HAMPTON, Tenn (30 August 2004) -- The August sun was shining Sunday morning on Watauga Lake. If all goes well, it'll be September before Jerry Hall sees the sun again. An hour before descending into the water in an attempt to break his 2002 Guinness record for the longest open-water scuba dive, Hall spoke in a measured and focused tone, as if meditating on what he was about to do. "I'm a little nervous," he said. Hall, of Bluff City, remembered all too well his last record dive. The ordeal left his hands shriveled and in pain, and it took a while to get used to the full force of gravity again. "Last time, I was really nervous," he said. "Having a team helps. Now I'm a little more calm." Hall will have more ways to keep himself busy this time. He has an underwater game of checkers planned with his son today. "I think he's cool," 12-year-old Seth Hall said of his dad. Seth was certified as a scuba diver last Wednesday "just for this," he said. Hall's 2002 dive lasted 71 hours, 39 minutes, 40 seconds. This time, he's shooting for 94 hours, 9 minutes – the frequency of sponsor WAEZ-FM radio. If he makes it that long, he'll surface Thursday morning at about 8. Hall knelt with his dive crew in prayer before entering the water with two crew members a few minutes after 10 a.m. About 20 close friends and family members were there to cheer him on. "I'll see you tomorrow," Hall told his son. "Time to get 'er done." Hall's mother, Ruth Hagaman, was one of the people along the shore. "I don't think he's crazy," she said. "We just pray that he makes it out OK." Hall will have to deal with a few challenges while under – boredom among them. He has waterproof electronics for books on tape and CDs. Sleeping will pose a challenge, and he runs a risk of hypothermia. A heater will circulate warm water around him, if needed. | | Jerry Hall contemplates four day record dive to benefit sick children. Photo by Earl Neikirk With any luck, he won't need a bathroom break. A catheter collects urine, and Hall's underwater diet should ensure he won't have to worry about elimination. "Basically he eats foods like carrots, applesauce and energy bars – foods that are used up completely by the body," said dive-team captain Jim Bean. Hall's record attempt has attracted international attention. A film company in Halifax, Nova Scotia, has given the dive team the resources to hire a videographer to record a segment for a documentary titled "Marine Machines," a 13-part series for National Geographic about the relationship among people, technology and bodies of water. Hall, however, said he's not doing it for the publicity. He hopes to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House, which provides a home away from home for the families of sick children while they're hospitalized receiving treatment. SOURCE - Bristol Herald Courier |
