UPDATED: David Blaine's failed attempt at breaking the world record for holding his breath underwater for longer than 8 minutes, 58 seconds has not deterred him from trying again. That's right, according to People Magazine, Blaine wants to try the stunt once more, but without being immersed in a tank for a week. He was released from the hospital on Tuesday and is feeling fine.
Unless you've been locked up in a 2,000-gallon tank of water yourself, then you've probably already heard about David Blaine's latest stunt: to hold his breath underwater longer than 8 minutes, 58 seconds, which is currently the world record.
Blaine has trained for the event with an elite free-diving team led by trainer Kirk Krack. He has been immersed in an 8-foot acrylic sphere full of 2,000 gallons of 98.6-degree F water for seven days and nights in front of the Lincoln Center in NYC. Drowned Alive will appear tonight at 8pm on ABC where he will hold his breath in hopes of a victory.
Rather than watching him on TV, fellow GearLogger PJ Jacobowitz and I decided to venture to Lincoln Center for a hands-on look at the daredevil himself. We didn't arrive empty-handed though. We decided to bring along a new product we've received in the PC Magazine Labs: SKB's DryPod: a protective, waterproof plastic casing, currently available for the 4Gen iPod and iPod with video. Luckily, PJ felt brave enough to use his iPod with video for the test. Our plan was to put the case on the iPod, immerse it in a vase full of water, then bring it to Blaine to show him the fun he could be having while underwater.
When we arrived, there he was: looking like a big fish, waving to everyone, probably bored out of his mind, with an oxygen mask and liquid nutrition being fed to him through a tube. Nuts I tell ya! Still, you couldn't help but be fascinated.
After being interviewed by Telemundo, we were able to get up close and personal with Blaine, by walking right up to the sphere and taking a picture while listening to some Weezer. He gave us a thumbs-up.
So far, the DryPod has held its breath for 3 hours and 46 minutes. It works very well underwater, and Weezer sounded great.
The DryPod comes with a stainless steel belt clip, arm band, lanyard with clip, and adapter for other headphones with different angle plugs.
Both the SKB-9000 for the color iPod and the SKB-9001 DryPod for the video iPod sell for $44.95.
SKB plans on releasing a DryPod for the iPod nano near the end of June or July.
Want to see more pics of David Blaine and the DryPod? Click here!
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May 8, 2006 4:52 PM
Now that is the epitome of cool. :) I would have loved to do something like that, and what an excellent way to market a product: "look, both of us can be submerged in water and work just fine!" Definitely cool.
May 8, 2006 5:44 PM
What is David Blaine proving by doing this? To me it is just another publicity stunt. Its not magic, its madness!
May 8, 2006 5:58 PM
I think they should take David Blaine out and put in that Ipod. Then I'll tune into ABC tonight.
May 8, 2006 6:47 PM
I needed this case six months ago when it was raining! My iPod took a 'Dive' and died. I just ordered a drypod from SKB for my "almost" new and lightly used video iPod. I hope David Blane sucks H2O tonight, I would rather watch 'deal or no deal' and thats not saying much. Thanks for the heads up on this cool new ipod case! -:DumpTruck:-
May 8, 2006 6:54 PM
I don't think he will make it...unless he was using one of those iPod cases with Pearl Jam on it. "PEARL JAM RULES!" -Chester
May 8, 2006 6:56 PM
I like David Blane, he's my hero, just call him Fish Taco! The iPod case is neat too.
May 8, 2006 7:43 PM
I think he will make it
May 8, 2006 8:28 PM
You shoulda given it to him! Although, I heard he has Jay-Z and stuff being streamed into his mask!
May 8, 2006 8:36 PM
We wanted to give Blaine the DryPod, but the company had sent us that model for testing...so we're going to talk with them and see if they can send him one! He deserves it!!
May 8, 2006 8:49 PM
First teach PJ that his name is Philip-James and his last name is Jacobowitz. Then I would do Cisco one better. I think they should take David Blaine out and put in PJ with that Ipod and Jack Bauer.
May 8, 2006 9:29 PM
led zeppelin shall own!!
May 8, 2006 9:34 PM
so who likes ipath skate shoes? Blaine David
May 8, 2006 9:36 PM
pearl jam sucks.
May 8, 2006 11:53 PM
i think david can make it and he has made it thus far but if you ask me he should stop now berfore its to late tostop and your body can't take it no more ande he looks mad good!!!!!!!!!
May 9, 2006 10:46 AM
Wow Steve, you and some of the other folks here are pretty bitter about this. Who are you to assume that perhaps someone hasn't read a "history book about..." fill in the blank, or that it's "meaningless?" Seriously guys, it's a trick. A stunt. If you have a problem with it, change the channel and don't watch, but you don't have to get so aggro about something so silly that you wind up being so chilish about it. Personally, I think it's a cool trick that I myself wouldn't try to do on my own, and I'm amused to watch other people doing amazing things that stretch the capacity and concept of the human body and what it can do. I think it's also cool that this is an opportunity to showcase an iPod case that can stand up to some pretty harsh conditions like being submerged or going on a family trip to the beach without getting wrecked, and I think that, to a degree, is why this was a good chance to show it off, and why gearlog was the perfect place for it. Give Blaine (without the S, Steve-maybe you might want to make sure you know what you're discussing before you start typing nonsense? Seriously-I think it's time for your nap, you're getting ornery. If you're seriously using the "you whippersnappers and your 400 dollar walkman argument" with a straight face, it sounds like you're the one who needs to do some research.) the iPod, he does deserve it, and I think it was a good, worthwhile story all around. The ridiculous hate in the comments here for the stunt and the case is totally unjustified. Kudos to DeLeo and Jacobowitz for going and making such a cool story out of it.
May 9, 2006 11:38 AM
Not everything in life has to be deeply meaningful! PJ and Jen thought it would be a lot more fun to go see Blaine with the immersed iPod than just to do a blurby post on the product. And they certainly showed that it does what it promises to do! Steve: If anyone you know wants to hit himself in the head with a hammer for a week, I'll give him a free box of nails. ;)
May 9, 2006 12:12 PM
Wow steve. You sound like a bitter old man that goes off on rants for no reason. Blaine is like a wizard, mixed with Batman. He can do crazy magic and also push his body to limits that not many people can do. Its what he does. Sure its a publicity stunt, but to what end? You make it out like he's trying to sell something. nope, just trying to break a record. I for one think its cool as hell. I also think that IPOD case is cool as hell and i might just buy one. It seems like the only people that dislike IPODS are the ones that dont have them, its quite possibly the greatest invention ever.
May 9, 2006 12:18 PM
Maybe Blaines should've have just read a history book about the USS Indianapolis and the survivors who spent 5 days in the ocean before being rescued and they're skin peeling. The stunt, the drypod, and the piggyback publicity for yet another overpirced i-Pod product is all so amazingly shallow and meaning less. "He deserves it". Why does he deserve anything? If someone hits themselves in the head with a hammer for a week, do they deserve to get stuff also? A note to the iPod generation who doesn't think $400 is a ridiculous amout to spend on a walkman. Kids, we had walkmans, and stereos, and boomboxs...and believe it or not, we loved music just as much as you do...Your' iPod does not make you cooler, smarter or give you special powers. Stop being fodder for the advertising industry.
May 26, 2006 11:46 AM
http://www.uploadfile.info/uploads/ae4a0038e4.jpg This is the ultimate ipod test... http://www.uploadfile.info/uploads/ae4a0038e4.jpg
June 14, 2006 7:01 PM
I have been trying to find information/reviews on the Drypod for a while now, but haven't found anything. Would it be okay to go swimming with this thing?
September 12, 2006 2:33 PM
I know for a fact the DRypod does not work underwater. In fact it is just another widget designed and not tested by Dave Sanderson. Imagine how dangerous it would be to surf with hundreds of other surfers who can't hear you coming from another direction. ITs the most dangerous thing I have ever heard of AND ENTIRELY NOT THOUGHT OUT!!!!! IT will take SKB forever to keep up with the pace of the new versions of Ipods. They are allready behind!The company has a put it out there and then fix it attitude!!!!!!!!!
September 19, 2006 4:28 PM
I just bought my DryPod and it was the best thing I could have done. Why spend money on a case if it cant protect it it like the Drypod. I mean now I can take it on the boat or on the trail without fear of destroying the ipod . I got mine from www.drypodsonline.com they seemed fast and friendly.
October 24, 2007 6:26 PM
Blaine can have my Drypod, it leaked and took out my Ipod. The quality sucks. Now I hear they say it cant be put under water. What a joke.
December 12, 2007 4:59 PM
I know my drypod sucks, so what all of you suck! Go suck it suckers! HA HA HA HA HAHAH AHAHHAHHAHHAHHAAHHAHHAHHAHAHAHHHH!!!!!@!!112111
December 12, 2007 5:02 PM
HA HA HA, you are all suckers!!! My case is sooooo cool! If you don't like it too bad I already gots your money. Wanna buy a bridge?