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
A big 9-page piece about history of underwater archaeology at the Issyk-Kul lake in Asian Diver Magazine, 2012, Issue 6, Volume 123
“The history of Lake Issyk-Kul is littered with secrets. It is said that nearly 1,500 years ago, a Chinese Buddhist monk went on a pilgrimage to India. Overcoming difficulties and dangers, the traveller came to a big lake about four miles into the mountains. This was the Issyk-Kul Lake, sitted amidst mountains and taking income from numerous rivers. The monk described the lake as being greenish-black, salty and bitter. Its sweeping waves would at times rise and attack the shore with irresistible force. The lake, said the monk, is home to dragons and fish, and sometimes, extraordinary monsters appear from the depths. That’s why travellers pray for others and their own welfare. While the inhabitants of the lake are numerous, no one dares to catch any.
But it is impossible to quash human curiosity and the thirst for knowledge. Since the 19th century, Russian scientists have been studying the ancient remains around Issyk Kul, which range from petroglyphs and 3,000-year-old kurgans (nomadic burial mounds) to early Christian monasteries and medieval cities. The lake itself also drew attention from researchers pertaining to certain remains that lie beneath its stunning cobalt waters.”
Orda Cave again in Photoexpedition section of National Geographic Russia Magazine, March 2013.
Orda Cave has been featured among 
the best world’s underwater caves according Scuba Diving Magazine.
Text: Bogdana Vashchenko, photo: Victor Lyagushkin.
N-Photo Magazine chosed Viktor’s photo “Diving Under the Stars” for their issue #10 Feature Section “Nine pages of inspirational images from top Nikon photographers”
September 2012 we joined National Geographic expedition at Issyk-Kul Lake, searching for sunken Tamerlan’s Palace. It was really exciting adventure, we are looking forward to seeing a big piece in the National Geographic Magazine, and cannot tell you all the story. We should keep the secret.
Now just small announcement in the National Geographic Russia, March 2013 issue.
text: Bogdana Vashchenko, photo: Viktor Lyagushkin
Great article by our great friend Pascal Bernabe dedicated to cave diving in X-Ray Magazine.
“Learning to dive the Earth’s interior” illustrated by Victor’s photos from Orda cave
This morning I’ve received a warm email from Jesse Blackadder, the author of a great novell “Chasing the Light”. It reads: “I’m the author of the book that features one of your exquisite photos on the cover. I’d really like to link to your website for more information about that shot. … I’m sure my readers will be fascinated – I’ve had so many great comments about the cover!”
Dear Jesse, that is a good question, I’ll tell you the story with pleasure. The woman on this photo is Natalie Avseenko, twice world champion in freediving.
These two women (Natalie’s and your heroine) were seperated with 80 years and resided on the opposite ends of the earth, but their stories seem to have similar features. These two women are very feminine and strong at the same time; I think, it was their inner integrity and fidelity to themselves made them who they are.
The shot had been captured by Viktor Lyagushkin in the White sea, behind the North Polar Circle, 2011. In this project Natalie freedived naked with white whales. Swimming with belugas was her child dream, but why she was naked? Continue reading
