Dying to Dive. Underwater Search for Serenity with World’s Top Freedivers

Martin from S.E.B. on May 04, 2016 · at 9:42 pm EST/EDT

Hello Saker, it is a wonderful hobby.
And people should have a hobby. This is a nice one.

Thanks for sharing (I sometimes get similar videos per email).

Dennis Leary on May 04, 2016 · at 10:40 pm EST/EDT

Wonderful choice. My son is a deep sea diver as a job. He does some free diving too. I’ll send him the address. I think he’d enjoy this.

I only watched the first couple of minutes but am fascinated already. What a multi-faceted metaphor.

Thanks.

Uncle Bob 1 on May 05, 2016 · at 12:16 am EST/EDT

What an awesome video. Even with all the problems of the World. Our World,”Earth” has so much beauty on it. Those scenes underwater are stunning.

Martin from Soviet East-Berlin on May 05, 2016 · at 2:28 am EST/EDT

Ironically I was the best in class who could stop his breath as long as possible, and I could dive-swing further and longer than all of my classmates.

Nevertheless this free-diving is not my hobby (I receive these emails from a friend, have enough other hobbies which fully ocupy me).
It amazes me, but I think diving with air is good enough.

Even then it is already dangerous (diving up too quickly) or dangerous animals (not only sharks).
I must say, the much I “found such things cool” during the 80ties the more I think now, one shouldn’t risk his life unless necessary (such as for helping/rescuing somebody, or to defend civilians).

What did this 9-minute no-breathing lady say in her _last_ interview?! “””””This hobby makes you find out that even life by iotself is very very valuable.”””””
How cynical: Sortly afterwards she lost her “vaulable but not valued” life only due to this “sport”.
To me it is a contradiction.

That’s really a bug that many Russians have: Climb onto buildings or the highest towers without “weakling’s life-rescuing equipment, free hand climbing (no rope).

Or train surfing.
Or jumping off bridges, towers or buildings, rolling off mountains in some large grid-balls.
Often it works well, but then again – it may not always.

Examples:

Зацепинг на “Сапсане”, мимо ст. Тверь и далее до Москвы.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8sCJ2Zy7VE

Crazy Train Surfing Russia. Зацепинг на сапсане
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8pLBJb1hho

Extreme Trainsurfing – Sapsan Roof Ride
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fIdYkb7xW0

Question: Why is it necessary that somebody almost kills her/himself only to find out that “life has a value by itself”?

My gransma hat Rheuma for 60 years of her life, she always had big unimaginable PAIN. Yet she stayed strong and disciplined, she never gave up.

She would say: Be happy that you are healthy and have bones which are intact!!!

p.s. I must admit that I myself didn’t listen to her advice and was 1 month in Coma after a crash with a sports car, 20 years ago.
Maybe God helped me to stay alive (110 km/h against a tree).
I don’t know, but I learned a single thing: I listen to what my grandma always told me!
late, but better than never. I hav done so many crazy dangerous things in the past (climbing buildings, bunkers, tunnels and 3000 meter mountains), it is wise man sopeaking if I advise you: BE CAREFUL. And don’t endanger your health for no necessary reason. Think of your family. I think if you keep your breath for up to 1 minute that should really be the limit, and don’t dive too deep. Because if you then need to breathe you may be tempted to dive up too quickly (which can be deadly).

There used to be a much better SAPSAN video with a girl at -20 degrees and techno music, unfortunately I could not find it in 20 minutes.

Instead of doing such crazy things which don’t help anybody the youngsters should put their energy into studying how to heal the sick, Linear Algebra or Nuclear Physics or Chinese. That would be much more difficult and not only that: Much more useful, too.

The Saker on May 05, 2016 · at 2:11 pm EST/EDT

Even then it is already dangerous (diving up too quickly) or dangerous animals (not only sharks).

Just to clarify: coming up too fast is only a problem if you are using air tanks. If you are holding your breath you have no risks of “bends” no matter how deep you go or how fast you come up.

As for sharks, they are really not a danger at all. My son swims with them *every day* (he is a surfer) and they are really not a problem. When is the last time you heard of a free diver being attacked by a shark? Swimmers rarely, surfers even more rarely – but free divers almost never and when they have been incidents, it was because the free diver was typically spearing fish and then attaching it to his/her belt (a big “no, no” – if you spear a fish, you then attach it to your “diver flag” at the surface).

The truth is that with a few exceptions, wild animals do not attack humans but mostly avoid them.

The main risks of freediving are the so-called “shallow-water blackout”, currents, being hit by boats and simply drowning (for whatever reason).

Just as with surfing, the most dangerous thing in freediving is driving to your diving location :-)

Cheers!

The Saker
- Martin from S.E.B. on May 05, 2016 · at 3:45 pm EST/EDT
  
  Well, that’s what I hear(d) from many.
  I instatly believe you thaty animals are “better biblical humans” than most humans.
  They don’t know greed, they don’t know killing for fun (although they do know Oligarchy, depending on the hierarchy structure of the species in question).
  Animals are no danger if they see that you are a good honest nature-connected “rain”-man?? Mhh, maybe true in 99.999% of cases, but what about the 0.0001%?
  That Australian Crocodile man also used to make such statements (which year was it when he ended as a Crocodile’s meal?)
  Ok, he deserved that because he made fun of the caimans and ridiculed them for his personal $$$ial benefit. But do you seriously believe sharks _always_ perform enough thinking before deciding to attack (be it as self-defence)?
  
  If yoyr son knows how he can manage them, then fine. But ensure that he does!!! Such as the shark’s nose which must be touched and then you “own” that specific shark. It must be something like a woman’s G-spot.
  
  But it’s not my business (because not my son).
  I only wanted to warn you.
  
  Stopping your breath: Also you are not 18 anymore.
  A former professor of mine just had a heart attack while jogging – end of the story (he was in his late 40ties and very healthy, dynamic and in excellent condition).
  
  Of course staying at home isn’t safe either, my ukr. ex-gf’s father died suddenly from a brain attack. Just during lunch time, from nothing.
  
  So if it is more dangerous to be enganged in extreme sport or in staying at home – nobody knows it.
  
  As for the other links I posted about the modern day youth in Russia: You don’t have a single word about that? Odd.
  
  Cheers,
  Martin from S.E.B.
  - T1 on May 05, 2016 · at 10:26 pm EST/EDT
    
    Clue: nobody leaves here alive. Plan accordingly.
    - Martin from S.E.B. on May 06, 2016 · at 12:12 am EST/EDT
      
      @T1: No matter if time travels are (== ever were or ever will be) possible: Without following any religion I can assure you that everybody stays alive _forever_ {*0}
      
      {*0} := in the time intervall alotted to her/him, such as from 1920 to 2014
      
      If that doesn’t sound convincing enough (to me it does so only a bit) :
      
      > Clue: nobody leaves here alive. Plan accordingly.
      
      Ahh, you mean one should accelerate this process and die asap, or what?
      Well, I’m a polite person: Others first …

teranam13 on May 05, 2016 · at 2:59 am EST/EDT

another interesting sport

https://www.rt.com/viral/341867-baikal-ice-motorbike-shaman/

Martin from S.E.B. on May 05, 2016 · at 4:41 am EST/EDT

Looks cool and gets pushed for by/on RT, during the event they ran Ads for western companies like RedBull.
.
But it may send the wrong signals to the youngsters.

BTW, didn’t Yanukovich’s son drown in the Baikal last year?
I saw this wonderful lake frozen (in March!) from the plane.
But entering the ice – with cars or large trucks – well, even if only with bikes, it all depends on how cold the winter really was (length of the cold period!) .
Martin from Soviet East-Berlin on May 05, 2016 · at 4:46 am EST/EDT

Agreed, “interesting” sport:

http://siberiantimes.com/other/others/news/n0159-mystery-over-shock-reports-yanukovychs-son-died-at-lake-baikal/

“””””The younger son of deposed Ukrainian leader Viktor Yanukovych died at the Siberian lake, according to Russian and Ukrainian media reports. Viktor junior, 33, had been living in exile in Russia. However, the Russian Emergencies Ministry claimed that Yanukovych junior’s name was not listed those involved in a tragedy when a vehicle fell through the ice. “””””

Martin from S.E.B. on May 05, 2016 · at 3:24 am EST/EDT

Sorry for the spelling errors, my right eye is crap. I should have re-read the message for errors, but I find this so damn boring. Next time again (I type all texts in a plain gedit window without any spell-checking utility)

But as said, here a small mistake is not instaly deadly.
That’s the difference to such dangerous hobbies like yours.

More examples (yt is literally full of crazy Russian teens committing more or less suicide) :

Упал с Подольского моста. Неудачный зацеп / Fell down from the bridge
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yalZnfM2cIM

Зацеп Сапсана / Train Surfing on high speed train
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA34GBN56wc

Смерть зацеперов
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfle6QLKLy0

Замороженный дегенерат на Ласточке (зацеп не удался)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXSPfsyjEKY

A ride on the roof of the metro train | Поездка на крыше метро
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3c67AYl0rM

VLOG ● Залез на кран | Гольф на крыше
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtfQtSk8puQ

Enter “cmert” and you see those who has “bad luck”.

Not only youtube but even RT provides them a platform.
My proposal:

* Put them into a working camp for 2 years if captured.

* In repitition cases for up to 5 years (and longer if they put otehrs in danger)

* finally BLOCK youtube, facebook, twitter and all that dirt, like they do it in China.
(outlaw commercial VPN workaround-solution providers)

Such free-diving may be a good fitness training, but only if not exaggerated.
What they showed in your video however: Sorry, no “ohh, wow” from me.

All those who endanger their lives just for an adrenaline push: They should talk to resistance fighters from DonBass or Nazi-Germans. They are the only ones who are competent enough to tell us how precious life can be …

Internal Exile USA on May 06, 2016 · at 2:53 am EST/EDT

Martin, that’s some of the most horrifying footage I have seen. It makes me sick to watch. All for a selfie? What do these kids think life is, a anime video game? I’m sure it isn’t just Russian kids who do this. I really wonder if the hyper video games these days with bonus lives (not to mention Hollywood movies with ridiculous, stupid action via CGI) encourage this in the young; notice the hyper electronica beats pumping along. Also, when you mention the platforms (yt) that encourage this, facebook and go-stick and their advertisers must also be mentioned. The American philosophy is that stupidity sells, and without regulation they’ll take it to the limits… make money, make money, etc. I agree with you, something needs to be done. This is like the ultimate useless dangerous crap that capitalism could push!

Florida is great for hiking, canoeing, snorkeling, and I’ve never freedived but I can’t believe it’s anywhere near as dangerous as what you posted. More like riding a bicycle downtown, maybe? Swimming in the ocean is a real joy, all nature sports are more dangerous than sitting on the couch! Out here there are mountain lions and rattlesnakes but they very rarely attack people. The “rush” you get from knowing you’re in nature and not the master of it (i.e., there are other creatures who belong more than you) is quite different from climbing onto a bullet train and making a selfie while you’re mugging it up. Not that I know anything about the latter. Prost!
- Martin from S.E.B. on May 06, 2016 · at 3:48 am EST/EDT
  
  Internal Exile,
  
  kids are doing so (a bit) in more countries.
  But only in Russia (and Ukraine) it has grown into such dimensions.
  The worst problem: Even some highly skilled Russian programmers studying at top-US universities post such shit on facebook and prove that they not only tolerate it but actually respect it. Without this nobody would do it. It is like childs with too soft anti-autoritarian weak parents, but in this case Russia doesn’t take care of its children.
  
  Yes – it is all about selfies! No audience, no need to do it.
  Like with graffitti – no color cans, no problems!
  No Helmet_cams – no problems.
  No youtube – no problems.
  No too soft legal punishments – no problems.
  
  Forbid the above and broadcast education programs, introduce tough legal punishments and *controls*.
  
  This is simple maths and if no action is being taken it reminds me of Lavrov’s self-sabotage.
  
  I’m not against sports. Even mountain climbing (for the own ego, rather than for a youtube score) can be ok. Did that myself in the 90ties.
  
  In the past sports used to unite people, even though the USA boycotted it already: Moscow Olympics 1980 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFI0xP5_VaQ
  
  Наташа Королева “Олимпиада-80” Новая Волна 2010
  Муз ТВ
  
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiRxZasOqHc
  
  Internationale Friedensfahrt 1959 Karl Marx Stadt Chemnitz (International “PEACE”-Bicycle ride in Soviet East-Germany)
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3roFH-f4Vhk
  
  Now “sports” – that’s only marketing, cosmetic pseudo-“heroes” and corrupt millionaires, doping and sometimes staged games (for betting).
  
  And on a peronal level the teens kill themselves for youtube, facebook and vkontakte.
  It is wasted energy. Someone has to stop it. Or – well – I gave up my hope for Russia and us all.
  - Internal Exile USA on May 06, 2016 · at 5:57 am EST/EDT
    
    These kids would be the generation that was born late 90’s/Yeltsin era to early 2000’s…? I had no idea this was going on.

Martin from S.E.B. on May 05, 2016 · at 4:28 am EST/EDT

I tried to ignore such videos for many years.
Now that I started digging again it disappoints me even more!

What is Putin doing against this?
Example: Pyblished 2 or 3 days ago this one got a quarter of a million clicks and 23466 likes (mathing only 555 dislikes) :

Опасный путь на крышу / руферы / ВЛОГ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNDZ67MBZYI

It says a *LOT* more about the condition Russia is really in, than listening twenty days to Crosstalk.

My observations:

* totally wrong “rewards” system, youtube is used against Russia like Afghanistan’s opium, and look how well it works (even into the upper circles they find such sh* “cool”)

* they have nothing to do?

* A country which doesn’t prevent its youth from killing itself – what shall I think of such a country’s administration system?

There are much worse videos, including showing how some kids come too close to the electric railways or trolleybus-wire and burn to ash in half a second.

Who really wants to see them: spend some time on youtube starting with the links I sent above.

It saddens me.
Where is this the future of the world as we would like it to be?

I don’t see the Soviet Union anymore in it :(

Internal Exile USA on May 06, 2016 · at 6:44 am EST/EDT

I share your despair, this is horrifying, senseless, crazy. There are “urban explorers” around that selfie truly stupid and dangerous acts, but I’ve never seen glorified suicidal insanity like this.