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New World Record Longest Dive By Jack Stanton Atlanta, GA. On August 23, 2003 at 11:57 pm Jack Stanton, an employee of PSI, descended into Lake Keowee, Seneca SC to begin the longest fresh water dive and push the record over Jerry Hall's 71 hour dive in TN last year. The new record by Jack is now standing at 105 hours and 8 minutes. The crew that managed surface support for Jack Stanton were: Samantha Swenson, Buck Buchanan, Jay Earnhardt, Bill Routh and Chris Routh. Two pontoon boats were used to stage all activities through out the period of 11:57pm August 23, 2003 to 9:05am August 28, 2003. A 24 hour watch began through a camera and monitor that was equipped with a light on the "campsite" chosen at 17 feet of depth. Jack moved in provisions and supplies stored in various equipment bags himself and organized everything. The standard double 104cu ft tanks along with 120cu ft tanks were gas blocked together and a Kirby Morgan full face mask was used each night for the sleep and resting period. This could provide 4-6 hours of air for Jack. Assisting divers moved tanks down and back while setting up the configurations planned by Jack and checked the pressure gauges. Jack wore a pony bottle at all times. Safety divers were at Jack's side during the dark hours from 9pm until 6am each day. A hydrophone was used by the surface to issue information to Jack and a trolley line with a slate and a bell line were available for more information if Jack was not wearing the Kirby Morgan/ Dive Com unit for two way communication. Safety divers were always prepared to enter the water immediately to deal with Jack's needs. A regular sport mask and regulators were used much of the time during the day and alternately the Ocean Reef full face and Buddy Phone were used to relieve fatigue. An 80cu ft tank would last 1 1/2 hours or more depending on the level of activity by Jack Stanton. He was fitted with a wet suit, hood, gloves, boots and a harness weight system to maintain depth. Jack was able to walk around, work out with weights, read a book, eat, drink fluids, and manage the tank changes. A cell phone call from his wife was patched through to him by way of the hydra phone in the water. Music was piped down the hydra phone during the wakefull hours for the divers to listen to. Approximately 120 tanks of air were used in total by the support crew and by Jack to pull this off, the majority being 80cu ft tanks. Around 11:00pm on August 27, 2003 divers began to take Nitrox tanks down for Jack to begin the burn time from his saturation levels for decompression. It would be well into the early morning before he would complete the established tables set before he could surface. Everything went on cue for the decompression. Slightly before Jack was to surface Jerry Hall, whom had arrived on board at 2:00am, dove with him to present a plaque for arriving at this awesome marathon dive. Video footage by the local TV station WSPA from Spartanburg was taken two separate days and aired locally. Additional video underwater was made for Jack's own use and a log was recorded on an hourly basis for documentation and will provide Guinness World Records the facts to list this as the longest fresh water dive to date. I am sure the Dive Community congratulates Jack Stanton for this incredible dive and his crew have stood behind his dream for over a year in which he trained for this.
