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What it Feels Like: Cold-water Diving in Bare Skin

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Kiki Bosch is an adventurer, nutritionist and biohacker from the Netherlands, now living in the UK. Described as a true daredevil, Kiki is an experienced freediver and extreme cold specialist. She has recently dived some of the coldest waters in the world. During her last trip in Greenland she swam in sub-zero glacial waters with nothing but a swimsuit for 20minutes.

How did you get into freediving, specifically cold-water freediving?

The water always fascinated me. From a young age, I swam often and learned to scuba dive when I was 12 years old. The first time I saw a poster of a freediver, I knew immediately that it was something I needed to try. Since my first freediving training in Colombia, I fell in love with everything about this sport. I knew for sure that I would dive for the rest of my life.

The cold is a whole other story though. I heard about Wim Hof a few years ago and saw that he did amazing things in freezing temperatures. He inspired me to challenge myself and really experience the cold firsthand. I tried my first winter diving in South Australia when the water is roughly 14°C. Back then, it was the coldest water I had dived in without a suit and I became addicted to challenging myself more and more, which led to seeking out the coldest waters in the world.

What do you like about cold-water freediving?

The moment you enter the cold, you get hit with a certain peace and serenity. The only way you can withstand it is [by] relaxing, knowing that you are okay and your body can handle this. You go back to survival mode – fight or flight. For me, that is a very meditative state. There is no space for thinking, no space for rumination on the past or planning the future.  Your body is so focused on keeping you warm that you can’t be anything but present. These moments have taught me a lot about myself and the world around me. By being present in such harsh conditions, you gain a whole new level of respect for Nature.

Any particular reason why you choose to freedive without a suit?

First of all I want to show people that it is possible, that our bodies are capable of so much more than what we think. Most of us are always seeking comfort, and even though it is natural, it can make our bodies very lazy. If you are always in an environment of 18-22°C, your body won’t be trained to keep you warm. By getting into the cold waters with a suit, I feel like I am reconnecting to a more primal state of myself. It is almost like tapping into superpowers we all have within us, but forgotten.

How do you train to dive in coldwater? Any special practices that have helped you?

When I heard about the benefits of the cold, I started with taking cold showers that I gradually prolonged. I started to seek out elements in Nature that I could play with; swimming in cold waters, walking barefoot on a cold floor or running in shorts during winter. To prepare myself for this trip to the Artic, I took icebaths almost everyday and went to a whole body cryotherapy chamber in London that goes to -85°C. Most importantly, I focused on reheating my body by itself after these cold exposures, meaning no warm shower, sauna or hot tub. This way, I primed my body into using it’s own energy to warm up. Ultimately, your body is the only thing you have in such remote areas so learning how to reply on yourself is the best lesson that you can learn.

Could you talk us through what it feels like stepping into the cold water? What do your mind and body go through?

Before getting into the cold, my mind is always screaming not to do it. I’ve learnt that’s the point you need to push yourself, and it’s empowering to find that switch and let go of those thoughts and feelings. Once I am in the water, there is no way “out” and I know there is nothing I can do besides being as relax as possible. When I am diving, I always focus on the warm places in my body; there is always something within me that is still warm. I try to hold on to that heat rather than focusing on keeping out the cold.

The cold shock causes my skin to tingle and sometimes even sting, but I try not to focus on that and just acknowledge it as a stimulus from my body. After a few minutes, my thoughts start to slow down and my reaction time increases. When I feel that, I know that focus is crucial –  not having complete focus on my body can quickly become dangerous. As I am aware of every little change in my mind and body, I can tell exactly when I need to get out. Once I’ve made that decision, I always stay very calm and sit somewhere quiet to meditate. This helps my body warm up gradually, but if I am in a very cold or windy environment, I will always put my dry robe on.

 

From Scuba Diver Australasia + Ocean Planet Issue 4/ 2017

What it Feels Like: At the Hatchery

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As crowds gathered at World Science Festival Brisbane, baby loggerhead turtles took their first look at the world, slowly but steadily hatching out of the safety of their shells and welcomed enthusiastically by participants. The festival saw the hatching of 58 loggerhead turtles that were later released into the East Australian Current (EAC).

The precious hatchlings started their journey in January, where they were collected from nest at Mon Repos, near Bundaberg, as part of the world-renowned Queensland Turtle Conservation (QTC) project. They were meticulously incubated at exactly 29.9°C for their hatchings to be timed over the five days of the festival.

After wriggling out of their shells, the hatchlings spent serveral days in an incubator before being transported to Sea Life Sunshine Coast for their release. “Usually at this stage of life, they would still be buried deep within the nesting chamber and unable to crawl to the surface until their bodies had fully straughtened,” says Queensland Museum reptile curator Patrick Couper. “But during the festival, visitors had the unique chance to view this wonderful stage of life that is usually hidden from public view,” he comments. Due to the unpredictable weather cycles caused by ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie, the hatchlings were holding out at Sea Life Sunshine Coast, which turned out to give them the best chance of survival.

The Queensland Turtle Research Program, designed and led by Dr. Colin Limpus, who coordinates the project for the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (DEHP), is in its second year at World Science Festival Brisbane, and will be celebrating it’s 50th anniversary in 2018.

“Through this project we have helped to raise awareness of the current conservation status of loggerhead turtles, as well as highlighting ways individuals can assist in the preservation of turtle habitats in South East Queensland,” says Professor Suzanne Miller, Queensland Museum Network CEO and Director.

“The project has been an enormous success and from the number of people lining up to witness the miracle of these loggerheads hatching, it’s without a doubt one of the most popular events on the World Science Festival Brisbane calendar.”

 

From Scuba Diver Australasia + Ocean Planet Issue 4/ 2017

What it Feels Like: Diving with Disability

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I vividly remember the first time I was told that my son, Richard, has autism. He had just turned four, and after his doctor said that he probably had a speech delay, further testing was done. Wben the diagnosis finally come back as autism, I was heartbroken, thinking that there would be so many things this sweet, kind little boy may never be able to do; I wondered what the quality of his life would be like. As it turned out, Richard would show us that he was capable of much more than we ever imagined. At the age of 16, he became a scuba diver.

Richard had always loved the water and was a very competent swimmer, but I assumed that scuba diving was out of the question for him. While Richard was verbal, he has difficulty speaking in sentences, and sometimes it is hard for him to understand what others are asking him to do if they don’t demonstrate it first. Even though he is always eager to learn new skills, there would be no way that he could comprehend dive tables or be able to assist a fellow diver in an emergency. My husband, Scott, and I, both experienced divers, had come to the conclusion that snorkelling would be as far as Richard would be able to go breathing underwater. But all of that changed when we learned about the Handicapped Scuba Association (HSA).

In 2013, an instructor at our local dive shop had earned his HAS instructor certification, and explained that with the proper training and supervision, Richard just might be able to dive. Richard would not be expected to know dive tables or assist others in an emergency, but he would need to know how to signal and react to an emergency should he have one. However, we first had to find out if Richard was even comfortable diving underwater.

My husband and I, along with Richard’s instructor, held a Discover Diving class for Richard in the local pool. Within an hour of first breathing through a regulator, Richard was swimming around the deep end of the pool in full scuba gear, as relaxed as could be. We couldn’t believe what we were seeing. The best part was seeing the huge smile on Richard’s face. I remember thinking, “This might really happen. My son may actually become a scuba diver!”

Like many people with autism, Richard is very visual; he learns best by observing. He also has a remarkable memory. These traits allowed Richard to easily learn and perform the diving skills that were demonstrated to him by his instructor. We did make a few modifications to help him. For instance, we couldn’t say, “Pretend you’re out of air,” because Richard can’t relate to that. So to teach him what to do in an out-of-air emergency, we had to turn his air off while he stood up in the shallow end of the pool breathing through his regulator. Then he could experience what it felt like to be out of air, and learn what to do if that happened underwater. Once he knew what to do, it took very little time for him to demonstrate these skills in the water. The more he learned, the more he was proud of himself for what he was accomplishing, and my husband and I could not be prouder.

Richard did his Open Water checkout dives in our local quarry. At first, I was concerned that he would not be as comfortable in this new environment as he was in the pool, but my worries were immediately put to rest as I witnessed his excitement looking at the fish, turtles, and freshwater eels. He performed all of his skills flawlessly. He loved every minute of it, and at the end of that weekend his hard work had paid off – he was a certified diver!

Richard’s HSA certification requires that he have two other certified divers with him at all times, so naturally Scott and I always dive with him. Scott usually stays right next to Richard to assist with his buoyancy if needed, and I am usually with arm’s reach taking pictures. As a professional underwater photographer, I am thrilled to be there to document my son’s journey as an adaptive diver. Richard is 20 years old now, and since becoming certified, he has dived the coral reefs of Bonaire and Florida; he has dived with sharks at the North Carolina Aquarium; he has snorkelled with Whale Sharks, Manta Rays, and Manatees; and he has even dived in a cavern in Mexico! I hope hat together, we can dispel misconceptions about what those with disabilities are capable of, and also raise awareness about adaptive diving programs. Scuba diving has enriched Richard’s life in countless ways, and best of all, we can share our passion for diving together as a family.

No two autistic people are alike – each has their own set of strength and challenges. Richard is a happy and intelligent young man who has difficulty communicating. Although he can never live independently, he has a loving support network that ensures he lead a fulfilling and productive life. Scuba diving is Richard’s favourite activity. He has now 50 logged dives, and had dived to depths of up to 20 metres while exploring reefs, small shipwrecks, and even a cavern!

From Scuba Diver Australasia + Ocean Planet Issue 4/ 2017

 

2021 to 2030 to be the “Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development”

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The United Nations has dedicated the years 2021 to 2030 as the “Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development”. This is in light of the critical role the oceans play in reducing climate change – they absorb around a third of the carbon dioxide (CO2) produced by humans. As part of the campaign, the UN Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) will be boosting international coordination and cooperation in research and scientific programmes for better management of ocean and coastal zone resources and reducing maritime risks.

“The ocean is a new frontier – it covers 71 per cent of the globe [but] we have explored less than 5 percent. The Decade will ensure greater coordination of research,” said Audrey Azoulay, the Director-General of UNESCO, urging all stakeholders to join the endeavour. For more information, click here.

What it Feels Like: 24 Minutes Without a Breath

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Aleix Segura Vendrell is the current static apnea AIDA World Champion, who is capable of over 10-minute breath-holds. Alongside his profession as an architect, the 31-year-old freediver from Barcelona began competitive freediving in 2011, debuting with an impressive 8-minute breath-hold. Currently, he has achieved three World Champion titles in static apnea (two by AIDA and one by CMAS). He is also a Guinness World Record holder, breaking the official world record in static apnea on pure oxygen, reaching an incredible 24:03 minutes at the Mediterranean Dive Show 2016.

How did you get into freediving, specifically static apnea?
As a child, I learned to freedive in the sea during family vacations in Costa Brava, the northern coast of Catalonia. Later, I began spearfishing, which became the reason for me to improve my apnea capacity so I could further explore the Mediterranean depths.

How is static apnea different from other forms of freediving?
It’s different but strictly bonded to other disciplines as dive time is a key factor for all forms of freediving. It’s obviously much less strenuous for the muscles, but more psychological and demanding on the nervous system- there are no shortcuts that technique or technology can provide.

Why is static apnea your favourite form of freediving?
Static apnea is the basic skill of freediving – breath holding is to freediving what running is to athletics. It’s the foundation of freediving and the most rewarding because I can now extend my bottom time when spearfishing.

What is your training regime like?
It’s a slow and steady progression for me. Over the years, I have learnt to train more efficiently without investing immense effort. Usually, I train one hour per week in the pool, and I go spearfishing over the weekend if the sea forecast allows it. That forms the bulk of my training, but when it’s competition season, I train extensively at least one month beforehand. I also spend a lot of time in the ocean during the summer holidays.

Could you talk us through what it feels like holding your breath in the water for 24 minutes?
It starts with a hyperoxic awareness; then I go into a period of deep relaxation, followed by a long fight with the disphragmatic contractions – the confusion of having too much carbon dioxide in the body.

The feeling is harsh, but the risk is worse. Unlike normal apnea, there is major neurologic and neurovascular risk involved in oxygen-assisted apnea. An accident or blackout could be tragic without proper professional support, and that is always at the back of my head when I go further than anyone had before. It’s like, in a much lighter sense, when Enzo Maiorca was warned his thorax could implode at the depth of 50 metres and he still took the challenge.

Any difficulties you have experienced?
I haven’t experienced any significant problems apart from the difficulty of the dive itself, which is curbed through training and the presence of the medical crew who are always ready for the unexpected. Organising the event has proven to be more difficult – finding a sponsor, setup and broadcasting, not to mention fulfilling the extensive Guinness World Record control protocols.

What about the most rewarding and/or memorable time?
My most rewarding time is in the sea, away from the competition but enjoying using my skills underwater. In terms of competition, I’d say in Belgrade when I won my first World Champion title, I knew I was the best at that point but being able to prove it was an accomplishment and motivated me to enjoy this sport more.

Could you share some of your future goals with us?
Yes, in 2018 we have the AIDA and CMAS individual apnea World Championships so I hope to be in one or both of them.

What advice would you give to aspiring static apnea athletes?
Patience is key. With proper and efficient training, the progression will come even without intensive training.

From Scuba Diver Australasia + Ocean Planet Issue 4/ 2017

Divebooker and Green Fins combat the Hazards of Diving

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Scuba diving is one of the fastest growing tourism industries. With approximately one million newly certified divers each year, the dive tourism industry can stimulate economic growth, create jobs and business opportunities, helping to improve people’s livelihoods. However, the growing industry also increases the pressure on the local social structures and environmental ecosystems.

Poor planning for new infrastructure can have drastic impacts on the natural resources that are drawing tourists in the first place. For example, cutting down mangroves has knock-on effects on coastal erosion and coral reef health; more trash generated puts additional pressure on waste management, especially in areas that are already struggling; and new activities like snorkelling can lead to new threats like fish feeding. Climate change is widely quoted as the single greatest threat to coral reefs, responsible for mass ecosystem damage. Together with increasing pollution, overfishing and habitat loss, our oceans seem to be fighting a losing battle. There are a vast array of local impacts caused by the dive and snorkelling industry that are adding to the cocktail of threats, many of which are often overlooked or underestimated in their potential to impact the environment.

When divers touch, kick or chase and harass marine life, this results in a direct pressure on corals. Holding onto a coral removes a protective layer on the animal. When this layer is removed, the coral has to spend energy growing a replacement layer instead of using this energy to fight off other pressures, such as cleaning itself from increasing sedimentation or trying to cope with increasing temperatures. If a diver touches or holds onto multiple corals, viruses could spread from one diseased coral to another providing yet another stress. If a diver decides to feed the fish, they are no longer scavenger feeding on detritus and marine algae found on the corals, which leads to corals having to clean themselves. This is more energy wasted for the corals.

Other possible threats can be manipulating marine life for photos, using bleach to wash the marine toilet, dropping anchor on live coral, or allowing dive staff to throw up to 100kg of food a week off the dive boat – just to name a few! These are all additional pressures which we, as divers, have the power to remove.
Sustainable development of the diving industry is therefore of paramount importance. Your business directly depends on a healthy and diverse marine environment, which means that if you want to keep your business running for many more years to come, your dive sites must be kept in the best condition possible. One way of achieving that is through Green Fins, the only internationally recognised environmental standard for the scuba-diving and snorkelling industry; created by the UN Environment in partnership with The Reef-World Foundation. The initiative aims to educate and empower the industry by providing pragmatic marine conservation tools and practices to its members. Dive centres and snorkel operators can join as members free of charge and become part of a growing international community committed to the long-term survival of their businesses.

The international coordinators of Green Fins, Reef-World Foundation, are always on the look out for new ways to elevate the business benefits of Green Fins members. The latest partnership established with Divebooker values Green Fins membership by providing a zero commission rate on bookings made through the platform. Nature and economy are linked and both are needed to sustain each other, so protect your business with Green Fins. It will help you meet the growing market demand for sustainable diving practices whilst giving you all the solutions to make the daily challenge of running an environmentally responsible operation easier and easier.

Read more about this partnership and hear from the members themselves on the second part of this story!

Diver’s Party – December 2017 Post Report

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As the riveting live judging of Images of Asia 2017 drew to a close, divers started to pack the Orchid Room of Peninsula Excelsior Hotel. With food and drinks in hand, the crowd of over 200 gathered to hear the exciting and insightful presentations of our speakers – Jose Jeluand, Manuel Librodo, Indra Swari, and Mawi Rahim. Professional photographer, Jose Jeuland, kicked off the night with an intriguing presentation on his photographic journey. Known for his signature portraits, Jeuland shared some of his most captivating projects, such as Longevity Okinawa, Vedda, and Hill Tribe. He also shared his experience of working with the Haenyo divers from Jeju, where he managed to capture the raw moments of the female divers. Next, we had popular photographer, Manuel Librodo, grace the stage with his stories of working with models during his career. The audience was wowed by his commitment to capture his models at different stages in life. The visual composition of his stunning images left the audience amazed at his talent and skill. The night took an interesting turn as Indra Swari took over the stage – a passionate underwater photographer who has found her love in macro photography. She shared her vast knowledge and experience with the audience, passing on tips and tricks to how she achieved certain shots. Her love for coral reefs and the importance of protecting them was also well-elaborated in her presentation. To close the array of presentations, Mawi Rahim entertained the audience with his humourous comments and tasteful jokes. He shared on the importance of framing in underwater photography, using the surrounding marine life to create angles and borders in his images. With the end of the presentations, it was time for the highly anticipated Grand Draw. Buoyancy control devices, dive computers, and resort stays were given out, but the grand prize of the night was a 4-night full board accommodation + seven dives at Komodo Dive Resort, worth SGD1,700. Congratulations to all our lucky winners! We would like to thanks our sponsors, speakers and guests for their support. See you all at the next divers’ party!

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