Diver tried to break world record for deepest dive but makes gruesome discovery | World | News
A diver tried to break the world record for the deepest dive but made a gruesome discovery instead.
Víctor Yazbeck was diving off the Tombant des Americains cliff near Nice, France, to try and reach the maximum depth record.
The underwater cliff at the edge of the Maritime Alps starts 40 metres below the surface and goes more than 200 metres down.
While making his attempt, the Belgian diver solved a mystery. He told Franceinfo: “Visibility was good, conditions were good. At one point, I see a tank. It caught my attention. I see there’s a vest below and I notice a shape underneath.”
Although he was still far from the silhouette, Yazbeck knew this shape could only mean one thing: “That day, I know that at 111 meters, I saw a dead person underwater.”
He resurfaced and informed the maritime gendarmerie of what he found.
Yann Bessac, in charge of the investigation, said: “While going around the docks and diving clubs in Nice, there’s one story that stands out: that of two divers who disappeared in 1993 at the Tombant des Américains.
“But to be sure, you have to go see more than 100 metres below the surface.”
The French Navy sent one of its specialist units, Cephismer (Expert Centre for Human Diving and Underwater Intervention), to assist in the investigation.
The team deployed an underwater robot which can work at great depths and low temperatures. After eight hours of exploration, the team found what Yazbeck had seen.
“Between two rocks, first a silhouette began to emerge,” said Bassec. “A diving tank, a suit that really had a human shape, fins.”
The divers’ remains were reassembled and analysed to confirm their identities. The diving suits were very specific and were surprisingly well-preserved. “They left no room for doubt,” said Sub-officer Bassec.
DNA tests confirmed what was expected: the bodies were those of Daniel Varnier and Christian Thubet, divers who went missing 30 years ago on December 4, 1993, at Tombant des Américains.
