Martyn braves shark-infested water

Oct 17 2008 By Vicki Eltis

Martyn Ullah

A lifeguard from Xcel Leisure Centre in Walton has gone swimming with sharks in a bid to raise money for fellow diabetics. 

Martyn Ullah, 18, of Park Lawn Road in Weybridge, climbed into a tank full of tiger sharks, lemon sharks, black tip, white tip and wobbegongs, to name a few, at the Blue Planet Aquarium, in Cheshire.

He took the plunge knowing he would never get the chance to dive in the open ocean because he is a type 1 diabetes sufferer and is insulin dependent.

Martyn, who has lived with diabetes since he was 11, works as a lifeguard and swimming teacher at Xcel in Waterside Drive and at Hurst Pool, in Molesey.

He said: "I wanted to give something back to the charity. When the opportunity came up to swim with sharks I thought I just had to do it. I was incredibly nervous going into it but once I was in there it was brilliant.

"It's an amazing experience swimming with sharks and having them swim towards you and brush up against you. There were also sting rays and other tropical fish in the tank."

But it wasn't as easy as he thought. After thoroughly researching the safety of the dive and undergoing a strict medical by the aquarium, he had to be signed off by a diabetes consultant at St Peter's Hospital.

Martyn took two hours watching training videos, testing out breathing apparatus and then spent 30 minutes under water with other divers and instructors to also gain his Padi diving certificate.

He added: "I made sure I drank lots of sports drinks to keep my blood sugar levels in check and tested my levels before and after. I will probably dive again but I wouldn't be able to dive in the sea as it is far too dangerous."

His mum Karen Ullah, 46, said: "When he first told me he was going to do it I panicked. As a diabetic the adrenaline rush could have brought on a hypoglycemic attack, which causes you to go giddy and collapse, which is particularly dangerous under water.

"I was nervous but he did look into it thoroughly and carried out a try-dive with Hampton Scuba Diving Club at Hurst Pool to prove he could breath through the diving mask. I was just so happy when he came back up."