Diver's 2nd Record Attempt Off Lauderdale By The Sea
FT. LAUDERDALE (CBS4) – On one of the chilliest morning's we've experienced in a while, scuba diver Allen Sherrod suited up for his second attempt at a world record.
"I want to be able to walk when I come out," said Sherrod as he put extra protection on his feet. "If I don't do this when I come out my feet will be so swollen I won't be able to walk by myself."
Sherrod, who is from Groveland, Florida, is hoping to break the record for the longest saltwater scuba dive.
"All I have to do is stay three days," said Sherrod. "Just think about this when you get a three day weekend off from work, it is never long enough."
Two months ago when Sherrod made his first attempt, he only lasted 12 hours. Rough surf at the time made conditions to dangerous to continue.
"I was doing fine but for them (his support divers) not to be able to bring (air) tanks is the reason we had to call the dive," said Sherrod.
On Thursday, Sherrod and his team were met by nicer weather and calmer conditions on the ocean. The site where he is making his record attempt, off Lauderdale by the Sea, was not chosen by chance.
"This is one of the best places to dive in South Florida because of the reefs," said Steve de Olivira. "You can get to the reef before you get to the end of the pier."
Just before 10 a.m., Sherrod took the plunge off the "Shore Dive Capitol of South Florida."
Click Here to watch his attempt live.
"It's been amazing to watch," said Nancy Thorne.
"Is this guy insane or brilliant," asked CBS4's David Sutta.
"We'll have to wait til he comes out to see," said Thorne.
Sherrod, who is in about 15 feet of water, will use about 50 tanks of air over the three day record attempt. He'll also eat, drink and sleep during the attempt.
"What I do is just lean forward and as I go to sleep I will have my safety divers monitor me and my air pressure and make sure I continue to breath," said Sherrod.
While he may seem to have it all figured out, Sherrod said the biggest challenge will be the boredom.
"I have a lot of things to entertain myself. This is one of the most unique places you can go dive and during the day and during the night I get to see a lot of the juvenile fish," said Sherrod.
If all goes well, Sherrod will surface Sunday at 10am. He will be challenged though. The winds are expected to kick up over 20 miles an hours Saturday which could prove difficult bringing tanks to him once again.
