From Pune to the deep sea: Ovee and Ruchi Malve’s extraordinary diving journey

They are still in school, balancing assignments and exams. Yet when they descend beneath the ocean’s surface, 12-year-old Ovee Malve and her 16-year-old sister Ruchi Malve display a calmness and composure far beyond their years.

Hailing from Pune, the sisters have steadily built remarkable credentials in the world of scuba diving — a sport that demands discipline, awareness and emotional control as much as physical endurance.

Ovee began her journey early. At just ten years old, she became the world’s youngest certified scuba diver. While most children were mastering swimming strokes, she was already exploring open waters. Over the next two years, she completed more than fifty dives across Pondicherry, Goa, the Andaman Islands, the Maldives, and Thailand’s Koh Lanta and Krabi.

In October 2025, she earned the prestigious Master Scuba Diver certification — the highest non-professional level in recreational diving, achieved by fewer than two per cent of divers worldwide.

The discipline beneath the surface
Scuba diving is not simply about breathing underwater. To reach the Master Scuba Diver level, divers must complete advanced certifications including advanced open water diver, stress and rescue diver, and multiple specialisations. Each stage requires technical proficiency and, more importantly, the ability to remain composed in unexpected situations. “Underwater, panic is your biggest enemy,” Ovee explains. “If something feels wrong, you slow your breathing and think clearly. Diving teaches you patience.”

Exploring the darkness
While Ovee found her rhythm in open waters, Ruchi ventured into one of diving’s most demanding disciplines — cave diving. At fourteen, Ruchi became the world’s youngest cave diver. Cave diving is widely regarded as one of the most technically challenging forms of scuba diving. Divers navigate narrow passages, heavy silt, and near-zero visibility. Unlike open-water dives, there is no immediate ascent to the surface; divers rely on a single guideline to trace their path back.

Ruchi has explored cave systems in Thailand, including Sra Keow Cave 1, Sra Keow Cave 2, and Klang Cave — a full cave system stretching nearly 800 metres. “Klang was my toughest dive,” she recalls. “There were tight sections where only one diver could pass at a time, and visibility was very low. But that’s where you learn to stay steady.”

During one dive, she ventured more than 100 metres into the cave at a depth of 30 metres. Her deepest dive so far has reached 40 metres, and she has remained underwater for up to 80 minutes.

A family rooted in adventure
Adventure is deeply embedded in the Malve family’s lifestyle. Their father, Neeraj Malve, is a scuba diver and the founder of BMC Adventures, a Bengaluru-based outdoor community that has spent over two decades promoting responsible trekking, mountaineering and exploration across India. “Adventure isn’t about thrill alone,” he says. “It’s about preparation, awareness and respect for nature. You can’t dominate the sea — you learn to move with it.”

Changing the narrative
The Malve sisters also represent a broader shift in India’s adventure landscape. Outdoor sports, once largely male-dominated, are seeing increasing participation from young women. “It’s encouraging to see more girls diving,” Ruchi says. “When someone young does it, others feel it’s possible too.” Ovee agrees. “Underwater, it doesn’t matter who you are. It’s just you and your breath.”

Looking ahead
Despite their achievements, the sisters remain grounded. Ovee hopes to study marine ecosystems and document underwater life through photography. Ruchi aims to pursue advanced technical and cave diving in the years ahead. “It’s not about how deep you go,” Ruchi reflects. “It’s about how calm you stay.” In the stillness of the ocean’s depths, Ovee and Ruchi Malve have discovered something profound — courage rooted not in noise or bravado, but in awareness and respect for the unknown.

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