I don't see it as being much different than any other extreme sport and theres only been 7-8 deaths since 1994 since Exley (1994)- thats hardly an epidemic of lemming divers, so I think its a stretch to say that glorification of the dive has contributed to more deaths , compare that with other sports eg Everest over 270+ deaths in the same timeline.
Whether its Everest or Andria Doria were all motivated by personal goals and ego - i wouldn't demonise anyone because a person wants to reach their personal goal regardless of whether I agree with it our not. Just because its not my goal doesnt mean its wrong.
I used to be professional mountaineer- Approximately 14 people ive known have died in the mountains including a few on Everest. I stopped climbing because those that i knew that died were highly skilled professionals and i come to the realisation that its was just statistical probability that if you keep pushing the envelope your gong to get caught out one day.
Put aside the deepest dive world record attempt - what about the longest cave penetration or the pushing to discover a new cave system or a wreck that has never been penetrated - its all the same thing really - being the first. One team of divers reaches point X and the next team try to go further
I'm still not understanding why he went for it without his 200m diver. What would make someone doing so much prep go on the one day that 'safety' diver didn't show up? Smh