Paddy's World Breaker - The Stay Down Kid

The Morning After the Night Before

2009-09-05T02:45:00.000-07:00

So, we're all in recovery - the support staff are tired out while Sean is surprisingly lively and full of beans - only natural after a successful session, I suppose. We made some great progress and Sean's staying power can no longer be doubted in any sense - His pee valve broke during the first cylinder change but he just stayed down - stinky but victorious!

Sean swapped between normal masks and his Full Face mask, practicing for the hours when fatigue may be a threat. Deliveries of snacks and drinks were made as twinsets were delivered, and the support staff rested and relaxed between shifts with some pizza and Apocalypse Now (with a soundtrack that would keep anyone wide awake over a long night!)

There were some pretty funny conversations recorded on the pages of his underwater notepad, alongside the technical details and logging - all to be kept for prosperity of course!

Customer Andy joined us on one of the change over visits as part of his Night Diver course and said that it was a slightly surreal but really interesting event to be party to!

Record Breaking Practice in Progress!

2009-09-04T06:28:00.000-07:00

Sean McGahern is in the water RIGHT NOW outside of Divewise and Dragonara house reef.
This is a biggie, an over-night stay if all runs smoothly. He's all set with gatorade for easy-squeeze re hydration and the ever-loved cheese triangles for nutrition and calories (without bathroom build up!). Sean is diving on 25% as this is deemed from experiment and practice to be the optimum mix to reduce nitrogen loading without too much Oxygen backing up in Sean's system.

Sean entered the water at 14:17 and we're due to send a replacement set down to him in a little over an hour. Obviously we deliver it far earlier than needed in case of emergency, make sure that the switch goes smoothly and then return the used twinset for queuing in a long line of Guinness World Record reserved twinsets at the filling station.

Tonight Divewise will be running night dive courses and pleasure night dives, with the added pleasure of dropping in on Sean and keeping him amused on his long stay.

Good Luck Sean!

Kitting Up

2009-09-01T05:22:00.000-07:00

Sean is in the water once again, this time a shorter session testing out equipment. Sponsors have been incredibly generous and everything seems to be working splendidly. For those of you who like a bit of fine detail, we've listed some of the types of equipment that Sean is using...

Bouyancy = Divesystem Tec Wing
Regulators = Aqualung Legends
Thermal Protection = Bare Dry suit (with Pee valve!)
Accessories = Aqualung Hoods and Gloves
Fins = Aqualung Slingshots
Mask = Aqualung Infinity and Micromasks being tried out.
Computing = Uwatec Galileo

We're now starting a particularly intensive phase where Sean will be pulling several over night training sessions. Best of Luck Sean!

Training Continues while Support Grows

2009-08-30T01:37:00.000-07:00

Sean was in the water yesterday for some more training and is getting closer and closer to his final intensive week of preparation. Meanwhile, you will have noticed new logos appearing on the title banner - which is due to the growing number of generous supporters of the event. Transport by Air Malta, diving support from Divewise, manpower Signal 8 Security from logistics from the Westin Dragonara hotel and Visitmalta.com, Posters and printing by Cartridge World, while M & A provide equipment and Footloose take care of the after party! hahaha

Its looking more and more like it should be a fantastic day for everyone involved!

Breaking Records, Mending Oceans

2009-08-26T06:21:00.000-07:00

We're looking forwards to a busy day on the Guinness World Record day - we want the whole event really to go off with a bang and to do some good for everyone involved. So Divewise will be organise lots of Project A.W.A.R.E related course and activities to coincide with the Record Breaking Dive.

The idea is to use this public event to raise as much awareness as possible about the importance of the aquatic environment and to let people know how they can help to save it. We'll be teaching Peak Performance Bouyancy to help keep divers from damaging the ocean floor, Fish Identification and Photography to encourage passive underwater activity that doesn't leave a trace, and even Project A.W.A.R.E with an underwater clean up to protect the beauty of the coastline and seas.

During all of these dives and course, we'll be checking in on Sean to following his progress - students will be able to send down messages of support and watch how he tackles changing from cylinder to cylinder in order to achieve his long stay.

T Minus 27! Preparation Time!

2009-08-18T23:29:00.000-07:00

Don't get me wrong - you think we haven't been preparing for a llloooooonnnggg time before now?!

But as the first update on the record attempt, it's certainly the beginning of the big count down and time to get on to the final details of preparation.

Sean has been getting in the water with increasing numbers of cylinders as the practice runs continue to extend, hour by hour. It seems silly, but he's also having to practice some rather everyday exercises such as getting food and water into his system - not so everyday when you're underwater! Other little touches include fitting suits with pee-valves for convenience.

On the surface side of the team, Divewise are arranging staffing for the attempt and coordinating dive course classes to visit Sean on the reef with students! Imagine celebrating the final dive of your Open Water course by shaking the hand of a Guiness World Record attempt in the flesh!

There are all sorts of other events and entertainment being arranged - but we'll let you know more about these as they confirm... ooh, got you wondering now...

Watch this space - record breaking in progress...