Brothers honour boy’s memory

Date Published: 17-Sep-2009

A Galway-based father will be joined by his brother as they attempt a daring scuba dive aimed at both making the Guinness Book of World Records and raising funds for sick children – in memory of his two year old son.
‘The World’s Longest Scuba Dive’ will begin at Scubadive West Dive Centre off the West coast of Galway on Saturday, October 10.
The world record attempt aims to raise funds for the St. Raphael’s Children’s Ward at Beaumont Hospital and the Galway charity, CD’s Helping Hands.
Declan Devane has been motivated to take on the fundraising challenge in memory of his two year-old son Cillian, who died on February 6 this year.
Declan, along with his brother Paul, hope to spend 40 hours underwater, under the supervision of dive-coordinator Gary Jennings and with the help and support of Scubadive West and a team of support divers. To set the record, the brothers will not be permitted to break the surface of the water for the duration of the attempt.
What sets this dive apart from other attempts is that it takes place in open sea rather than an aquarium or pool. In the uncontrolled natural environment the divers will be exposed to the elements and a water temperature of less than 15 degrees Celsius. The team are therefore attempting to claim the Guinness World Record for the world’s ‘longest cold, open saltwater SCUBA dive’.
Declan, a Senior Lecturer at the School of Nursing and Midwifery at NUI Galway, wants to honour his son’s memory and help other children who suffer serious illness.
“We hope that our efforts and peoples generosity will, together, honour Cillian’s memory, as well as all the children who suffer serious illness.
“By raising funds for St. Raphael’s Children’s Ward at Beaumont Hospital where Cillian was cared for so well, and for CD’s Helping Hands, which supports the families of sick children, we hope to give something back to those who helped us when our little boy was sick,” he says.
The Devane brothers have already had huge support from the scuba diving community, who are providing a range of standard and specialist equipment for the world breaking attempt.
Originally from Hollymount in County Mayo, and now living in Galway, the brothers have been amateur divers for a number of years but have never attempted something like this before. As younger brother Paul points out: “It will be October. It will be cold, it will be long. There will be no breaks, no meals, no toilet stops. We want to make it to 40 hours. That’s the equivalent of a working week underwater. It will be a challenge”.
To find out more about the world record attempt and show your support please visit www.worldslongestscubadive .com