Phase I: Guinness Record

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I just went back and read about the toilet... man I tell ya, I couldnt' do it. I can't pee in my wet suit, mental block, beleive me, I have tried like mad, won't go... let alone #2.

dont' get sucked to the toilet man, in 20 feet of water there is probably enough pressure you seal you good to the rim.
 
Man, that's funny.

Actually, the toilet has a "seat," just like the one in your bathroom... You know, the one you leave up and your girlfriend/wife/SO yells at you about. :D

This allows for water to enter throught the sides, creating a downward suction which never actually adheres you to the seat.

The plan is to wear a wetsuit, suprisingly. When the suit is to be removed, I'll enter a sort of underwater latrine (for privacy) and inflate my wing and stick it to the ceiling. Then the wetsuit will be removed, and I'll be inside, basically naked, with my gear stuck to the ceiling and dangling my regs in my face. Number one and number two will both be performed sitting, probably with a couple of weights sitting on my lap to ensure that I'm negative. I'll be using the same sort of material to uh... "Clean up"... As what you'd find in a commercial, disposable "shop rag." Basically, it's a sort of non-absorbent paper towel that is thick enough to retain some consistency while completely submerged. (It feels very much like cloth.) Of course, the water "softens" it a bit. :D These will be disposed of through the toilet, like you'd do with normal toilet paper. (It is actually a paper product.) I'll then probably utilize bar soap to keep my body clean - a much more realistic approach to a 14-day stay than most divers who've attempted this record.

"Soaping," by the way, will be performed in the "latrine" as well... With the toilet "flushing" the whole time. In short, I should be able to soap and rinse, effectively, without too much hassle if there's a constant drain (provided by the "toilet"). During this activity, I'll probably be vertical in the "latrine" and have my feet hooked under a couple of door handles mounted on the floor. Again, my gear will be stuck to the top of the "latrine."

Brushing teeth will be performed using a breath hold technique and a standard regulator. The plan is to brush a few of my teeth at a time, then breathe, and then go for the next few. Repeat until done. Of course, all of this will be done over the "toilet." Believe it or not, this is the trickiest part of my daily hygene.

Jeez, I hope that's not too graphic for y'all. :D

I wear contact lenses... They will be removed for the duration of the dive. I doubt I'll bother with corrective lenses in my mask, although I might find that to be an issue by the time Phase 5 comes around. Shaving probably will be ignored, although I might choose to get creative, again over the toilet, if it becomes irritating or causes problems with the mask seal. Heck, I might just keep myself up to look good for the media. Shaving will probably be performed with a "Bic" style safety razor and without "shaving creme," although a "shave gel" may be an option - or a submersible electric shaver - if the "Bic" gets irritating.

The big picture, though, is to embrace the luxury of being able to deffocate and urinate, brush teeth, shower, and perform other daily rituals - not to ignore them or subdue them. That, simply put, is the big difference between my attempt and the attempts before me. Previous attempts all consider bodily function as an interruption to the dive, rather than a requirement for a "normal" dive.

...And I feel that that basic philisophical difference in the way I execute this dive will lead to much longer dive times than have previously been attempted.
 
Seems like you've thought this through quite a bit. Never thought about the showering underwater bit. Seems a bit odd given you're already UW. Regarding the toilet; don't astrounauts strap themselves to crapper using a seatbelt or harness? Perhaps this might help when unloading.

Since you'll be having your own bathroom (flooded I guess!); you should put a sink down there just to confuse the media. Try to splash water on face from sink - that should raise a few questions!
 
That's a killer idea... In fact, I think I should play at least one practical joke a day... So long as the media's watching.

That might keep me busy... And entertained. :D

'Course, mask floods from laughing so hard might be a problem... :D

Showering... Yeah, after a couple of days, underwater or not, I understand you'd still give valuable body parts for a bar of soap. :D Body oils and "funks" still are excreted... And so it's still nice to get rid of them.

Heck, I'll have the time... Why not use it to keep myself and my environment as nice as possible? Beats the heck out of just floating there... :D

I love the practical joke idea...
 
... know if there is anything I can do to help! I totally support you, I love that you are going for your dreams! It means a lot to know that there are people out there still willing to try!

I know that I am pretty far away... so I probably would not be able to participate in the actual thing.. but I could help with other things (like fundraisers, etc.) while staying close to home.

Seriously though.. let me know if there is ANYTHING I can do.. I am more then willing to help.

Good luck with your dreams, I sincerly hope everything works for and you are able to accomplish it! :)


Kayla:)
 
SeaJay once bubbled...
When the suit is to be removed, I'll enter a sort of underwater latrine (for privacy) and inflate my wing and stick it to the ceiling.
Oh...ok you mean your BC!!! Alright, I'm just kidding...it's late and I'm being naughty ha ha ha :tongue:
 
Hehehee... LOL!

Uh, yeah... The uh... "BC." :D

You know, after a couple of days in there, I don't think I'm gonna care too much what I'm wearing. :D

Kayla... Thanks a million... I really appreciate the offer. I'll keep you posted, then.

There's no telling where the events are going to take place yet. There are places in Florida interested and places in NJ, PA, Michigan, Texas, and even California.

No doubt it would be conveinent if it took place in the southeast... But I'm not picky...
 
... it would be great to knwo when all of this will take place! Thanks for keeping us informed! :D


Kayla:)
 
Maybe we should print special invitations or bulletins that can be sent out. What do you think SJ? R
 
And send out "specially designed invitations" virtually by email.

You could use some of those newly aquired web design skills of yours... :wink:
 

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