Even though a world record was not broken, a 30-mile dive attempt is still considered a success for an explorer.
In less than 12 hours, combat/commercial diver Scott Cassell and his team, which included strong Vancouver support, completed a dive Saturday from Catalina Island to Cabrillo Beach, San Pedro, in California.
Unfortunately, due to technical complications and a near-drowning experience, he had to resurface midway through the dive.
“We didn’t get the world record,” said Cassell, “but that’s not the reason I did this. It was all about the sharks.”
Cassell has been receiving many complaints about his mission for two reasons: He did not end up breaking the world record, and the distance he actually travelled was only about 18 miles.
Explaining, Cassell said that because water is much denser than air and he was travelling through a strong current, the dive equates to a 30-mile journey.
Surviving an underwater seizure and extreme dehydration from swallowing so much salt water during technical complications was good enough for him.
Cassell was focused on the big picture: The decreasing shark population. Throughout the entire dive, not a single shark was seen.
“In 20 years, 90 per cent of the shark population has been killed off,” said Cassell. “Extinction is just years away.”
According to Cassell, there would be an explosion of imbalance in the ocean if the predators were gone.
“It is imperative that the shark population is restored for human survival,” said Cassell. “The last time I checked, survival of the human species is good for the economy.”
Local news from metronews.ca/vancouver
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