The Apple Watch Ultra is an ultimate gear for those who are dedicated to fitness and health. The complex architecture of the gadget makes it crucial in certain situations where the presence of the Watch alone has saved someone’s life. Even Apple loves to advertise the importance of the device and how it played a major lifesaver in several situations. This latest incident from Mumbai, involving an Apple Watch Ultra, proves the same – once again.
The rugged features of the Apple Watch Ultra proved to be a lifesaver for a 26-year-old Mumbai-based scuba diver, who also happens to be a tech professional. Kshitij Zodape, an experienced diver who has been exploring the underwater world since 2020, faced a terrifying accident during a scuba diving excursion in Puducherry earlier this summer. Thankfully, he lives to narrate the tale, crediting his Apple Watch’s automatic emergency siren for alerting his instructor and averting a potentially fatal injury.
Apple Watch Ultra saves scuba diver
The incident occurred while Zodape was descending to a depth of approximately 36 meters in the Bay of Bengal. “The water was very choppy and visibility was poor, we could see only 5 to 10 metres. We were about 36 metres down when I suddenly started shooting up towards the surface,” he recalled in a conversation, as India Today reports.
The danger began when Zodape’s weight belt inexplicably came unstuck. This malfunction caused him to lose control of his buoyancy, propelling him rapidly and uncontrollably toward the surface. Such a rapid vertical ascent in scuba diving poses a critical threat, primarily the risk of lung over-expansion. The compressed air in the lungs expands like a balloon due to the decreasing pressure, potentially causing the lungs to rupture.
Although Zodape sensed the danger, he was unable to control his rise or signal for help. It was at this critical juncture that the Apple Watch Ultra’s safety features came into play. The watch, capable of measuring dive depth and ascent rate, automatically detected the alarming increase in his vertical speed.
“Before I could even realise, my watch started showing warnings. It told me that I needed to slow down because my ascent was too quick and it could cause injury,” he said. Despite understanding the alert, he said, “I couldn’t control it, I was still rising rapidly.”
When the rate of ascent failed to change after the initial warnings, the device automatically triggered its Emergency Siren at full volume. “When I ignored the warnings, the Watch started chiming at full volume. The siren was distinct,” he recounted. The siren, engineered by Apple to emit two alternating, high-pitched sounds detectable up to 180 meters away, immediately drew the attention of his instructor, who was diving ahead of him.
“My instructor… immediately heard it and swam back. By then, I had already ascended 10 metres and was still rising uncontrollably.” The instructor was then able to help Zodape and stabilise his ascent, preventing a potentially fatal outcome.
Zodape thanked Tim Cook
Following the ordeal, Zodape wrote to Apple CEO Tim Cook to express his gratitude and share the story. Cook responded, saying, “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 Apple Watch Ultra’s Emergency Siren is designed specifically for such life-threatening emergencies. It remains active until turned off or the battery depletes, all while providing a loud, distinct alert that can cut through environmental noise.
