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Pascal BernabeTechnical diver
Date of Birth: 31.01.1965
Country:  France |
Content:
- Pascal Bernabé: French Technical Diver
- Historic Dive to 330 Meters
- Support Team and Incident
- Professional Activities
- Authorship
Pascal Bernabé: French Technical Diver
Pascal Bernabé is a French technical diver who achieved the deepest open-water scuba dive. His record is unofficial, as the Guinness World Record recognizes Nuno Gomes as the record holder. Further registration of records in this category has been discontinued due to extreme health and safety risks.
Historic Dive to 330 Meters
Bernabé's record-breaking dive took place on July 5, 2005, in Propriano, Corsica. He reached a depth of 330 meters (1,083 feet) in 10 minutes, but the total dive time spanned 8 hours and 49 minutes. Over eight hours were spent on ascent and decompression.
Bernabé had meticulously prepared for the record attempt for three years. The initial plan was to descend to 320 meters, but the dive line shifted 10 meters deeper due to rope stretch. He described the dive as "scary" despite taking maximum precautions and having abundant air.
Support Team and Incident
Bernabé was supported by a team of 30, including 12 underwater divers. During the dive, one of his dive lights malfunctioned and exploded due to the extreme pressure, causing an ear injury.
Professional Activities
Bernabé participates in freedivers' dives as a support diver. On October 12, 2002, he played a crucial role in supporting freediver Audrey Mestre's tragic record-attempt dive. He was stationed at the 171-meter mark, ready to assist her with her ascent. Mestre encountered technical difficulties and Bernabé accompanied her to the surface as much as possible.
As a certified instructor with TDI and IANTD, Bernabé conducts technical diving training and participates in workshops. He also contributes to the creation of decompression tables and designs gas mixtures for extreme depth diving.
Authorship
Bernabé has co-authored the book "Le guide de la plongée Tek" (translated as "A Guide to Technical Diving") alongside Patrice Strazzera and François Brun.
