The day ahead of we went are living with the story the day old to this that Gabr’s world file would possibly perhaps moreover want been faked — I had reached out to him to comment but he declined — I got an email from Gabr. He apologized for any old confusion and suggested me that he had checked my credentials and legitimacy and was as soon as now prepared to grant me an interview. An hour later, we had been talking on FaceTime. Gabr was as soon as interesting and intensely talkative. He would incessantly go off on tangents and I had to consume bringing him help to my questions. Within the starting put, he appeared a bit anxious, but he started to relax more as the dialog went on.
After we temporarily talked about his militia background — demonstrate that he made the dive whereas composed a colonel in the Egyptian military — I started by asking Gabr why he belief these allegations had been surfacing now, six years after he conducted his world file dive. He acknowledged he believed it was as soon as because a documentary of his dive had been achieved, and his detractors wished to procure help at him. “Their agenda is to discredit me and the movie,” he acknowledged. I requested him if he knew who Scuba Sam was as soon as, and he suggested me that he was as soon as a extinct disgruntled member of his crew that had fled Egypt below obedient suspicion and wished to procure help at him.
Gabr verified that the headcam video included in Scuba Sam’s email was as soon as appropriate. I requested him why he hadn’t carried a camera and filmed the dive, to originate up with. He explained at the time he had an 8-yr former child and a pregnant spouse, and he acknowledged it can had been a gigantic stressor for him to know that they would possibly perhaps moreover see the video if he had died. For that reason, he hadn’t videoed his coaching dives both.
What About The Depth Timer?
I requested Gabr about Scuba Sam’s first allegation, whether his Scubapro 330 m Depth Timer with blacked-out corners — that simplest confirmed his Most Running Depth — was as soon as metric or imperial. He answered by first announcing that computer systems had been now no longer required as piece of the validation and launched into a detailed rationalization of Guinness’s size methodology.
Guinness’s direction of for validating the dive was as soon as twofold. First, Gabr had to retrieve one among the outlandish, signed and wrapped depth tags from the certified descent line. More on the direction of surrounding the tags later. In addition, Gabr’s deep help diver, who met him at 90 m/295 toes, as an quite a whole lot of of 110 m/361 toes, as deliberate, was as soon as presupposed to video him giving a determined hand signal indication “3-5-0,” which was as soon as requested by the Guinness adjudicator quickly ahead of the dive. In addition, he was as soon as to demonstrate the retrieved worth, which was as soon as the 335 (335 m/1094 toes) worth as proven in the video. He acknowledged that simplest the adjudicator, deep help diver, and Gabr knew the signal. Computer systems had been now no longer required. Then again, Gabr suggested me that he was as soon as so furious that he held out his Depth Timer (DT) which confirmed a max depth of 330. The query is whether or now no longer it was as soon as toes or meters.
I requested him why he had blackened out the three corners of the Depth Timer in deliver that simplest the max depth was as soon as exhibiting. Divulge that simplest the closing digit of the fresh depth studying, and piece of the preceding digit, in the upper left-hand corner is exhibiting.
He explained that he did that ahead of his closing coaching dive because he was as soon as timorous that respiratory helium beyond 300 meters would give him hallucinations, so he wished to consume his mind centered by having a single quantity. This contradicts the rationalization that two of his crew individuals independently gave me. They reported that Gabr suggested them it was as soon as to make certain the integrity of the tool below drive as per the manufacturer.
Gabr explained that he made the dive with four measuring devices: two computer systems, the Depth Timer, and a Swiss militia search which was as soon as rated to outrageous depth. He suggested me that he clipped one among the computer systems on the line at 90 m/295 toes on his technique to depth, as he was as soon as timorous that it can fail and he wished it to consume discover of his overall dive time when put next to his runtime desk. He later retrieved the computer which is proven in his hand with double-enders in the video. Gabr then acknowledged that the principle computer died (went clean) at 290m/89m all over his descent.
OMG! How did he video show his depth with no working computer and a depth timer simplest exhibiting MOD? Gabr explained that he frail the rope as his “depth tool,” and his search to consume the time!?! Wow. Can you imagine? What whilst you received blown off the line? Divulge that the rope was as soon as NOT marked in 3 m/10 toes increments. Rather, in accordance with the engineering sage on the rope, it was as soon as marked in 5-meter increments from 320-350m, and 50-meter increments from 300-150 m, then 10-m increments from 120-100 m, and the 3-m increments from 96-90 m, the put he met his first security diver. In other phrases, it’d be very difficult to have a examine as a depth handbook, severely if he had been suffering confusion. Gabr reported to me that he was as soon as mentally perplexed and feeling drained at depth.
Divulge moreover that Gabr’s first three deliberate 1-min deep stops (186 m, 171 m, 150 m) had been now no longer marked on the rope, nor his stops at 140, 130, 123 (see the partial runtime deco desk proven in Share 1). Within the video, Gabr gave his first security diver the OK upon meeting him at 90 m and later reported that the dive went in accordance with conception. No mention of computer concerns or the shortcoming of a depth-conserving tool at depth.
All as soon as more, I requested him in regards to the Depth Timer, whether it was as soon as the imperial (toes) model as alleged or the metric model. Namely, if it had been the metric unit, why wasn’t the decimal exhibiting ahead of the closing digit of as a lot as the moment depth? [See the analysis in Part 1] Divulge that the Scubapro metric unit reveals the fresh depth shallower than 100 m in three digits XX.X, to the tenth of a meter. Gabr acknowledged that the tool “wasn’t in toes.”
What occurred, he explained, was as soon as that the depth timer began to flood on the ascent, and consequently, the decimal point indicating that it was as soon as a metric unit and the temp studying had disappeared by the time he reached 90 m. He acknowledged that at closing, the face of the depth timer went clean. All as soon as more, Gabr pressed the purpose, “Why fabricate I favor to faux one thing that’s now no longer even required [for the record]?”
One supply suggested me that Gabr had been carrying his metric depth timer on his old coaching dives with a broken-down strap mounting. Then again, the depth timer in the video has bungee cords. Modified into the metric tool swapped out for an imperial one for this dive?
What About the Fuel?
I requested Gabr about arriving at his 90 m/295 toes cease, the put he met his deep security diver, roughly eight-minutes (21 meters shallower) sooner than the conception. He explained that it wasn’t a utter and was as soon as interior his calculated security limit. He acknowledged that he had reached the 335 m/1099 toes depth worth between 12-14 minutes, and in the absence of a working depth video show, he ended up making his first cease from depth at 150 m/492 toes utilizing the rope markings. The conception referred to as for slowing his ascent rates as he ascended by strategy of assorted depth zones.
I next requested Gabr in regards to the video which reveals him respiratory his help gas (trimix 4/85) as he’s met by his security diver at approximately 90 m: “Why had been you respiratory your bottom mix?” Gabr answered straight away, “I ran out of deco gas.” He then launched into an rationalization about Isobaric Counter Diffusion (ICD), and why it wasn’t a gigantic field for him to vary help to his help gas since the variations in nitrogen had been minor. However what in regards to the oxygen?!?
Divulge moreover that now no longer one among the tanks had SPGs. I requested him about this. “It’s a frail point for failure,” he explained. Then again, crew individuals suggested me that every person cylinders had been triple checked, analyzed, and marked for factual contents ahead of the dive.
Within the video, the safety diver descends to Gabr, asks in signal, Are you Okay? Gabr, who seems very relaxed, responds with an OK signal. No mention of an out-of-gas field. Gabr then shows his retrieved 335 tags, reveals his Depth Timer studying 330, and makes the signal requested by the Guinness adjudicator 3-5-0. “The predominant component I wished to manufacture was as soon as catch the file, and fabricate the total video direction of,” Gabr explained. He next secured the pricetag to his help diver to rearrange it for its day out topside. “My nightmare was as soon as that my deep help would lose the pricetag so I zip-tied it to his D-ring.”
After the Guinness protocol was as soon as achieved, the safety diver switched out Gabr’s empty stages and handed him his stage bottle with trimix 12/75 deco gas, which was as soon as presupposed to be breathed from 120 m as a lot as 90 m. Gabr then went help on his deco gas. The help diver moreover despatched up a neighborhood slate to the surface indicating Gabr was as soon as OK. The 90 m security diver met them quickly after and facilitated Gabr’s gas change to trimix 16/69.
Several issues stood out as bothersome. First, whilst you had just achieved a 330+ meter diver, misplaced a computer, after which ran out of deco gas ahead of your 90 m cease whereas you had been going by strategy of any other 14-hours of decompression, would you give your security diver, who was as soon as carrying help-up deco gas the OK signal? All as soon as more, in accordance with Guinness and other news experiences, Gabr acknowledged that the dive went as deliberate. 2d, had been Gabr’s priorities. Why wouldn’t you alter to your deco gas after which fabricate the file protocol?
Lastly, most troubling, Gabr had four 12L cylinders of 12/75: three staged on the line and one in a carried stage bottle. According to the conception, Gabr was as soon as to breathe 12/75 from 120 m to 90 m, for a length of 15 min at a median depth of 110 m or 12 atm. You fabricate the mathematics. Shall we embrace, with a excessive 20L surface consumption price as an illustration, he’ll deserve to private burned by strategy of 20L/min x 12 ATM x 15 min=3600 liters. That’s roughly 1.5 12L cylinders, now no longer four. Did he spend more time in that depth differ? Gabr acknowledged that he had burned by strategy of a whole bunch gas between these depths and was as soon as crazily coughing and had some chest anguish. He expects he had at ease pulmonary edema.
Lines, Tags, and Wisely being
The fourth allegation concerns the angle of the descent line. The video, 50-minutes into the dive, reveals the line at what is estimated to be 25º angle, which performing a trigonometric diagnosis, would imply that the 335m worth shall be at approximately 303 m/989 toes attempting the file. Gabr explained to me that the Guinness adjudicator and the calibration engineer who was as soon as on board measured the angle of the descent line at 15 minutes into the dive. Accordingly, they subtracted 2.65 meters to approach at the file of 332.35 m/1094 toes and 4.5 inches.
The fifth allegation is that there was as soon as a broken chain of custody with the tags, which signifies that that they would possibly perhaps moreover had been altered or replaced ahead of the dive. Gabr disputed the claims. Though he wasn’t demonstrate for all of it, he acknowledged that the tags had been below the administration of the adjudicator the total time, who even had his hang locks to catch the tagged line the evening ahead of the dive. That’s in Guinness’ bailiwick to search out out. Gabr acknowledged that the adjudicator watched him dress and searched him ahead of the dive. Eyewitnesses reported that Gabr and his lead help diver had been now no longer searched completely for tags ahead of coming into the water and that the diver who escorted Gabr to depth was as soon as now no longer searched.
Lastly, I requested Gabr about his reported energy following the dive, which contrasted sharply with Gomes’ ride who needed to be helped to lope (Sight Share 1). Gabr, who is reportedly very fit, explained that, unlike Gomes, he removed his quads at 21 m/70 toes and so simplest wore them for 4.5 hours. Gabr acknowledged that he was as soon as moreover hydrated and ate every hour all over his shallower deco stops, which he asserted Gomes’ did no longer. He moreover pointed out that at 41-years former at the time of the dive, he was as soon as 12-years youthful than Gomes when he role his file. Ouch! I later checked with Gomes’ who acknowledged that he moreover hydrated and ate. As talked about in Share 1, Gomes insists the quads had been now no longer a utter for him. We ended the put up-dive dialogue with Gabr declaring, you indubitably can’t compare one individual to the next.
What now?
I requested Gabr what he supposed to manufacture. To my surprise, he launched into a tale just a few sustainability mission he was as soon as all for with the first Egyptian to climb Mt. Everest. He then suggested me just a few shipwreck exploration mission in the Mediterranean in late September that he deliberate to manufacture a pilot movie about.
I finally interrupted him. “However what in regards to the allegations?”
“I attach now no longer want any thought,” he acknowledged. “What fabricate you watched?” “It’s as a lot as Guinness,” I supplied. “No, Guinness is done with it. It’s over,” he acknowledged. I requested Gabr if he had been involved with or heard from Guinness or his mission chief. He acknowledged he hadn’t, including that, “They’ve a bullet-proof blueprint.” He went on. “I’m assured in what I did. However it bothers me that my fame has been centered. Why fabricate I favor to interpret myself? I’m assured, but I’m being damage,” he acknowledged.
He went on. “Why are they doing this now, after six years,” he requested rhetorically. “Usually folk strive and discredit a file at the time it is made. However why six years later?”
“Attain you watched it’s as a result of the documentary movie?” I requested. “I’m sure about that,” Gabr replied. “It’s the identical one who was as soon as with the crew. He was as soon as attempting to sell helium illegally in my name and received me into pain. He wants to discredit my whole file and the movie,” he acknowledged.
I requested if Netflix was as soon as going to originate the documentary, which a couple of folk had suggested me about. Gabr acknowledged, no, that the documentary, which had investors, had now no longer been sold but. “Netflix didn’t safe it?” I requested. “No,” he acknowledged. I requested him a couple of instances if he had a monetary stake in the movie but did no longer procure a determined answer, though he acknowledged he was as soon as below contract.
Gabr then complained again about his alleged accusers. “They don’t seem like browsing for the fact. They simplest mention half of the fact. There was as soon as no take a look at review from professionals. My file shall be discredited if I had relied on one among the computer systems. For sure. However that was as soon as now no longer the size methodology.”
I requested Gabr if he shall be prepared to private a take a look at crew review the total figuring out and perhaps determined him. Gabr acknowledged that he was as soon as originate to one thing. He acknowledged that he has been utilizing the identical video in his talks as presented in the emails and is continually prepared to take a seat and talk about issues at every dive show he attends. “I don’t mind talking about my dive,” he acknowledged.
Conclusions?
There’s obviously a couple of files to unpack, and a couple of extra small print, moreover files protected by confidentiality that I private unnoticed here. It’s determined to me that I’m now no longer in a suppose to render a judgment, neither is it my job. My job has been to inquire of questions, demonstrate what looks the info as simplest, and somewhat as I will be succesful of, and tell inconsistencies the put I see them.
As I acknowledged ahead of in the first article, it’s as a lot as Guinness to approach to a resolution if they want to investigate the allegations or now no longer, and on that foundation to search out out if Gabr achieved a file dive or now no longer. Then again, given the long-established distribution of allegations in regards to the file, and what appear love graceful discrepancies, it’s seemingly that his file will reside below a shadow unless the total truth is identified, whether by Guinness or seemingly, as Gabr suggests, by strategy of a take a look at review by professionals.
Divulge: A model of this text has moreover been published on GUE’s In-Depth Weblog.
