Olga Grum-Grzhimaylo

Olga Grum-Grzhimaylo never thought she would become a diver: “It just happened somehow, practically without my involvement! I was on holiday with diver friends in Egypt, so I did a four-day OWD diving course there, just for fun. I really got into it and, when I got back to university, I became a member of the divers’ team at the White Sea Biological Station. I dive all the time now, in all seasons. I even dive under the ice in winter. The things you see underwater are truly magical! After diving for the first time, I couldn’t imagine my life without those strange and colourful fish, the seaweed forests and the unusual “martian” landscapes of the sea floor. These things have a magnetic pull for me. In winter, you get the unforgettable experience of having frozen hands and lips, but the stark, transparent beauty with overhanging ice is worth every second you spend there. Then, after 30 or 40 minutes you get out and your lips are like dumplings!

Diving was pretty tough at first! I had some sort of difficulties every time: trouble breathing, my vest inflating “itself”, my belt falling off for some reason, all sorts of things! I hardly had any time to observe the beauty that surrounded me, I focused mostly on just waiting for the dive to end. The dangerous situations you encounter while diving are not always a matter of your own talents though. This one time, I was heading for the surface and my inexperienced buddy was riding the motor boat right over my head! I nearly got caught in the propeller!

Our expedition’s route will not involve any Arctic waters, but tropical diving will certainly involve many surprises and even dangers at times. I’m sure that you can’t really scare our team of divers though. How can the ocean frighten those who love it so much?”