“Go go go!” were the words I’d been waiting to hear. Gijs, our guide, shouted at us urgently, signalling it was time to drop into the dark Arctic waters below. Without hesitation, I threw myself into the ocean. With snow-covered mountains above and orca fins seemingly everywhere, the world ceased to exist.”
Read my latest Forest and Bird Magazine article: Arctic Adventures with Orcas.
“Leaning forward to escape the Arctic wind, I catch sight of my snow-filled fins and can’t stop laughing. The feeling in my face has long since disappeared, and the other guests are equally rigid, turning purple in the minus 4°F Norwegian wind chill. Snow is everywhere, and I long to throw myself into the 36°F water to warm up. I never knew snorkeling could be so extreme—frankly, it’s absurd.”
Read my latest article for Scuba Diving magazine Orcas Ahead to find out what it’s really like to come face-to-face with orcas in freezing cold Arctic waters.
Kathryn Curzon dive writer
Featured on DeeperBlue:Did you know orcas can grow up to 8 meters (26 feet) long and can weigh an impressive 6 to 9 tonnes? Once thought to be one species, there are in fact several subspecies of orcas with distinct populations, diet, and behaviors.The orcas of Patagonia’s Peninsula Valdés are known for ‘intentional stranding’; chasing seal pups onto the beaches to catch them before slipping back into the water. By contrast, the orcas of South Africa hunt dolphins and occasional great white sharks.Find out more in my latest article for Deeperblue and LiveAboard:https://www.deeperblue.com/arctic-freediving-with-orca/
Wellingtonian Dave Mullins has set the New Zealand freediving record at the Cressi New Zealand Depth Nationals, Lake Taupo, on 18th March 2017. Diving to a depth of 105m, using a single mono-fin, he has beat the previous record of 93m set by Austrian Herbert Nitsch.Well done New Zealand!Read more here: http://nz.thescubanews.com/2017/03/29/wellingtonian-sets-new-zealand-freediving-record-at-105m/
