Turkish Diver Breaks Record: 36 Hours Underwater at 12°C

Imagine staying underwater for a day and a half in water so cold it would make most people shiver after minutes. Turkish scuba instructor Mazlum Kibar did exactly that, setting a new Guinness World Record for the longest open saltwater dive in cold water.

Kibar entered the Aegean Sea at Mimoza Beach in Gallipoli on March 14th at 7 a.m. and didn't surface until 36 hours, 9 minutes, and 36 seconds later. He stayed at a depth of 7 meters in water hovering around 12°C, about the temperature of a cold shower.

The dive shattered the previous record of 30 hours and 20 minutes, set by fellow Turkish diver Cem Karabay back in 2018. An official Guinness World Records adjudicator traveled all the way from Portugal to witness and verify the achievement on site.

Kibar didn't just wake up one day and decide to break a world record. He trained extensively for months, building up his physical and mental endurance for the grueling challenge ahead. "I trained for a long time for this," he said after completing the dive.

Throughout the entire attempt, a dedicated support team kept watch from the surface. Safety divers and medical professionals monitored Kibar constantly, ready to intervene if anything went wrong during the marathon underwater session.

Why This Inspires

What makes this story special isn't just the record itself. Kibar accomplished this feat with a clear purpose in mind: putting Turkish diving on the world stage. "I wanted to bring this record to my country," he explained, his national pride evident.

His achievement does more than add another line to the record books. Kibar hopes his accomplishment will spark greater interest in scuba diving across Turkey and beyond. "This is an important moment for Turkish diving," he said during the certification ceremony.

The dive required not just physical strength but incredible mental fortitude. Staying focused and calm for 36 hours in cold, challenging conditions takes a special kind of determination that most of us can only imagine.

Kibar's success shows what's possible when dedication meets preparation and purpose. His record stands as proof that with enough training and the right support, humans can push past what seems impossible.