Egyptian Quadriplegic Navy Officer Makes History with Guinness-Validated Scuba Dive

In a remarkable feat of determination and resilience, Egyptian naval officer Walaa Hafez has etched his name into the annals of diving history by becoming the first quadriplegic man to break a scuba diving record in a controlled environment.

Defying Limits Beneath the Waves

Left paralyzed from the neck down following a car accident, Hafez refused to let his physical limitations deter him from the deep. Collaborating with a specialized team and leveraging intensive training and adaptive techniques, he successfully accomplished an extended underwater dive that exceeded all prior benchmarks for athletes with comparable disabilities.

According to Guinness World Records, the dive achieved by Hafez is now recognized as the new world standard for “longest scuba dive in a controlled environment (male)” by someone with quadriplegia.

Setting a New Standard, Inspiring Others

Observers and the wider diving community have hailed Hafez’s achievement not just as a personal victory, but as a symbol of what is possible when determination, support, and innovation converge. His record is poised to inspire divers with disabilities worldwide, showing that the depths remain within reach for those who believe.

In recognizing Hafez’s feat, Guinness World Records underscores that extraordinary challenges can be overcome, and that the sea, in its immensity, does not discriminate.