Brothers Declan and Paul Devane entered the sea off Scubadive West Dive Centre in western Galway, Ireland on Saturday, 10 October.
They were intent on achieving a 40-hour non-stop dive – although they had been told that 24 hours or more under water would be enough for an inaugural Guinness World Record for the Longest Cold, Open Saltwater Scuba Dive.
Paul Devane had to withdraw due to a malfunction of his diving p-valve. Declan Devane withdrew after 12 hours, as hypothermia set in.
The Devanes have suggested to Guinness that it is unrealistic to demand the same 24-hour qualifying limit for a coldwater record, which must be carried out in water of no more than 15 degrees C, as for a record achieved in Guinness's warmwater category.
They hope, therefore, that Guinness may yet accept their dive as an inaugural record.
“We have asked Guinness to review our record attempt, as we have been advised by many diving experts that 12 hours in water of less than 15 degrees is pushing the limits of human tolerance,” Declan Devane told Divernet.
“Guinness have indicated that they will seriously consider our claim.”
Any acceptance by Guinness notwithstanding, the brothers are intent on “having another crack next year”.
Clearly a key consideration will be how to equip themselves more effectively to withstand the chill of an extended period under water in North Atlantic waters.
Guinness records apart, motivation for this month's attempt came from the desire to honour the memory of Declan Devane’s two-year-old son, Cillian, who died in February.
The dive has raised money for the St Raphael’s Children’s Ward at Beaumont Hospital, where Cillian was looked after, and for the charity CD’s Helping Hands, which supports families of sick children.
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Brothers attempt longest dive
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