Egyptian Diver Spends Six Days Underwater to Claim World Saltwater Dive Record

DIVE Report

Egyptian Dive Instructor Saddam Killany has provisionally broken the Guinness World Record for the longest-duration saltwater dive, spending 145 hours and 30 minutes underwater. The record attempt is awaiting confirmation from Guinness, but if confirmed will break the existing record by just under three hours.

The record attempt took place in Dahab, beginning on 5 November until Killany left the water almost six days later. He passed his time underwater exercising, praying and practising the art of underwater painting.

Killany had planned to spend at least 150 hours underwater during the record attempt, however was advised to leave the water 3.5 hours early for medical reasons. The dive was supervised by Dr Adel M Taher, director of the South Sinai Hyperbaric Medical Chamber, based in Sharm El Sheikh.

Saddam Killany pictured in Dahab (Photo: Facebook)

The previous record was set in 2016 by Turkish diver Cem Karabaym who spent 142 hours 42 minutes and 42 seconds in open water at Yavuz Çıkarma Beach in Cyprus. Karabaym also holds the record for longest dive in a controlled environment, spending 192 hours submerged in a swimming pool. 

Killany reportedly spent more than five years preparing himself for the dive, spending 121 hours underwater during a previous attempt in 2017. He also made headlines in Egypt after proposing to his girlfriend underwater earlier this year.