Scuba guide performs dramatic camera rescue AND records unbelievable footage

When this scuba diver's camera began sinking into the depths, she wasn't just losing a few thousand dollars worth of equipment. She was also losing contacts, precious family photos, and the most memorable video footage that she had ever captured. Minutes before, Tammy met a whale shark face to face at 70 feet in the remote waters of the Galapagos Islands. This is a bucket list trip and the close up encounter with such a magnificent animal is the kind of experience that all scuba divers dream of. She had captured the memories forever and she knew that this was the best dive of her life.

The camera is also Tammy's active iPhone and the water proof case and light system has set her back a lot of money. She had it properly secured to her flotation vest, but the cord broke somehow as she reached the surface. She didn't know the camera was gone until somebody yelled that there was a camera sinking beneath the group. She instantly knew that she couldn't catch it and she braced herself for the reality that it was gone forever.

Kristy, another member of the dive group began chasing the camera but she was well aware that her air had been depleted on the dive. She knew she could not kick her fins quickly enough to descend after it because she would need enough air for the added exertion as well as the return trip from the depths. She made the decision that it was impossible. The camera was sinking almost as quickly as Kristy could swim.
The only one in the group with enough air left to go after it was Solon, the dive guide. A very experienced diver who is in excellent physical condition, he had almost half a tank of air left after the dive. He is diving with enriched air, called "Nitrox". The higher oxygen concentration allows Solon to remain underwater longer without building up a toxic level of nitrogen in his body, but the gas mix becomes toxic to humans under the pressure that exists somewhere below 35m (100 feet). He knows he must reach the sinking camera before he hits 35m or he will risk convulsions, disorientation, neurological damage, or even death.

Solon has longer fins as well and he chases the camera at full effort, slowly closing in as he descends. The rapid dive causes pressure buildup in his ears and sinuses and he needs to equalize rapidly to avoid severe pain and eardrum damage. He must gauge his exertion so that he does not require air faster than his regulator can provide it. Solon disappeared far enough that only his rising bubbles were visible to the divers above. He is alone as he descends because nobody is able to follow him far beneath the surface. This places him at risk because he will be completely reliant on only his own equipment. A malfunction at this time will be disastrous with no dive buddy to share their air with him.

After a few minutes Solon appeared. He could be seen at 6m (18 feet), the safety stop that allows a diver to expel nitrogen gas before surfacing. Unbelievably, he had the camera in his hand, but even MORE unbelievable was that he was using the camera to record something beautiful. Solon had surfaced in the middle of a gigantic pod of dolphins. These amazing animals are a rare sight for scuba divers and a close look at one in its natural environment is also a bucket list item for most scuba enthusiasts. Solon has turned on the camera and is capturing footage for Tammy, who has climbed into the inflatable boat that will take her back to the main boat.

Tammy was already telling fellow divers that she did not think she would ever see her camera or the footage of the whale shark that looked her straight in the eye. Then Solon surfaced and held up the camera. There were cheers and shouts of surprise as Tammy beamed with relief. There was an even bigger smile as she looked at the footage that Solon captured as dolphins circled him curiously.
Tammy is an appreciate person and Solon was properly thanked in a tangible manner for such a super human effort.