WHAT started out as a “crazy idea in the pub” five years ago is about to become reality for two friends. Former Bristol Grammar school pupils Arron Ford and Rob Cunliffe are attempting to set a new world record by paddling their way around a Central American country.

But Arron and Rob, both 24, are not only hoping their 1,000km paddle around Panama’s coastline will get them into the record books, they have a more serious underlying reason for their adventure.

The pair are raising awareness of conservation issues in Panama, and will be collecting samples and data throughout their paddle in the hope it can contribute to the environmental protection of the area and its wildlife.

Along their 650-mile paddle, the boys are hoping to scope out undiscovered populations of the Antillean manatee, of which there are only 2,500 left in the wild, and determine the status of a critically endangered salamander, as well as take the first ever photographs of it.

Rob said: “We had a crazy dream five years ago, talked about it in the pub for four years and finally got serious about it for the past year. We’re both keen surfers and paddleboarders, though we’re a long, long way from professional.”

Rob and Arron travelled around Panama in 2009, and vowed to return at a later date and do their bit to help conserve the country.

Rob said: “It’s an area we both visited in 2009 and were blown away by the beauty of the place and how untouched much of the country was. We also saw extensive destruction of habitat to make way for a booming tourist industry and made a promise to return.”

The pair flew out to Central America early after bad weather hampered their training in the UK, and are planning to start paddling today.

Rob said: “I think Arron is most excited about finding his rare salamander and me by finding an idyllic point somewhere along the way.”

In return for help with fundraising, Arron and Rob are offering sponsors the world’s first ever photographs of an Oedipina maritima if they discover the rare salamander, the chance to name your own Panama surf

spot and a chance to graffiti a message onto their expedition boards. To find out more visit www.indiegogo. com/projects/the-panama-paddle-expedition.