Natalia Avseenko Russian freediver Date of Birth: 13.02.1975 Country: Russia

1. Natalia Avseenko: The Fearless Freediver
2. A World Champion Freediver
3. Awe-inspiring Nature
4. The 'Lady of Orda Cave' Project
5. An Incredible Reward

Natalia Avseenko: The Fearless Freediver

Russian freediver Natalia Avseenko embarked on a deep dive into the 'crystalline' Orda Cave in the Ural Mountains, Russia, to recreate the legend of a spirit that is said to frequently visit the site. With her flowing garments and long hair enveloping her underwater, Avseenko resembled the 'Lady of the Lake' from Arthurian legend. However, Russian photographers aimed to illustrate a different legend, the 'Lady of Orda Cave', a guardian spirit living in the icy Siberia, in the world's longest gypsum underwater cave. The water here is so transparent that visibility reaches up to 50 meters.

A World Champion Freediver

Natalia Avseenko, a 37-year-old world champion in team freediving in 2006 and 2008, spent two days in the icy waters as part of the 'Lady of Orda Cave' project, along with other divers. Avseenko had to hold her breath for up to three minutes at a depth of 17 meters while posing for cameras in flowing outfits worn over her wetsuit. Despite the extreme cold and the potential dangers, Avseenko described the experience as incredible, mysterious, and beautiful. She said, "I felt like Alice in Wonderland."

Awe-inspiring Nature

Avseenko realized the grandeur of nature and the universe through her experience. She was filled with joy and harmony as all her fears vanished one by one. With no internal constraints, she allowed all her emotions to dissipate instantly. The diving conditions were severe, even for a tough Russian spirit. It's worth noting that Avseenko is a yoga expert, which greatly assisted her. The temperature outside dropped to -40°C, and inside the cave, it was slightly warmer at -23°C, with the water temperature no higher than +5°C. In these conditions, Avseenko achieved a breath-hold record of 10 minutes and 40 seconds.

The 'Lady of Orda Cave' Project

The 'Lady of Orda Cave' project was the brainchild of 42-year-old Victor Lyagushkin, a renowned photographer and director. He led previous expeditions to the crystalline cave to capture its supernatural beauty. Lyagushkin used an 'underwater funnel' in the filming to prevent oxygen bubbles from damaging the delicate edges of the cave made of soft mineralized calcium. Some divers who were supposed to participate in the project never dared to dive into the water, feeling a mystical force or something mysterious. Additionally, some divers refrained from entering the water due to unexplainable equipment malfunctions. However, despite all the premonitions and oddities, maximum safety measures were in place for Avseenko and the other participants.

An Incredible Reward

Natalia Avseenko was satisfied with her reward. She witnessed something beautiful that no one had seen before. Over millions of years, the magnificent architect of water had created a stunning palace in this unique place. Avseenko summarized her experience, saying, "It's a special feeling. I think it's the same feeling an astronaut experiences when landing on the moon."