Apple Watch Ultra saves life of Mumbai techie during scuba diving mishap

In an astonishing demonstration of technology's life-saving potential, an Apple Watch Ultra has been credited with rescuing a 26-year-old tech professional from Mumbai during a scuba diving incident. This summer, Kshitij Zodape, who is employed at an e-commerce firm, faced a perilous situation while diving off the coast of Puducherry in the Bay of Bengal. While submerged at a depth of approximately 36 meters, Zodape encountered a critical problem when his weight belt became detached. This led to an uncontrollable ascent to the surface. Struggling to manage the rapid rise and unable to signal for immediate help, it was his Apple Watch Ultra that came to the rescue by issuing urgent alerts and activating an emergency siren. "The water was turbulent, and visibility was minimal. Suddenly, I felt myself shooting up towards the surface," Zodape recounted. The watch, equipped with the ability to monitor dive depths, detected the swift ascent and warned him that such speed could result in serious injury. "Before I could process what was happening, my watch began to alert me that my ascent was too rapid and I needed to slow down," he explained. Despite the warnings, Zodape continued to rise uncontrollably. It was at this critical moment that the Apple Watch Ultra's emergency siren was triggered. The loud, high-pitched sound quickly caught the attention of his diving instructor, who immediately turned back to provide assistance. At that point, Zodape had already ascended uncontrollably by 10 meters. Experts emphasize that such rapid ascents can be life-threatening, often resulting in lung expansion injuries due to rapid decompression. "I had no idea it had a siren feature," Zodape expressed after the incident. Following his harrowing experience, he reached out to Apple CEO Tim Cook to share his story and the pivotal role the watch played in his rescue. Tim Cook responded personally, expressing relief that Zodape's instructor heard the alarm and was able to assist him in time. The Apple Watch Ultra, which was released in 2022, is specifically designed for outdoor adventures and is equipped with multiple safety features, including the emergency siren that can emit sounds audible from up to 180 meters away. According to Apple, the siren continues to operate until deactivated or until the battery dies, and while water may temporarily muffle the sound, it resumes full volume once the device is dry. In Zodape's case, it was the siren that drew attention and likely saved his life, rather than any other diving equipment or manual signals.