Underwater America is a title of the piece on underwater archaeology by Alexander Grek, Editor-In-Chief of National Geographic Russia, illustrated with marvelous photography by Viktor Lyagushkin.
The story of shipwrecks and heroic work of UW archaeologists, historical lines and ancient trade ways in National Geographic Russia September 2013 here.
Winning photos by Viktor Lyagushkin of the Through the Lens Contest had been published in the Scuba Diver Australasia 5/2013
Courtesy Ellen Cuylaerts for sharing this with us!
Diver (Canada) vol 38 #5
A Russian team dives into history for what proves an unexpected reward
A piece on underwater archaeology, smuggling archangels, mystery shipwrecks and … unexpected reward 8)
Text by Bogdana Vashchenko, photos by Viktor Lyagushkin
Crossing Path’s with the Kremlin
is the title of our story for the Russian Reporter, one of the best Russian magazines.
The story of frigate Oleg, the flagship of the Emperor Alexander II. It sank in 1869 and lies on an even keel at a depth of 60 meters. It had happened during a training exercise. Frigate came into collision with the armorclad Kremlin and its death was very quick – just 15 minutes, but this is the reason why all the weapons and the interior have been kept intact. The shipwreck is considered to be a historical object of a special value and any dives on it are forbidden.
At 15th of July 2013 the President of Russia V. Putin has dived in a submarine to see frigate Oleg. Probably, it was the second time when its paths were crossed with the Kremlin.
Good news for our friends from Germany. Blue Lake story has been published in the Unterwasser Magazine #8/13.
Dramatic story of the exploration of the Blue Lake for you in your native language.
The amazing photo of white whale Petrovich by our photographer Viktor Lyagushkin, which won the Best Edit Award from National Geographic Headquarters, was so attractive, that it turned attention of another National Geographic regional magazine – Nordic.
Please meet Whale Petrovich in NG Nordic!
White Rivers in White Sea this is title of our publication in National Geographic Russia Magazine July 2013 about mystery phenomenon, which had been discovered by our team in April 2013 at Polar Circle.
Plunging under the ice of the bay Biofiltry on the White Sea, we found that the bay’s basin at 7 m deep seemed to be filled with smoke. At touch smooth interface between the transparent and whitish water heaved with swirls and its smooth contours restored only few hours later. “Smoke” had a strong smell of hydrogen sulfide.
Although hydrogen sulfide is used for medical purposes, such as hydrogen sulfide baths, the gas is very toxic. Even a small amount of hydrogen sulfide in the air inhaled causes dizziness, headache, nausea; and its significant concentration leads to coma, convulsions, pulmonary edema, and even death. For marine life hydrogen sulfide is as much as dangerous. Divers’ anxiety was clear, so they took samples of the water and turned to the scientists. The explanation was surprising and not simple.
During our expedition to White sea, where we did a surprising discovery, Viktor made a shot of a 20 year old white whale named Petrovich. The beluga basked in the spring sunshine and was happy about spring coming.
The photo of whale Petrovich became popular; image with some info on white whales was published in National Geographic Russia Magazine (June 2013) and won the Best Edit Award from the National Geographic Headquarters! Congrats Viktor!
Good news for our followers from Poland: article about Blue Lake Project in the Diving Polish Magazine “Nurkowanie” #3 2013. Eight two-page spreads!
“Gdzieś na południu Rosji wznoszą się strome skały, a wysokie góry oślepiają bielą. Rozdzielają je ponure kaniony, którymi pędzą szalone rzeki. Kaniony musiały ustąpić pod naporem wody, więc rzeki stawały się coraz szersze i wypływały swobodnie, przecinając zielone łąki i lasy. Oto Kaukaz.”
Stoneworts — an ancient class that combines the attributes of algae and higher-order plants — serve as a source of food for waterfowl, especially during autumn migrations.
Wrapped in a weightless veil of cladophoraceae algae —
poetically named mermaid’s hair — stoneworts adorn this 260-meter-deep karst lake, their mild radiancy juxtaposed against the gloomy rock walls of the deep. When exposed to sunlight or strobes, stoneworts start to shed their own light. This phenomenon is known as photoluminescence, and lasts for only a fraction of a second.
HOW I GOT THE SHOT I used a Nikon D3s, 60mm, f/2.8, Subal housing, and two Ikelite DS160 substrobes mounted on the camera.
Where: Blue Lake, Kabardino-Balkaria, Caucasus, Russia
by Viktor Lyagushkin
Look Section, Scuba Diving Magazine (USA) March/April 2013