HAMPTON, Tennessee (2 Sep 2004) -- World-record holder Jerry Hall probably would stay underwater forever if he could. The scuba diver from Bluff City has been at the bottom of Watauga Lake long enough this week to shatter his old Guiness world record of 71 hours, 29 minutes and 42 seconds for longest underwater submergence on scuba. And on Wednesday, the day before he was expected to surface, Hall announced that he felt good enough to remain below the surface even longer than the 94 hours, 9 minutes originally planned. "Due to Jerry's excellent mental and physical condition, as well as his determination, he is committed to continue his dive," said Jim Bean, his dive captain. Hall plans to stay underwater as long as his health and safety aren't compromised. The dive is dedicated to raising money for the Southern Appalachian Ronald McDonald House charities and he hopes his longer dive will bring in more money. His team members were enthusiastic and optimistic throughout the day Wednesday as they watched the bubbling surface of the green, murky water at Fish Springs Marina. "His spirits are up and he's physically in great shape," Bean said. "He has no pain, no discomfort." When Hall set his original record in 2002, his feet and hands shriveled, causing him a lot of pain toward the end of the dive. This time he is using a product manufactured by Blue Lizard in Johnson City that keeps the pain to a minimum. At the end of his last dive, Hall had difficulty readjusting to the force of gravity on dry land. Bean said that could be a problem again, particularly as he stays underwater longer and longer. Beyond that, however, Hall should suffer no health problems related to his prolonged dive, he said. | | "The water's fine": Jerry Hall gives the OK sign on Wednesday morningl Frequent visits from the surface along with music piped in through underwater speakers have kept Hall occupied. Dive team members said the greatest difficulty Hall faced last time was sheer boredom. "After the first eight hours, it's 98 percent mental," said Barry Burton, the diving instructor who certified Hall to scuba-dive five years ago. With a checker board for entertainment and a La-Z-Boy chair to sleep in, though, Hall has just about everything he needs on the lake floor. Vicky Hall sat on the dock at the surface Wednesday and has spoken to her husband via radio. She doesn't dive and said she has no plans to learn how. "I'm afraid if I start diving he's gonna try to get on of those husband and wife world-record dives," she said, laughing. Bean said he's not sure how much longer Hall can stay under, but from a supply standpoint the diver will have to surface sometime Friday at the latest. SOURCE - Bristol Herald Courier |
