Expedition | Diving the Russian Far Eastern Wilderness

The Purpose of the Expedition

Kamchatka and the Commander Islands are very remote areas with amazing and unique diving.

Over the past few years this area has seen an increase in the tourist interest in this region, however the infrastructure is still lacking and independent travel is hindered by bureaucracy. There is also very little information on SCUBA diving available. Hence, one of the objectives of our expedition to Kamchatka was to create a comprehensive resource for other divers who wish to visit those areas in the near future, as well as create links with the local small yet very active diving community.

Diving in these remote and harsh environments of northern Pacific can be very challenging. Frequent storms, water temperatures not exceeding 6-7°C even in the warmest summer months and varied, generally low, visibility are quite off-putting. However, the contrast between the gloominess of the water surface and the vibrantly colorful underwater world is astonishing. The rocky bottom is rich in gullies, creating fantastic underwater gardens breaming with life like sea urchins, big anemones, colourful sponges, starfish and nudibranchs. Diversity of marine life in this area is truly extraordinary and if it weren't for the piercing cold, it would feel like diving in a tropical location.

We collected water samples for Adventurists and Scientists for Conservation (an organization which mobilizes the outdoor community to gather scientific data, driving conservation around the world) to analyze the microplastics content. Microplastics particles, which are smaller than five millimeters in size, likely, pose a massive environmental and human health risk. By collecting water samples in such remote areas we will gather invaluable data on the distribution of these pollutants.

Furthermore, there is still uncertainty on the amount of uplift of the Aleutian Islands since the last ice age; this is a crucial factor for geoarchelogists wishing to establish the colonization and the migratory routes of people towards the American continent. Thus, we collected data on the geomorphology of the Commander Island to be analyzed in collaboration with Dr. Nicholas Flemming from the Institute of Oceanography at the University of Southampton.

We took footage on land and underwater which will are editing into videos which cover the main objectives of the expedition and will document the:

meaning of expedition today and the importance of pushing limits. We will use information and interviews gathered from the locals, researchers, people we meet and the team and how the journey has changed our perception of expedition as well as the importance of exploration with purpose.
uniqueness of the divesites in a country which isn’t considered a diving destination and the importance to preserve the natural heritage above and below water
the extent of microplastic pollution even in remote areas highlighting the need for marine conservation. This will feature interviews with ecologist and the scientists from ASC.

Marine Microplastics

Microplastics particles, which are smaller than five millimeters in size, likely pose a massive environmental and human health risk.

Toxins including DDT, BPA and pesticides adhere to the particles, and because they can resemble plankton, they're often ingested by small aquatic life. The toxins biomagnify as they move up the food chain, accumulating in birds, fish, marine mammals and potentially humans.
Microplastics have several sources: They're laundered from nylon clothing; they wash down the drain with many common cosmetics and toothpastes; and they weather from debris like drink bottles and shopping bags.

To find out more about microplastics and its impacts on health: a short piece I wrote on microplastics for Community Health Global Network.

In our dive sites, marked in the map below, we collected water samples for Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation (ASC) as part of their Marine Microplastics Project.

With great dismay, all our attempts to get the samples to the ASC labs were in vain. As to not jeopardize our safety or those of others, we had to delegate the shipment of the bottles. Whether they were misplaced or were stopped once shipped we don't know. All we know is that unfortunately they never made them to the labs.

Look at the video below to see how we sample water for ASC.

To read what ASC say about DR FEW click here and here.

If you would like to collaborate on a scientific project, please contact us.