A 67-year-old German diver is claiming a world record for “fastest underwater crossing of the Fehmarn Belt”, a 12.5-mile-wide body of water between Denmark and Germany.
Using a diver-propulsion vehicle and going no deeper than 10m, Wolfgang Kulow covered the distance from the Danish island of Lolland to the German island of Fehmarn in 4 hours and 9 minutes, on Tuesday 27 September.
He was using a Seabob F5 S “water-sled” and had a support team to help him exchange his single air-cylinders on the way without having to leave the water.
The Seabob F5 S uses a 6hp electric E-Jet Power System, has six gears, weighs 35kg and is depth-rated to 40m. It retails for 10,780 euros ex-VAT.
“Achieving this kind of record depends on numerous external factors,” said Ronny Roskosch of the Stuttgart-based company Cayago, which makes the unit. “The Baltic Sea with its ever-changing conditions, the low water temperature of about 15°C and low visibility of under 5m created multiple challenges.”
The 3mph crossing was ratified by the Records Institute of Germany (RID).
“This kind of world record has never been attempted before,” said Olaf Kuchenbecker from RID. “I congratulate Wolfgang Kulow and the entire Seabob team on their success.”
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28-Sep-16
