Sea bed to Ben Nevis summit challenge
A team of divers are taking on an epic sub-sea fundraising challenge.
The event will see them walk to the summit of Ben Nevis from a start-point five metres below sea level at the bottom of Loch Linnhe – all while dressed in a heavy, historical diving suit.
Wearing equipment weighing more than 80kgs, a relay team made up of Navy divers and civilian volunteers will start the Sub Sea to Summit challenge in Fort William this Saturday morning, September 1.
Starting at a depth of five metres, the team hopes to walk to the top of Britain’s highest mountain, 1,345 metres above sea level.
The challenge will start from and use the Fort William Marina pontoon on Loch Linnhe, which will also form the base for the land walk.
The divers will be supported by sub sea training and trials centre The Underwater Centre, which trains divers from all over the world and is providing full-board accommodation to the team throughout the challenge.
It takes most climbers several hours to get to the top of Ben Nevis, but weighed down by the suit, the charity team expect to reach the summit in four or five days.
The Sub Sea to Summit challenge was created by Ginge Fullen, a former Royal Navy clearance diver who has combined a career in diving with climbing the highest mountains in more than 170 countries.
The Royal Navy used the heavy standard diving dress, manufactured by Seibe Gorman, for underwater work during and after World War II prior to the introduction of more modern equipment. The diving helmet remains the image for their branch badge on uniforms.
Ginge and his team hope to raise more than £4,000 for the Historical Diving Society, Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team and the family of Thai Navy diver Saman Kunan, who died recently while attempting to rescue a football team and their coach from flooded caves in Thailand.
Ginge Fullen holds two Guinness World Records for being the first person to climb the highest mountain in every country in Europe and in Africa and completing the highest peaks in Africa in the fastest time.
He broke his neck in 1990 while playing rugby and suffered a heart attack on Mount Everest in 1996.
He said: ‘I wanted to do an expedition so challenging that it will probably never be repeated again. After meeting Ty Burton from the Historical Diving Society, we joined forces to make this challenge happen.
‘It will be hard going to make it to the summit of Ben Nevis but knowing we are raising money for such good causes will keep us going.’
The Historical Diving Society was formed in 1990 by a group of enthusiasts whose aim is to preserve and protect diving heritage.
Commercial director at The Underwater Centre Steve Ham said: ‘The suits divers wear nowadays are modern and much lighter in weight. This old diving suit weighs more than 12 stone, or 80kgs, which is more than some of the guys’ own body weight.
‘We wish Ginge and the team all the best for a successful climb.’