Deep Diving Records: Pushing Exploration or Creating a Dangerous Obsession?

In this week’s Deep Dive, we take a look at the deep dive record. We discuss the history of the record, the pioneers of deep diving, and give our opinions on the purpose and future of the record.

Having dived for 12 years, I recall my early days as a young man in Mexico, drawn by the allure of the deep. My 20th dive reached 165 feet (50m) in a Cenote, followed by a dive to 206 feet (63m) in Bali using sidemount.

In hindsight, those dives and several others were undertaken with inadequate equipment, knowledge, and safety precautions. Now, as an experienced trimix open circuit (OC) and JJ closed circuit rebreather (CCR) trimix diver, I recognize the importance of proper training and respect for the risks involved in extreme deep diving.

Currently, I consider diving within the 393 feet (120m) range using either OC or CCR to be reasonably safe, given the right equipment, training, and accumulated experience. Nonetheless, there are individuals driven by the allure of the deep who persist in pushing the boundaries of human capability.

The current world record for open circuit SCUBA is 1090 feet (332m), held by Ahmed Gabr and was completed in the Red Sea in 2014, but what does this mean for the dive world? Is it a good thing for the industry for these limits to be pushed? 

The History of the Deep Diving (SCUBA) Record

In 1960, Hannes Keller achieved a depth record of 328 feet (100m) in a Swiss lake using SCUBA gear, marking a significant milestone in deep-sea diving. Earlier, in 1947, the US Navy had already sent divers to a depth of 453 feet (138m) using a constant surface supply.

As divers pushed limits using air, they faced severe consequences due to nitrogen's narcotic effect, known at the time as the "rapture of the deep." With advancing gas theory, divers shifted to mixed gases for deeper dives, mitigating narcosis effects and pushing boundaries further.

By the 1980s, advancements in deep diving accelerated, with frequent record breaks and a constant quest for greater depths. However, this progress came at a cost. In 1971, Anne Gunderson tragically perished attempting to reach 479 feet (146m). During the rescue attempt, Sheck Exley, then 22 years old, acting as a safety diver, inadvertently set a depth record as he descended towards Gunderson in an attempt to help her. Exley was forced to give up his rescue attempt at around 465 feet (142 m) when the narcosis very nearly overcame him.

Sheck Exley continued to push the limits over the next two decades, earning a reputation as one of the most skilled divers globally. By 1989, he held the deep dive record at a depth of 869 feet (265 meters). In 1994, he aimed to surpass this by diving into Zacaton cave in Mexico. Unfortunately, he did not resurface from this dive. His body was later found, and his dive computer indicated a depth of 905 feet (276 meters), suggesting, had he survived, it would have been a new personal record.

Sheck Exley's fatal dive was accompanied by another diver, Jim Bowden, who aborted his dive early due to gas concerns. Despite this tragedy, Bowden later pursued his own record and achieved a depth of 925 feet (282 meters) in the same Mexican cave system, claiming the title for himself.

Over the next 20 years, things continued to accelerate. Nuno Gomes became a prominent figure, breaking the record in 1996 at 928 feet (283m). John Bennet was the first to surpass 984 feet (300m) in 2001, reaching 1,010 feet (308m). Mark Ellyatt surpassed this in Phuket in 2003, reaching 1,027 feet (313m), before Nuno reclaimed the record in 2005 at 1,043 feet (318m) in Dahab.

The Modern Day Record: A Touch of Suspicion

In 2005, Frenchman Pascale Bernabe claimed a depth of 1,083 feet (330m) in Corsica. However, this assertion was rejected by the Guinness Book of World Records due to inadequate evidence of the dive's occurrence.

On September 18, 2014, Ahmed Gabr reached a depth of 1,090.4 feet (332.35 meters) in the Red Sea near Egypt's coast, establishing a new world record. Guinness World Records verified Ahmed's achievement, surpassing both Nuno's recognized record and Pascal's claimed record.

However, recently, a group of anonymous individuals using the name "Scuba Sam" has circulated a series of emails raising doubts about Ahmed Gabr's world record-breaking dive. These emails question various aspects of the dive, including the following points:

Gabr's digital depth timer was covered by neoprene, revealing only the maximum depth reading. Furthermore, it was identified as the imperial version, suggesting the dive was to 330ft, not meters. Additionally, there were breaks in the chain of custody with the depth tags retrieved by Ahmed, potentially allowing for alterations. The lack of documentation regarding the descent line being pulled up after the dive raises further concerns. Reported deviations in gas mixes and discrepancies in deco plans and the descent line evaluation add to the cloud of doubt surrounding the record's validity.

Most Recent Attempts to Break the Record

In 2015, Guy "Doc Deep" Garman aimed to break the deep dive record in Saint Croix, reaching for 1,214 feet (370m). Tragically, he didn't return, and his body was found three days later, the cause recorded as drowning. Following this, Andy Davis, a respected technical diver and blogger, conducted a thorough analysis of the dive. He highlighted Garman's lack of experience and the unrealistic encouragement from his team, emphasizing the dangers of glorifying deep diving and the pitfalls of ego and overconfidence.

Will the Open Circuit Deep Dive Record Be Broken Again?

When examining the record, it has remained largely unchanged for nearly two decades, with an increase of only 39.4 feet (12m) during that time, sparking suspicions. Open Circuit diving has nearly reached its physical limits for extreme depths. While someone may surpass the current record through luck, technological advancements have surpassed Open Circuit. The Aqua-lung, the world's first SCUBA regulator created in 1943, is still utilized in these record attempts.

However, technology has progressed beyond. The emergence and growing utilization of rebreathers in diving have rendered open circuit nearly obsolete for deeper dives. Rebreathers enable gas recycling through a counter lung and loop system, filtering out CO2 and replenishing O2 as it's consumed. This advancement ensures optimal gas breathing at any depth throughout the dive.

In reality, to explore the depths of our oceans, advancements in technology have enabled humans to venture far deeper than the current SCUBA record for many years. In 2018, Victor Vescovo initiated the 5 Deeps Expedition, aiming to explore the deepest points of all five oceans in a submersible. The mission achieved success, collecting biological samples from each ocean's nadir. During the expedition, Vescovo reached the Mariana Trench's deepest point in the Pacific Ocean, descending to a depth of 11,000 meters (36,089 feet) in his submersible, Challenger Deep, all while comfortably seated and breathing normally at 1 atm.

I am confident the record will be surpassed again. Yet, I question its significance. Exploring the deep ocean is better achieved through advanced means, surpassing SCUBA depths.

Should the Record Exist?

For me, the early pioneers of SCUBA diving are true heroes of the sport. They laid the foundation for where diving stands today. I admire their drive to push boundaries. Diving, unlike competitive sports, doesn’t require us to compare or race underwater. We enjoy each dive as a unique experience and that is the beauty of the sport.

The deep dive record stands as an anomaly in the diving world. Its sole purpose seems to be encouraging risky practices, inflating egos, and potentially endangering individuals. It lacks the essence of exploration.

While I am passionate about deep diving as a technical diver and underwater photographer, my enthusiasm lies in exploration and discovery. Capturing images of unexplored wrecks or unseen cave sections excites me. However, the deep diving record, driven by ego rather than exploration, fails to fulfill this genuine pursuit of the unknown.

If the sole aim of a dive is to surpass previous depths on SCUBA, its purpose becomes trivial. The existence of such a record glorifies depth achievements alone, fostering suspicions as seen in recent controversial dives. The self-praise by Doc Deep's team on his Facebook page underscores this, claiming he surpassed all in technical diving prowess.

Focusing solely on depth achievements overlooks SCUBA diving's true essence: exploration and appreciation of the underwater world. The non-competitive nature of this hobby emphasizes exploration and connection with the natural environment, rather than striving for arbitrary depth goals. 

Conclusion

The deep diving record, while showcasing human endeavor, often strays from the true spirit of exploration in SCUBA diving. While it may serve as a measure of achievement for some, its pursuit can lead to dangerous obsessions and detract from the essence of underwater exploration. As technology advances, we must remember that the value of diving lies not in reaching extreme depths, but in the journey of discovery and connection with the ocean's wonders. Let us continue to explore responsibly, with respect for the underwater world and a focus on genuine exploration rather than arbitrary depth records.

What do you think? Comment and let us know. We’d love to hear your opinion.