Silva Sets New Dive World Record!

He Did It! Robert Silva was able to meet his goal of scuba diving for 48 hours straight, beating the world record of 36.5 hours and setting a new Guinness World Record of the longest salt water dive. Silva emerged from the waters of Hol Chan Marine Reserve at 10:35a.m. very happy with his accomplishment. Feeble and exhausted, Silva was not able to give any interviews to the media who awaited his surfacing. He was given oxygen and taken back to Ramon's Village to recover. Read more on Ambergris Today Online.

Palma being the funny guy

This is how Robert slept while under water

Going through things with the staff of Ramon's Village Dive Shop

Gil Nuñez of Ramon's Village Dive Shop. The guys were essential to the success of Mr. Silva's world record attempt

Palma helping Robert before he got into the water

Ready to follow Robert

Adolfo Ayuso keeps the time

Keeping busy underwater so as not to get bored and tired

Underwater pictures and video provided by
Tricia Brewer and Mike Shaw

Official time as Robert surfaced

A crowd appeared at Ramon's Village dock to welcome and cheer Mr. Silva

Robert Silva Passes the 24hr Mark!

Pictures from yesterday, Sept. 14, as Silva prepared to submerge

If you were wondering how Mr. Silva is doing, at 10:30 this morning he passed the 24 hour mark of being underwater at Hol Chan Marine Reserve in his quest to break the world record for the longest salt water dive. Ambergris Today contacted the team out at Hol Chan and we were told that Silva is doing great in sound mind and conscious. He has used ten tanks of air supply since he started and got to sleep at around 4a.m. His team of divers were observing him during his sleep to make sure everything was 'A-Okay". More updates to follow; keep tuned to the Ambergris Today Daily Blog.

World Record Attempt in San Pedro Underway!

Remember when Ambergris Today reported back in July of that one man was to attempt to break the world record for the longest salt water dive? Well Mr. Robert Silva has arrived in San Pedro and at this moment is underwater at the Hol Chan Marine Reserve already in the process of attempting to stay under for more than 36.5 hours. With the assistance of his diving crew and that of Ramon's Village Dive Shop crew, Mr. Silva has already started the countdown for his world record breaking attempt that commenced this morning at 10:30a.m. He will have to eat, drink and sleep underwater without surfacing in order to break the record. Ambergris Today was there as Mr. Silva made his plunge into the waters of the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. If all goes well, he is scheduled to surface on Wednesday, September 16 around 10:30a.m. making the dive 48 hours long. We will keep you posted on this amazing story and full details will be published on Thursday's edition of Ambergris Today Newspaper. (Read our first report HERE)

Mr. Robert Silva

Robert goes over the dive procedures with his crew and that of Ramon's Village Dive Shop

Setting the timer for his dive

Mr. Silva suits up and takes the plunge!

Good Luck! We are all hoping you break the world record

Breaking Scuba Dive World Record in Belize

On September 13, Illinois scuba diver Robert Silva will travel to Belize’s Ambergris Caye, where he will attempt to set a new world record for longest saltwater dive. To succeed, he will have to stay underwater for over 36 and a half hours. Silva, 31, initially set out to break the much longer freshwater record, which stands at about 120 hours.

The location of the dive was going to be Haigh Quarry, a former limestone pit in Kankakee, IL. In March, however, Silva received a call from Tina Haigh, the quarry’s owner. Haigh Quarry was withdrawing its offer to host the attempt. After searching for another site and “just hitting dead ends”, Silva received and accepted an offer to challenge the saltwater record at Ramon’s Village, a dive resort in Belize. For Silva, who completed his PADI Divemaster certification in Belize in 2005, it would be a return to familiar waters. (Read more on next week's issue of Ambergris Today)