World's longest dive

An Irish diver yesterday broke the Guinness World Record for the longest immersion.

The 35-year-old Sean McGahern, who only started diving six years ago, emerged after more than 27 hours in the sea to enthusiastic applause from family and friends, some of whom had flown in to support him, at the Westin Dragonara Resort's Reef Club.

The previous record was of 24 hours.

The Irishman said his main problems were eating, drinking and "toilet".

He said he originally intended to spend 30 hours underwater but later found this was not feasible.

But he is adamant on giving it another go and next year plans on spending more time underwater.

Mr McGahern has clocked up about 700 dives since he took up the sport as a hobby six years ago. Four years ago he decided to take things seriously and he became an instructor in two years' time.

Yesterday he stayed at a depth of about 15 metres - four metres below the Guinness 11 metre limit - for a day-and-a-half.

Throughout the dive, he was engaged in a clean-up of the sea bed and offering specialised courses in underwater navigation, mapping, buoyancy and photography.