Another Egyptian sets out to break the Guinness record. The target is 400 metres!

Not so long ago, in 2014, the world heard the news that the long-standing open water depth record set by Nuno Gomes had been broken by Egyptian ex-commando Ahmed Gabr. As it turns out, however, the change in the leader’s place may be only temporary, as an attack on the current record (332.35m) was announced by another Egyptian, Wael Omar!

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The mere information that in 2016, just 2 years after the previous record was set (Nuno Gomes’ record – 318.25m was unbeaten for 9 years!), someone will make an attempt to break it, arouses considerable emotions and fires the imagination. However, it gets really interesting when we learn that Omar’s goal is an almost unimaginable depth of 400 metres!

Apart from the unusual depth, the dive site is also quite unusual. Instead of Dahab, which is the Mecca for technical divers and the arena hosting most of the daredevils diving in search of the greatest depth, Ras Mohammed National Park near the famous resort of Sharm el Sheikh was chosen as the location for the attempt to reach 400 metres.

From the information already available, we know that the dive has been scheduled for 30 March. The plan assumes a runtime of 28 hours (reaching the depth of 400 metres and returning), during which Wael Omar will use 160(!) cylinders with prepared breathing mixtures. It is worth reminding here that the dive for the current record lasted “only” 14 hours, which was still an incredibly exhausting experience.

The Cairo Post reports that Wael Omar is due to travel to London in the near future, where he will undergo a series of necessary medical tests to confirm his health to make the attempt. By the way, he is also expected to complete all the formalities with representatives of the Guinness Book of Records, so that the record can be recognised as official.

For a long time Egypt has been an arena for diving records, but until recently the lead was taken by foreigners, who took a liking to the country of the pharaohs, as the arena for the struggle. Recently, however, we see a reversal of this trend and it is the locals who are trying to prove that also in their ranks there is no shortage of daredevils with the knowledge and necessary experience to lead the world. Last year in Hurghada, Walaa Hafez set a Guinness record for the longest dive in sea water. His score of 51h 20min remains unbeaten to this day.

Source: thecairopost.youm7.com