WORLD RECORD BREAKING TO MARK SAIL BUNAKEN

Manado, North Sulawesi, May 29 (ANTARA) - A world record breaking on diving at the presence of officials of Guinness World of Record, is expected to mark Sail Bunaken 2009 which will be organized on August 15 to 18, 2009.

"The diving record breaking by involving at least 1,500 divers, will be held to celebrate the 64th anniversary of Indonesia's Independence Day under the sea," Commodore Willem Rampangilei, commander of the Indonesian Navy's Main Base VIII, said here on Friday.

The diving would be carried out around Malalayang waters, which had no coral reefs and had only sand in its seabed, Rampangilei, who is also chairman of the Indonesian Fleet Review (IFR) 2009.

The divers would dive to a depth of between 15 and 20 meters, for at least 12 minutes as required by the Guinness Book of Records, he said.

A rehearsal would be carried out on June 12 in Malalayang waters, he said.

The organizing committee has managed to collect 1,200 units of diving equipment so far, and needs 300 more.

"I have been informed that the wife of General Djoko Santoso, chief of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI), has also registered herself for the diving race," he said.

The participating divers were also expected to plant 1,000 pieces of artificial coral reefs made by senior divers and LIPI (Indonesian Institute of Sciences), he said.

Some 42 countries have confirmed their participation in Sail Bunaken 2009.

Sail Bunaken was aimed at building a sense of seamen's brotherhood and enhancing international relations, the Commodore said earlier,
"The event is to give a chance to the world to see the marine beauty of North Sulawesi, to develop the mariners' spirit, and to make North Sulawesi a gateway to East Asia," he said.

Activities of "Sail Bunaken" will include "Indonesian Fleet Review 2009" consisting of a sailing pass parade to be participated in by warships, traditional ships, state ships, tall ships, yachts, and open ships.