News
Florida scuba diver aims to reclaim Guinness World Record for longest dive
Three years ago, Florida man Allen Sherrod surfaced from a stormy sea with swollen hands and scabbed legs, weak but triumphant.
He’d spent two days — 48 hours and 13 minutes, to be exact — at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, 900 feet from the shore of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. It was a dive that earned Sherrod a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records.
However, his victory was short lived. In October of last year a British diver stayed submerged in the Mediterranean, off Malta, for 49 hours and 56 minutes.
Now Sherrod, 48, wants his record back. The Weeki Wachee man plans to slip under the surface of the ocean again on Thursday morning, in the same place he first claimed victory.
This time, if all goes as planned, he won’t come back up for 55 hours.
“It’s not a competition against any person,” said Sherrod, a former Scuba instructor and dive shop owner. “It’s kind of a competition against the environment. I mean, the environment’s who you’re going against. Your mind and the environment.”
He said his goal is to raise awareness of charities that’ll benefit from fundraisers held during the dive, including Diveheart, which gives scuba opportunities to people with disabilities. He also wants to draw attention to the artificial reef just off Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, and the area’s world-class diving.
“I’m pretty excited for him, but on the other hand, you worry about him, too,” said Craig Dietrich, a Jupiter-based diver and underwater photographer recruited to document Sherrod’s stay at the bottom of the Atlantic. “It’s a pretty big challenge.”
While submerged, Sherrod will limit his diet to Gatorade and a chocolate-flavored energy drink. He’ll watch TV on an iPod in a waterproof case — mostly SpongeBob SquarePants, a favourite of his — and communicate through his “self-contained underwater loudspeaker” invention, called SCUL.
And he’ll try to steal some sleep.
Sherrod said he plans to take it minute by minute, waiting for the minutes to turn into hours and then days.
He’ll avoid keeping a timer — when he did that before, he said he “saw the thing moving backward.”
His wife, Barbara Wynns, will make frequent visits and the pair will renew their vows during an underwater ceremony. A diver and former Weeki Wachee mermaid, Barbara understands the pull of the sea.
Two boats stationed overhead will monitor Sherrod. And a team of divers from across Florida will constantly be at his side, helping with tank changes on a rotating basis. Chuck Baldwin, the dive operations coordinator, said he and about 15 other divers were happy to sign on.
“He’s doing something that everybody likes to do, be underwater and stay there,” said Baldwin, owner of Pompano Beach’s U.S. 1 Scuba. “If you’re an avid diver, you get to point where you say, ‘Hey, I want to live here.'”
Among the challenges Sherrod could face is the weather. He said he is hoping this time won’t be a repeat of 2011, when strong currents forced him to cling to an artificial reef for stability and sometimes carried support divers away.
Then there’s the chilliness of nights spent undersea. A heated drysuit should offer protection against the cold that made Sherrod shake when the sun went down each night last time.
Sherrod, who called his 2011 stint underwater “pretty easy,” says it’ll be fun. A longtime lover of diving, he’s made several attempts at beating records and until recently held the one for the longest fresh water dive, at more than five days (saltwater dives are more difficult because of the current and tides, so the records are shorter).
While talking to a friend about sleep arrangements for the upcoming dive in the Atlantic, Sherrod was unconcerned.
“He says he’s not going to be down there that long,'” recalled Richard Black, of New Smyrna Beach, owner of Florida Dive Connection, an online news and information site, and coordinator of events during the upcoming dive. “Here’s a man who’s conditioned to think 55 hours is not that long.”
Sherrod’s stays at the bottom of the ocean netted him a nickname: “The Grouper”, because of the way the fish stays in one place for long stretches. He says it’s not a bad way to spend his time.
“You can just stay and see the wildlife, watch everything progress through the day, through the night,” he said. “It’s like watching a movie; pretty soon you’re an hour into it and you didn’t even know it.”
Allen Sherrod plans to start his dive at 5 a.m. on Thursday in front of the Windjammer Resort, 4244 El Mar Drive, in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, and surface just after noon on Saturday. Events to celebrate the dive, including a mermaid convention, begin Wednesday and continue throughout the dive. For detailed information, visit www.allenthegrouper.com.
Source: www.sun-sentinel.com
Blogs
Diving redefined at TDEX Bangkok 2024: NovoScuba and Siam Diving Enterprises join forces to bring diving education to the next level
NovoScuba, a ground-breaking diving agency based in the UK, is preparing for the global debut of its innovative subscription-based training platform that is set to redefine the way diving education is provided. The much-anticipated launch will take place at TDEX Bangkok 2024, marking a significant milestone in NovoScuba’s journey to reshape industry standards.
As part of an important initiative, NovoScuba is pleased to announce a partnership with Siam
Diving Enterprises (SDE) and their renowned Ocean Store. SDE, as one of Thailand’s leading
suppliers of diving, freediving and snorkelling equipment, brings a wealth of expertise and
resources to this collaboration, furthering NovoScuba’s mission to elevate the diving experience for enthusiasts worldwide.
NovoScuba aims to revolutionise the way dive shop owners, dive professionals and dive
enthusiasts engage with diving, making it more accessible and profitable for the entire diving
industry.
“NovoScuba is not just another certification agency; it’s a transformative force built on
innovation and accessibility,” said Mark Spiers, founder and CEO of NovoScuba. “Our
partnership with Siam Diving Enterprises reflects our commitment to redefining diving education and empowering the diving industry at all levels.”
Siam Diving Enterprises, known for its extensive range of premium diving equipment from leading brands, will host NovoScuba at stand A74 during TDEX. This strategic collaboration offers divers a unique opportunity to experience first-hand NovoScuba’s groundbreaking approach to diving education.
NovoScuba’s platform offers state-of-the-art training programmes, including recreational and professional diving courses, designed to meet international standards and ISO certifications.
With a subscription-based model, digital learning materials available in 13 languages and
multi-platform accessibility, NovoScuba ensures that diving education is within reach for
everyone.
“We are inviting all dive enthusiasts, professionals and shop owners to join us on this
revolutionary journey,” added Mark Spiers. “Together we can redefine diving as we know it and
make a positive impact on the planet.”
Visit Siam Diving Enterprises and NovoScuba at stand A74 during TDEX Bangkok 2024 to
explore the future of diving education and discover the latest innovations in diving equipment.
About NovoScuba: NovoScuba is a pioneering dive training agency committed to making
diving inclusive, accessible, and enjoyable for everyone. With a focus on innovation and
positive impact, NovoScuba offers state-of-the-art training programs, digital learning
materials, and a subscription-based platform designed to redefine the diving industry
worldwide. To learn more about NovoScuba’s innovations, go to www.novoscuba.com.
About Siam Diving Enterprises (SDE): Siam Diving Enterprises (SDE) is one of the
largest suppliers of scuba diving, freediving, and snorkelling equipment in Thailand. With
warehouses in Bangkok and a team of industry experts, SDE offers a comprehensive range
of premium products and exceptional customer service to diving enthusiasts across the
country. To learn more about SDE go to Ocean Store Thailand website.
By Pablo Mir
We all enjoy those unexpected encounters that come with wreck diving, no matter how small, during our open water scuba dives. Exploring those nearly vanished remains of a ship scattered across the ocean floor is frequently the climax of the otherwise regular dive.
What is Wreck Diving?
Wreck diving involves exploring underwater shipwrecks while scuba diving. Sometimes, the wreck we encounter is more than just the remnants of a small and forgotten old vessel. Or perhaps we didn’t deliberately choose it, but the charter we boarded had that destination planned that day. The Benwood, less than 14 meters or 45 feet deep, in the clear waters of the National Marine Sanctuary in Key Largo, Florida, or the Copenhagen of Fort Lauderdale, also Florida, are good examples. Divers, many beginners who haven’t even devoted half a second to thinking about wreck diving, enjoy exploring their remains and the fauna that inhabit them. In some way, and at different levels, we all seem to potentially be wreck divers, even without a higher and explicit intention.
First Encounters: The Unplanned Dive into Wreck Exploration
But the trek is long and has many branches. Wrecks present themselves in vast possibilities, from shallow and clear waters to deep and dark ones. The Ancient Mariner, Captain Dan, U352, Great Isaac, Grecian, Lady Luck, Hyde, Aeolus, Hydro Atlantic, RBJ & CC, Algol, U869, and the Andrea Doria -the Grand Dame of the Sea- are some of the names that resonate among thousands in the minds of many wreck divers on the East Coast of the USA. For many of us, getting ready to traverse that path of increasing challenges, increasingly demanding environments, and more astonishing, transcendent dives is a life goal in terms of recreation.
A Diverse World: The Spectrum of Wreck Diving Experiences
Now, it is well known that the label of wreck diving is not only applied to shipwrecks. It is common to extend it to any artificial structure or piece of it that can be explored during our dives. For example, Texas Tower #4, an Air Force radar station off the coast of New Jersey, toppled in 1961 by a storm, is frequently visited by numerous local technical divers and visitors who want to test their skills in those demanding waters. Similar structures of different natures and purposes exist in many other places, with the most different levels of certification and experience requirements we can imagine.
Is Wreck Diving Dangerous?
Wreck diving is not inherently dangerous, but proper training is required. Describing with words the feeling of wonder and the adventure involved in wreck diving is not easy. In the same way that regular open water diving is the entry point to another world, a unique, fascinating world, wreck diving is also an entry point to one of the additional levels of enjoyment and fascination the world of recreational diving poses. Wreck diving, we live the adventures others just dream or fear. We are there, explorers of a distant land. Often, we witness the remains of real human tragedies; other times, we are visitors to the most wonderful amusement park we can imagine.
Learning Curve: The Path from Novice to Experienced Wreck Diver
Sometimes, watching groups of recreational divers exploring a wreck might seem like witnessing a scene from a pirate movie. Two or three divers here, two or three more there, ascending and descending along its sides, from bow to stern, sticking their heads in to look inside compartments and passages. In some cases, entering and exiting the bridge or any space allows penetration in areas with abundant natural light and generous access points. Their expressions and body language make it easy to notice that they are having a great time. There is no doubt they are enjoying it, and it will be an experience they will vividly remember.
If they are a group traveling together, an instructor or divemaster may be there to ensure everything goes well. The passion for exploration, for discovery, and that thirst for adventures we all have within us can sometimes hinder us in making our best decisions. Therefore, to become actual wreck divers, we must not only desire to do so but also have the will to learn and gain experience, slowly and safely, in everything this specialty implies. While it is true that exploring the exterior of a wreck may seem like something that doesn’t require specific training, the reality is that it does. Fishing lines, sharp surfaces, parts that can easily come off, suddenly disappearing visibility, disorientation, etc., are dangers we must have learned about, developed strategies to avoid, and implemented procedures to solve with the proper tools.
And so it will be; many will traverse the paths of wreck diving by starting with proper training. Sometimes, the first step is part of the regular advanced diver certification many divers take; other times, it is going straight for a wreck diving specialty. They will learn and start practicing, gaining experience and ease in their procedures. They will fall more and more in love with those twisted iron environments and proudly display the rust stains on their diving suits as if they were scars from a well-fought battle.
Deepening the Dive: Advanced Wreck Exploration Techniques
But the journey continues. Sooner or later, some will want more than just hovering around the wrecks. Crossing well-lit passages with the exit in sight will no longer be enough for them. What they recently may have told themselves they wouldn’t do will begin to intrigue them, and they will want to continue training “just in case.” They will want to start moving away from those open corridors and see with their own eyes what lies beyond. They will no longer see wrecks as enemies to overwhelm in large groups but as a mystery to unravel slowly, passage by passage, room by room. They will split into small groups. They pursue a specific goal, have a specific plan, and seek to minimize unexpected situations, and this is more controllable and achievable when done by two or three rather than four or five.
They will keep learning, venture through narrow passages, dodge cables and pieces of metal hanging from what is now the ceiling, and proceed cautiously to avoid stirring up sediments. They will use different methods to establish positions at crossroads, place strobe lights, carry multiple penetration reels, and carry substantial knives, the kind they used to laugh at not long ago, thinking they were unnecessary exaggerations.
The Wreck Diver’s Journey: A Path of Endless Discovery
Over time, they will penetrate deeper and deeper into larger, darker, gloomier, more frightening wreck structures, simply because they can. They will descend to greater depths because that’s where they are in better condition and farther away from the boarding hordes.
They will transition from Air to Nitrox, later return to Air, and later delve into the world of Trimix. They will start planning and executing dives with decompression stops, as otherwise, their bottom times will be insufficient for their intentions. From one decompression gas cylinder, they will move to two, and in some cases, three or more. Those who can afford it will buy rebreathers; those who can’t will stick to open circuit, carrying multiple large cylinders.
The Eternal Call of the Deep
But genuine amazement will hit them hard on the day they, thinking carefully about all the steps they have taken and accounting for the time and effort dedicated, conclude without a shadow of a doubt that it was worth it. It will be too late for them; they will have fallen victim to this curse of shipwrecks that has trapped so many. There will be no escape for them; from now on, they will be wreck divers without cure or remedy. They will be condemned to spend the rest of their vacations and days off among twisted irons at the bottom of rivers, lakes, and oceans. Cheers buddies! And a warm welcome to all those newcomers to recreational diving who, unknowingly, may be destined to wander among old wood and rusted metal, seeking to put out that thirst for real-life adventures.
To find out more about International Training, visit www.tdisdi.com.
Main Image: William Drumm/International Training
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