Egyptian diver Wael Omar prepares for deepest dive of 400 metres

[Pinecube]

To paraphrase Mallory "because it's deep."

Having spent around 15 years mountain climbing, I was fortunate to meet some of the elite climbers of our time (Hillary, Messner, Lowe, Venables, Twight, Bonington, Scott, Blanchard, Boukreev, Breashears, Hargreaves, Wood, etc.) who pushed the boundaries of what was thought impossible. It is addictive and driving. Technological advances often resulted.

I think there are parallels with deep diving.

GJS

The thing is though, that this isn't the deepest dive. It's the deepest dive on scuba. We already have safer ways to get that deep.

 

[Peter69_56]

I respect the fact there will always be people who push the boundaries, and because we chose not to doesn't make us smart and they dumb.

However perhaps we value our life more than the value of the buzz from the risk taking, or the glory of being the deepest diver for a period. I would love to dive that deep, also go to the moon, climb mount Everest etc etc, but sanity always takes over and it will forever remain a dream of something I could have done.

If I make 100 m in my lifetime I will be satisfied, you might ask why, because I chose to. A personal achievement that I can savour as I grow old.

 

[kelemvor]

In case the above link disappears, here is the the article:

Egyptian diver Wael Omar prepares for deepest dive of 400 meters
Also submitted on the wayback machine.

 

[letterboy]

funny.

everyone said you can't go faster than XXXXX because it is unsafe.

you can't go into space because, you guessed it, it is unsafe.

 

[kelemvor]

I think its clear that we have reached the limit for humans at around 300 meters.

Saturation / Surface supplied guys do it deeper all the time I'm pretty sure. I believe that means the human body can withstand the pressure. It should be doable on scuba given the right support and number of tanks. Or some other third thing.... I won't pretend to have a clue about super deep diving. This guy says he's bringing 160 tanks. I hope they're well labeled, and he has a map showing where each one is on his body!

I still think it's a bad idea.

funny.

everyone said you can't go faster than XXXXX because it is unsafe.

you can't go into space because, you guessed it, it is unsafe.

They were right. Some people find the activity more enticing than long life.

 

[oya]

I'm going to set a world speed record for running full-tilt, head-down into a brick wall.

It's theoretically survivable.

There is nothing to be gained but a few forgettable headlines, my name as a forgettable line-item in a book, and (on the off-chance I do survive) bragging rights... but I don't know about you, I think it's worth it!

 

[letterboy]

Or it will be the break through to a miraculous scientific achievement.

We do not understand the ocean.

We understand fluids, gases and pressure but we still do not understand the ocean.

I know I can think of a few worse ways to die and be forgotten.

 

[oya]

We understand fluids, gases and pressure but we still do not understand the ocean.

You forgot some other things we understand:
- Maximum voluntary ventilation
- Hypercapnia
- Dynamic airway collapse
- HPNS

Yes, the ocean is all romantic and mysterious. And I am 100% on board with the fact that we need to understand it better so that we can be less horribly destructive and wasteful of it.
But some schmuck throwing himself to the bottom of it and putting himself and "his" entire "team" at risk of physical and psychological harm... not useful or constructive. Not even a little.

 

[letterboy]

we also understand that each of those factors is dependent on many individual factors.

there is no drop dead number for you that is the same for me that is the same for anyone else.

Does anyone here know the mixes he is breathing?

the work ups he has done prior to this?

nope, just jumping to the conclusion that this guy is an idiot who is going to die.

 

[divad]

Another person attempting a deep dive record,
Why?

penis envy?