In a novel gesture, an 11-year-old scuba diver from Odisha dived into the Arabian sea in the Gulf of Oman on the east coast of United Arab Emirates (UAE) at Fujairah to extend wishes on auspicious Nuakhai, the most popular agrarian festival in western Odisha.

The youngest scuba diver Tisya Panigrahi along with her father Priyadarshee Panigrahi, a Dubai-based trained scuba diver, jumped into the sea at Dibba Rock dive site and greeted people with celebratory placards ‘Nuakhai Juhar’ and ‘Happy Nuakhai’ under the sea on eve of Nuakhai.

Both the divers descended to a depth of around 40 feet amidst colourful coral reefs and beautiful marine life and sent out their wishes.

This is said to be the first underwater event on the occasion of Nuakhai and quite unique.Diving Instructor Hani El Hajjar, who hails from Lebanon, helped the father-daughter duo by taking photographs and videos using a special underwater camera. Born in Sambalpur district, Tisya is the youngest scuba diver in Odisha.

 On August 22 last year, she obtained her PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) Junior Open Water Scuba Diver License in UAE at an age of 10.

The youngest scuba diver was inspired by the Scuba Diving exploits of her father Priyadarshee, who has been diving since 2012 after getting his PADI Open Water Scuba Diver License from Vietnam.

Tisya studies in Grade 6 of Raffles World Academy in Dubai. She was born in Sambalpur in 2010 and is the granddaughter of former Minister and former Member of Parliament late Sriballav Panigrahi and educationist late Sunanda Panigrahi.

Also, she happens to be the granddaughter of former Sambalpur MLA Dr Raseswari Panigrahi.s