Blind scuba diver prepares for 100m trimix dive November 17, 2005
Posted by Andy Carroll in : News , trackbackBlind diver Mark Threadgold plans to complete a 100m dive using a trimix closed-circuit rebreather, the deepest dive ever attempted by a blind person. The 38-year-old from Brighton, who is the first blind diver to use a closed-circuit rebreather, will attempt the world record in June next year at the Blue Hole dive site in Dahab, Egypt.
“It’s sticking two fingers up at those people who say disabled people can’t do things like this,” Threadgold told DIVE. “There”s a huge amount of discrimination against disabled people, and an staggering amount against blind people in particular.”
Threadgold, a former sergeant in the Royal Corps of Signals, lost his sight completely after suffering horrific head injuries in an accident in 1999. He learned to dive five years before he lost his sight and was determined to carry on with the sport as a blind diver. After learning new techniques to cope with a loss of sight underwater, Threadgold decided to become an AP Valves Inspiration closed-circuit rebreather and trimix diver in February this year.
“The hardest thing was getting used to buoyancy and sorting out hand signals, not only for the diving but also for the different skills I had to do in the water,” he said. “AP Valves changed the alarms on the rebreather, so there is a different sound for each warning, such as high O2 or low O2 readings.”
He hopes his latest record will raise the profile of St Dunstan’s, a charity that helped him rebuild his life after his lost his sight. The charity helps rehabilitate blind ex-servicemen and women.
Three support divers will accompany him on the 100m dive. He said he is feeling slightly apprehensive, but is looking forward to his latest challenge. I probably am a bit crazy for doing this,” said Threadgold, “but I’m confident in the team and support I have.”
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For those who wish to follow Marks progress on this attempt, please look at http://www.ccr100.co.uk.
To mention the sponsors:
Neilsons - for travel, accomodation, use of their dive centre in Dahab and a bit more.
St Dunstans for PR, Admin and getting this off the ground.
O’Three Drysuits - for suits and other equipment
Analox - for gas analysers
Delta P Technologies - their computers and deco planning
Custom Divers - for various bits of dive kit
Ambient Pressure Diving - for modifying Marks unit and continued suport
OceanSoul Watersports - for training
Brighton University - for development of a talking ppO2 dive meter.
[…] I reported a while ago about Mark Threadgold and his preparations for a 100mtr trimix dive to take place in teh Red Sea, in order to raise money for St Dunstans. Well, we have received news that he has successfully pulled it off and completed a 103 mtr dive at the Blue Hole site in Dahab on June 16th 2006. […]