“It is not far from Moscow to the Polar Circle dive centre – about 2,000 kilometres. For Russians, this is even considered close. While our train was carrying us from the spring capital to the snowy north, we were chatting and smiling, but I could see the same thoughts in the eyes of my friends that lingered in mine: “Will she really dive?”
Marine experts believe belugas do not like to be touched by artificial materials such as diving suits. Thus, in a unique and controversial experiment, scientist Natalie Avseenko would swim naked to see how these creatures would take to a human, au naturel. The skilled Russian diver took the plunge as the water temperature hit -1.5ºC”