Some people run marathons for charity. Robert Silva plans to break a world record for it.

Illinois scuba diver Robert Silva is scheduled to come to San Pedro, Ambergris Caye in September where he will attempt to set a new world record for the longest saltwater dive. To succeed, he will have to stay underwater for over 36½ hour.

Ambergris Today contacted Mr. Silva and he says that his goal is to stay underwater at least 48 hours to set a new world record which now stands at 36.5 hours. Silva tells us that the dive must be completed on scuba gear with no ties to the surface, meaning that he cannot use any type of hoses from the surface to provide air. It must be completed totally on SCUBA gear. The record also provides no breaks so he must eat, sleep and do everything else underwater without breaking the surface. One other thing is that he must achieve a depth of 20 feet for at least 20 minutes; outside of that he can be at any depth.

Robert Silva’s current plan is to attempt this record-breaking feat off of Hol Chan Marine Reserve. Not being able to surface at anytime during his dive, Silva’s diet will consist mainly of liquid meals which he will consume using a Camelback-type system, like hikers use. To sleep, the plan is to clip off to a line and just try and relax enough to sleep for a bit. Support divers will always be in the water monitoring his air supply as he tries to sleep.

What does he plan to do with all his free time underwater? “I plan to listen to music, come up with some little games that can be played underwater and talk to the team,” he said in another interview with matadorsports.com. “The plan is to have two-way communication units for communication with the surface. And, of course, I will pass some time watching the wildlife.”

Robert then tells Ambergris Today that this was definitely a personal choice. “I have been diving since 1999, and from the first time I fell in love with it,” he tells us via email. He completed his PADI dive master course on a reef off Ambergris Caye.

“I was on a Dive trip with Scuba Emporium at the time and only had a few more things left to complete to finish the internship. We were staying at Ramon’s at the time, and the dive master from Ramon’s that was leading our dives actually participated in the last portion of my training. Ever since going to Ambergris Caye I have wanted to return and after talking to someone from Ramon’s about the record attempt, they had offered to host the event from their resort. It was a perfect opportunity to return to the island and complete this dive.”

Silva says that he loves how laid back the island can be. “I come from Chicago where everything is just rush, rush, rush. To be able to go somewhere where time really has no meaning is great.”

This world record attempt is also being done as a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. Robert is a team captain for an ACS Relay for Life event and this year he will be combining his love for SCUBA diving, and raising money for charity.

“I have also been working to raise money for The American Cancer Society for many years,” Silva tells Ambergris Today. “Cancer has affected my family and my friend’s families so it has always been important to me to do what I could for this great charity. It seemed natural to me to combine my love of diving and helping this charity into a fundraising event.” The American Cancer Society supports Cancer research and provides support for those suffering from it.

Below are a few questions that Mr. Silva answered in an interview with Matador Sports:

Q. What kind of physical training are you doing to prepare for your attempt?
The biggest training item is time in the pool, just experiencing long duration and gear changes underwater. I am eating healthier than I have in the past. More than athleticism I believe it is going to take the proper mindset to get through the dive. I’m not going into this thinking it will be a cakewalk to sit underwater for so long. I know it will get harder on my body and mind the longer I stay under.

Q. What are the main challenges that you expect to face?
The main concern I have will be the weather. The weather can make or break this event. I’ve had people ask about sharks, and things like that, [but] one thing I’ve realized is that sharks are not mindless killers. I’ve seen sharks while diving in Belize in the past and they were never a problem. I expect to see mostly nurse sharks, and they tend to be very docile.

Q. What kind of potential emergencies or problems are your preparing for?
The biggest issue will be possible gear problems. Saltwater can be hard on the gear; having to do tank changes underwater could introduce saltwater [into] my regulator. I plan to have secondary gear on the boat that can be sent down to me if needed, and also a second setup put together and ready for use on a line beneath the surface. I have scuba medical insurance, which includes airlifting me off the island if it becomes needed.

Q. In your opinion, what does it take to break a record like this?
Being prepared as best as possible and being in the proper mindset. You have to be willing to take a risk. Doing something like this is outside of any normal type of dive, and no matter how much you prepare, something is sure to happen. Keeping my cool and dealing with the unexpected will be very important for this dive. It also helps to have the support of your friends and family. Though they all think I’m a little crazy for wanting to do it, they all stand by me and give me their support.

Q. If you succeed in your attempt, you will have done something that no diver has ever done before. Where do you see yourself going from there?
I guess I could see myself making another attempt at the same record. I’ve also been looking into other scuba-related records for future attempts.

Change of plans

Silva, 31, initially set out to break the much longer freshwater record, which stands at about 120 hours. The location of the dive was going to be Haigh Quarry, a former limestone pit in Kankakee, IL. In March, however, Silva received a call from the quarry’s owner withdrawing its offer to host the attempt.

After searching for another site and “just hitting dead ends”, Silva received and accepted an offer to challenge the saltwater record at Ramon’s Village, a dive resort in Belize.

This Is Fly (Fly Fishing Magazine) features local Fisherman – Story and photography by Wil Flack

Rumor has it that these guides were the best in the country, if not in the Caribbean. Local legends if you will: men who were literally born into the job. Generations of fathers, sons, and brothers have been drawn to the sea. One particular family, the most famous, is master of their realm. Their captain’s seats are not plush white vinyl, but gleaming towers of observation to see the world. And their job? To find silver when not just any glimmer will do.

I first met Abner almost ten years ago, at a time when his hair was long and pink was his color of choice. He was 28. Not the oldest or the youngest of his family, although most would say he is the spiritual one. He is a soft-spoken Pedrano whose family comes first, macabi (‘Mack-a-bee’ Spanish noun – bonefish) second, and everything else follows in its own order, depending on the tide and moon.

Abner is the planet’s finest bone fisherman, without equal! This is quite a statement considering the number of saltwater anglers out there, but it is the truth. No one executes like this guy and if you have any doubts, go fish with him! When you cannot make the shot, give him the rod, stand back and take notes. I have witnesses it a thousand times and will likely see it thousands more because this perfection lives at 18 degrees North.

In his decades of chasing the elusive ghost, every day on the flats brings him closer to the ultimate goal: the perfect bonefish. Anyone who has spent the better part of their life chasing these fish either has seen one, hooked one or lost one. A lucky few have actually brought one to hand. These fish are seldom seen and when they are, you better have your $@#%&*! Shit together. The shot will be extremely difficult, the wind most likely will be fierce, and you had better start praying macabi wants to fly.

Bonefish might be Abner’s passion, but permit is the itch that must be scratched. These queens of the sea have the ability to drive sane men crazy, including Abner. How does a fish reduce to this? It’s only a fish, right? Maybe it’s the fact that they are never around very long: sometimes you see them, sometimes ya’ don’t. Whatever it may be, they are without a doubt the sexiest fish in the ocean. Regard their lips, the dorsal fin sweeping back, and that massive forked tail that make a permit perfect in every way – but it is still just permit. Once Abner gets his fix, he will turn his attention back to bones, until the itch resurfaces.

It was four-thirty when the buzzer pieced the air to signal that another day of chasing tails had begun. Having come to a paradise like this is for the last several seasons, one becomes acquainted with the locals, especially the fishermen. A wealth of knowledge lies at the water’s edge, usually around three when the sun drops in the sky. At first, you do not say anything but you just listen. Tricks are learned, fish are found and fish are lost, but you still just sit and listen. This is the life of a protégé.

A former bartender turned guide, Abner can credit his move from the dark side to one person; Mr. Carlos is the godfather of la familia, and this humble human started it all. I think any man 69 years old, who still poles clients around on a daily basis, is damn cool! We should all be so fortunate! And he has passed all his skills and know-how on to his boy Abner to allow the next chapter to begin.

Saltwater fly fishing takes a special commitment and not everyone has what it takes to be a saltwater angler. To achieve a greater understanding requires decades of dedication and patience. And if bone fishing is about one thing only, sign me up under patience. It is at the heart of every great saltwater angler. Stadium-sized schools of six-pounders cruising toward the casting deck make even the most experienced anglers tremble with fever.

“Don’t hurry strip,” he calmly muttered. Abner has seen it all and seen it again. If you want to go bone fishing, just ask around and his name will come up every time. Even his siblings praise their brother. “When it comes to bone fishing, he is the Michaelangelo with a fly rod.”

Bonefish are the toughest fish to catch on a fly rod. To rephrase that – big, tailing bonefish are the toughest fish to catch on a fly rod – most anglers cannot do it. This fish is big that your fingers will not touch when you go to grab them and that is the whole mystique of it! If you think you are gonna come down here and catch an 8 to 10lb tailer, you are mistaken and likely crazy, Save yourself some money and buy a ticket to your local trout pond.

Macabi are so spooky with their excellent camouflage that anyone who even gets a shot at one, or better yet, sees one, is having sheer luck. Usually something always @$#% it up. You line the fish or he hears the fly drop, whatever the case may be, and they prove to be the hardest fish to catch on a fly rod. Even if you somehow hook one up, 99% of the time it will snap you off in seconds, the 15-lb. test breaks, your ego is smashed, and your nice, expensive, stainless steel fly is gone. It could be due to too much line pressure, backlash, slight trout set, or possibly everything mentioned. A big one will test all your skills and then some. Next time, pray to the gods and hope the planets align, but next time will be a long, long, way off.

I once asked Abner when he would be done guiding and true to his style, he summed it up in the simplest of ways. “When I can’t make the shot, I’ll be done guiding.” Although Abner has fooled many a bonefish and landed countless thousands, I know that with every cast he makes he questions, “What if this is the moment?”

Before you try again, it is best to forget everything you think you know about bone fishing. Eight-pound test does not work. If you say you can cast 60 feet, you are lying, because you can’t hit forty, and the wind is always smacking at you like your new best friend. Persistence pays off and the one who controls the weather live above the clouds! There is no time for excuses, only learning experiences, then one day, most likely years from now, you will get your shot. If you have been paying attention, you might just see that line straighten.

Wil Flack spends winters chasing ghosts and has been fishing with the master for the better part of the decade. To book you own wakeup call, contact gofishbelize.com and make sure you bring your game!

Manslaughter charges have been dropped from Enrique Peña who was arrested and charged for the death of Alejandro Uck. Postmortem results cleared Peña of the charges of manslaughter and he was set free.

About 1:10 a.m. on Saturday, July 11, upon information received Police visited the far end of the first street in the San Pedrito Area where a male person of Hispanic decent was seen lying on the street apparently under the influence of alcohol and was complaining of pain.

He was identified as Alejandro Uck, 29-year-old, Belizean Manager of Conch Shell Hotel. Besides from a bleeding upper lip and other minor abrasions on his back, no other external injury was observed on him. He was transported to the San Pedro Poly Clinic where he died at about 4:20a.m. that same morning whilst receiving medical attention.

Investigation revealed that for some unclear reason Uck visited the room of Enrique Peña where they engaged in a fist fight and wrestling encounter. This struggle began first inside Enrique’s room and then continued on the street side.

Police arrested and charged Enrique Pena for the crime of Manslaughter while awaiting the results of a post mortem examination being carried out by Dr. Mario Estradabran in Belize City. At the end of this examination Dr. Estradabran certified the cause of death as Acute Pulmonary Edema due to Acute Visceral Conjestion (he drowned in his own vomit) and ruled that none of the minor injuries sustained by Uck during the fight contributed to his death.

After perusal of these results and statements recorded from witnesses the Director of Public Prosecutions directed that the manslaughter charge be withdrawn from Peña due to insufficient evidence. Enrique Peña was subsequently released from custody.

In May of this year, Minister of Education, Hon. Patrick Faber, visited the schools of San Pedro as part of his countrywide tour to all schools. During his visit he promised teachers to have workshops and programs for them to take here on the island instead of having to travel to Belize City or other places. The Ministry of Education, along with The University of Belize, is holding a Primary Education Program for primary school teachers at the Holy Cross Anglican School.

A total of 26 primary school teachers are taking the two year program with the comfort of being here on the island. Mrs. Ethnilda Paulino of University of Belize is the instructor for the first part of the course which will culminate next week.

The program consists of topics such as Nature of the Learner, Language Arts Methods for Primary School Teachers, Social Studies Methods, among others. In speaking with teachers of the various schools their general view about taking the program was the same; they believe that the program will improve their way of teaching for the betterment of the students and themselves.

“This program is great for us teachers as we get to become the students and experience what they go through on a daily basis,” commented Ms. Odelia of Ambergris Caye Elementary School. “I believe that the program enlightens our role as educators since children look at us as role models and it helps us to instill values to the children for them to become better students and for them to be someone important in the future.”

To some teachers this is a great experience and an eye opener as some only have a year of teaching experience and taking the course will help them improve their teaching skills. The program is also being offered in Orange Walk, Belmopan, Belize City and Toledo. Teachers should receive their certificate in Primary Education in December 2010.

On Saturday, July 11, 2009 the second familiarization trip between Mexico and Belize successfully concluded. This event organized by the Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA) and the Embassy of Mexico to Belize, included a delegation comprised of 18 Belizean hoteliers, tour operators, media and tourism representatives from the Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA), the Belize Tourism Board (BTB), the Belize Hotel Association (BHA), the Belize National Tour Operators Association (BNTOA) and the Belize National Tourist Guide Association (BNTGA). Ambergris Today was represented on the trip by special reporter on assignment, Delsie Graniel.

The aim of the trip was to promote Quintana Roo and Yucatan as tourist destinations in Mexico and vice versa, as was done in the familiarization trip to Belize last year, when Belize was highlighted. Visitors visiting either Belize or Mexico could now be encouraged to prolong their stay and visit both countries.

The Belize delegation engaged in a total of six business meetings in Chetumal, Mahahual, Bacalar, Merida, Valladolid, and Izamal to interact with key contacts and to network with Mexican hoteliers, travel agents wholesalers and tour operators whom were pleased to meet with Belizean counterparts, offer them more information on Quintana Roo and Yucatan and receive in return more information on Belize.

Merida's tourism sector was keen to renew its relationship with Belize through the Mundo Maya Organization, which they felt was once beneficial for Merida and Belize. The new Maya Island Air flight from Cancun to Belize and the continuous interest from Mexican bus line Autobuses de Oriente (ADO) were also discussed.  Maya's flight launch on July 8 could not have come at a more opportune time.  These new connections are expected to open new opportunities to promote, market, and link the Mundo Maya region, and will play a major role in developing business opportunities within the region.

The Belizean delegation actively participated in the busy itineraries in Yucatan and southern Quintana Roo. The trip has helped Belize operators to familiarize themselves with some of Yucatan's main attractions, including Chichen Itza, La Hacienda Viva de Sotuta de Peon, Sinkholes in Valladolid and also Quintana Roo's main attractions including Mahahaul, Bacalar and the the Museum of Maya Culture in Chetumal.

For BTIA, sector representatives, hoteliers and the Mexican Embassy, the results of the meetings and familiarization trip were encouraging, receiving positive feedback from participants overall.  This trip was conducted as reciprocal cooperation and hospitality in an effort to strengthen tourism ties between both countries, similar to the tour that was held in Belize for Mexican tourism operators last year, when they had the opportunity to tour the attractions throughout Belize.

For more information about the Mexico-Belize trip please contact the Belize Tourism Industry Association at telephone number 227-1144 or E-mail: info@btia.org or the Embassy of Mexico to Belize at 822-0406.

Angelica Guevara Morfin
Age: 22 years old
Height: 5.6 Feet
Profession: Primary School Teacher, Model, International Relations Student
Eye Color: Brown
Hair Color: Brunette
Skin Color: Light Brown
Hobbies: Reading and Dancing
She participated at the Miss Guatemala Universe Pageant where she placed second and will represent Guatemala at the Miss World Pageant 2009 to be held in December

The festival tickets sold at these locations:
 Island Magic - 602 2308
Milo's Centre - 226 2196
Milo's Ice - 226 2033
Wally's Electrical - 226 2408
Post Office - 226 2250
The Reef Radio - 601 5427
Emerita Munoz - 226 2085
O'Danny Boy Tours - 226 2180
La Divina Providencia - 226 4205
Caye Supplies - 226 - 4660