36 metres deep when his weight belt suddenly came loose, causing him to rise rapidly toward the surface—a potentially fatal situation.
“The waters were choppy with poor visibility, barely 5 to 10 metres,” Kshitij recalled. “We were around 36 metres down when I suddenly started shooting up towards the surface.”
Thankfully, the Apple Watch Ultra strapped to his wrist detected the sudden vertical ascent and immediately displayed warnings to slow down, alerting him of the risk of severe lung injuries. When Kshitij was unable to control his ascent, the watch activated its emergency siren.
The loud, distinct siren cut through the underwater noise, alerting his diving instructor, who quickly swam to his aid. By that time, Kshitij had already risen about 10 metres but was still being pushed upwards due to the missing weight belt. The timely intervention, guided by the watch’s alarm, helped avert a life-threatening accident.
“I didn’t even know the watch had such a feature. Before I could even realise, my watch started showing warnings. When I ignored them, it started chiming at full volume. My instructor immediately heard it,” Kshitij said.
Impressed by the incident, Kshitij shared his story with Apple CEO Tim Cook, who personally responded: “I’m so glad your instructor heard the alarm and quickly assisted you. Thanks so much for sharing your story with us. Be well.”
Launched in 2022, the Apple Watch Ultra is designed for adventure and includes several safety features, including an emergency siren. The siren emits two alternating high-pitched sounds that can be heard up to 180 metres away, specifically designed to cut through environmental noise in emergencies.
This incident highlights how wearable technology can play a crucial role in life-saving situations, especially in extreme sports and adventure activities.
