Adnan Alnassrat, a 31-year-old Jordanian scuba diver, is poised to break a new world record in October 2018.

It is said that life is very precious. In this one and only life, we all have different paths and purposes. Our hobbies are different, too. Some people like to spend time with arts and crafts activities, while some like listening to quality music. Others prefer seeking thrills and adventures.

Adnan Alnassrat, a 31-year-old Jordanian scuba diver, is one of those thrill-seeking adventurers. On June 20, 2018, he dived into the open sea, near the port of Aqaba and returned to land two days later, setting a record of spending 48 hours at sea.

In March 2018, Alnassrat previously set a record by spending 24 hours at sea. Before these long dives, Alnassrat practiced a series of intense scuba diving lessons in the Gulf of Aqaba. According to Alnassrat, his uncle had drowned in the Red Sea, and he chose scuba diving to defy his gloomy perception of the ocean. He wanted to prove that life is possible underwater and did so by eating, drinking, sleeping, playing and exercising. Meanwhile, Alnassrat wanted to show the world what Jordanian divers can achieve.

Alnassrat is thankful for his diving instructor, Omar Madaain, who trained him so well that he was able to set a record. He is also grateful for his fellow divers for their complete support during these 48 hours. Each diver took a turn for 50 minutes and helped him eat, drink, sleep and make sure his safety. To keep himself preoccupied and safe undersea for 48 hours, Alnassrat played chess and rode a bicycle fixed to the seabed to maintain his body temperature.

According to Alnassrat, the most difficult underwater task was to eat and drink. He consumed regular meals after every three hours consisting of slow processing protein meals for the night and high-energy protein meals for the day. This special diet was designed to help his body stay energetic as well as resist the cold, underwater temperature.

Now, Alnassrat is planning to dive again in October and break the Guinness World Record of spending 143 hours under the sea, which was set by a Turkish scuba diver, Cem Karabe in July 2016. Alnassrat aims to spend 144 hours and beat Karabe’s record by one hour.

The scuba diving event was organized by Aqaba Inner Space, which was established in 2017. Aqaba Inner Space supports Jordanian youth in water sports and aims to make Aqaba a tourist destination on the Red Sea. After Alnassrat’s impressive 48 hours record undersea, it is hopeful that the port of Aqaba will become a new favorite destination for scuba divers from all over the world.

“Diving in the Gulf of Aqaba is a worthwhile experience. It is full of colors and amazing coral beauty,” said Alnassrat.

Zahra Kazmi is a researcher, freelance writer, and a social activist. Most of her writings are about women and children’s rights, social and gender issues. Read other articles by Zahra.