A resident of Saltdean in southern England, Mark Threadgold, a world record holder of power boating and water speed, is now getting ready to attempt the record for the deepest dive ever achieved by a blind person.

A support team is helping Mark with his intensive training for the purpose. New techniques have been developed to help him overcome certain obstacles. One of the aids is a braille slate, which allows him to feel at what depth he should take decompression stops. He has also been practising tactile hand signals as a means of communicating with his dive buddy.

Mark will be attempting the record in the month of June at the Blue Hole at Dahab in the Red Sea. He will descend with safety divers in the first instance, but will attempt to reach the depth of 100meters unaided.

He expressed his confidence to achieve the record and said: ”Just because I’m blind, it doesn’t stop me doing anything that anybody else does. We’ve still got ambitions - if you can do it, I CAN DO IT TOO.”