A cabinet minister and two governors were among the 2,861 people who dived into the waters off the North Sulawesi capital of Manado on Sunday for 31 minutes to win an entry to the Guinness Book of World Records, Antara news agency reported.
“We have just smashed a world record today. It gives us pride as we can prove our country is a strong maritime nation,” Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Minister Freddy Numberi said after the mass dive.
The number of participants in Manado set a new world record of “most people scuba diving simultaneously”, breaking the previous mark of 979 set in Maldives in 2006.
North Sulawesi Governor Sinjo Sarundayang, Gorontalo Governor Fadel Muhammad, deputy Navy chief Vice Adm. Moekhlas Sidik and 51 foreigners were among the participants of the record breaking dive, which was held as part of the Sail Bunaken festival.
The participants will attempt to set another record of holding a ceremony under the sea on Monday, when they celebrate the 64th anniversary of Indonesian independence.(Story courtesy of Kompas.Com). Mike Williams at the Gilboa Quarry is going to have a hard time trying to break this record next year at the World Record attempt.