Natalia Avseenko, the champion Russian swimmer, claims to be haunted by 
the legend who rules world's longest underwater cave in freezing Siberia, tried to recreate King Arthur's Lady of the Lake in her flowing robes and long hair swirling in the water around her.
She actually tried to recreate 'Lady of the Orda Cave', a spirit said to
inhabit the world's longest underwater cave in freezing Siberia. The cave lies beneath Russia's Ural Mountains and the waters are so clear you can see for 50 yards. She spent two days in the icy water recreating the myth with the help of other cave divers.
The 37-year-old held her breath for up to three minutes at a time at depths
of 17m while posing in flowing robes on top of a wet suit. Despite the chill and the threat of danger, she described her experience as 'incredible', mysterious and beautiful'. She said: ‘It felt as if I was in Alice in Wonderland. I was scared to enter the cave at the beginning but having squeezed through the narrow entrance I entered a beautiful hall.'
She added: 'It felt as if I was in a natural cathedral. I thought it would be
dark and scary inside but I had light and everything was visible. There is a feeling of being in complete silence and harmony. There are no thoughts inside your mind. I realised the greatness of nature and the universe. I was full of joy and harmony. All the fears were disappearing one by one. I had no inner battles and I just let all my inner-garbage go.’
Conditions were harsh with temperatures reaching -40C outside, while inside
the cave was slightly warmer at -23C and the water itself at a less-than-balmy +5C. Yoga expert Ms Avseenko, who has previously held her breath underwater for 10 minutes and 40 seconds, found the shoot physically demanding. Diving without face equipment took its toll causing significant pain to her exposed eyes and face.
The project was the brainchild of award-winning photographer and filmmaker Victor Lyagushkin, 42, who has led previous expeditions to capture the eerie beauty of the crystal cave. He uses an underwater funnel to stop oxygen bubbles damaging the delicate edges of the cave, which are made of gypsum - a soft calcium mineral.
The project sprung into life after Mr Lyagushkin, from Moscow, came across
a legendary tale about a spirit dwelling in the depths. Some divers will even decide not to dive on a certain day they feel a presence or tiny glitches with their equipment. One diver describes the feeling as an 'inquisitive, jealous and purely female glance... like an elder sister'.
Despite this slight foreboding, every risk was calculated to ensure maximum safety for everyone involved. Mr Lyagushkin added: ‘Is it risky? The answer is yes. You must be aware of each step or you will die. ‘There are hundreds of ways to die in a cave, and many divers never come back. [none have died in Orda Cave to date]. But the reward is the possibility to see something beautiful - something that nobody has seen before.'
He added: ‘For millions of years this amazing place existed, water formed in the palace and no human was here. It is a special feeling. I think the same feeling a cosmonaut would have on the moon.’
the legend who rules world's longest underwater cave in freezing Siberia, tried to recreate King Arthur's Lady of the Lake in her flowing robes and long hair swirling in the water around her.
She actually tried to recreate 'Lady of the Orda Cave', a spirit said to
inhabit the world's longest underwater cave in freezing Siberia. The cave lies beneath Russia's Ural Mountains and the waters are so clear you can see for 50 yards. She spent two days in the icy water recreating the myth with the help of other cave divers.
The 37-year-old held her breath for up to three minutes at a time at depths
of 17m while posing in flowing robes on top of a wet suit. Despite the chill and the threat of danger, she described her experience as 'incredible', mysterious and beautiful'. She said: ‘It felt as if I was in Alice in Wonderland. I was scared to enter the cave at the beginning but having squeezed through the narrow entrance I entered a beautiful hall.'
She added: 'It felt as if I was in a natural cathedral. I thought it would be
dark and scary inside but I had light and everything was visible. There is a feeling of being in complete silence and harmony. There are no thoughts inside your mind. I realised the greatness of nature and the universe. I was full of joy and harmony. All the fears were disappearing one by one. I had no inner battles and I just let all my inner-garbage go.’
Conditions were harsh with temperatures reaching -40C outside, while inside
the cave was slightly warmer at -23C and the water itself at a less-than-balmy +5C. Yoga expert Ms Avseenko, who has previously held her breath underwater for 10 minutes and 40 seconds, found the shoot physically demanding. Diving without face equipment took its toll causing significant pain to her exposed eyes and face.
The project was the brainchild of award-winning photographer and filmmaker Victor Lyagushkin, 42, who has led previous expeditions to capture the eerie beauty of the crystal cave. He uses an underwater funnel to stop oxygen bubbles damaging the delicate edges of the cave, which are made of gypsum - a soft calcium mineral.
The project sprung into life after Mr Lyagushkin, from Moscow, came across
a legendary tale about a spirit dwelling in the depths. Some divers will even decide not to dive on a certain day they feel a presence or tiny glitches with their equipment. One diver describes the feeling as an 'inquisitive, jealous and purely female glance... like an elder sister'.
Despite this slight foreboding, every risk was calculated to ensure maximum safety for everyone involved. Mr Lyagushkin added: ‘Is it risky? The answer is yes. You must be aware of each step or you will die. ‘There are hundreds of ways to die in a cave, and many divers never come back. [none have died in Orda Cave to date]. But the reward is the possibility to see something beautiful - something that nobody has seen before.'
He added: ‘For millions of years this amazing place existed, water formed in the palace and no human was here. It is a special feeling. I think the same feeling a cosmonaut would have on the moon.’
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