Project: "The day I tried to live" (living with seals)

[Seal]

Hi deeperblue!

I have been on this forum for 4 years or so. And I thought I would tell you guys about an Idea i have.
The Idea is that currently im a basic freediver. My deepest dive is 25m, my longest static is 6.30 min. Dynamic 120m.

I have for a long time wanted to reach my max in freediving, but my motivation for land based training is horrible! So this summer (in a month) I will be moving to Norway. The plan is to take my old rowboat, and set of for the coast. Here's the fun part. I will find a seal colony, and basicly live with them (I know it sounds nuts) . The idea is to live out there for a month or two initially. And by living with the sea and in it. Reach a higher level of freediving skill.

The food will be fish and and shellfish collected while diving. Also not having any Tv's or anything, would mean a true focus. I belive that by doing this to the extreme, it would trigger a major improvement.

So in a months time I will be out there with the seal's. Please ask or comment. Any help is welcome.

*The title "the day I tried to live" Is from a song title, It basicly means that I have at the age of 29 realised that the only thing that gets me going is freediving and spearfishing. I have tried everything else, but nothing comes close. But Im tired of just beeing able to "live" on weekends and holidays. So now it's full-time.*

 

[Jorg]

Well, I can be annoying and start complaining about all the dangers of freediving alone, dangerous seal behavior, etc. But it looks pretty clear to me that you already made up your mind about really doing this. I can only applaud taking such an amazing adventure and wish you all the best and all the safety.

And now I let all the other people comment about all the dangers...

 

[TRITON]

As seals are my favorite sea animals I can just imagine how it would be to live with them.I'm sure that there are many many things that we can learn from seals and other animals and should be more engaged in protecting and preserving them.
Best of luck.............and bring a laptop with you so you can write some impressions

 

[Seal]

Well on the saftey note. I have been diving 99% alone for the last 10 years. I have learned that I take much greater risks when diving with someone. So I feel very safe and within limits when alone.

On the laptop: I can't bring one, because it's miles away from the nearest power source. I will bring a cell phone for 1 daily sms update to my family. And I could have my brother post "news" here for me.

 

[trux]

Looks like an amazing project. Hope you'll take a lot of pictures and videos, and hope you have a UW camera too. Take enough batteries and storage media, please! Wishing you best luck.

As for the danger - I guess you are aware that seals have also their natural enemies. In Norway, it would be probably Killer Whales, so take care not to be mistaken for a seal.

 

[Ale Andres]

HI Seal, looks like a great adventure !!! my respects for having the courage to do something like this...I eco those that says you should take pictures...
About the risks...take care with the big males, summer is reproduction season there??? be careful of not look like a lady seal...those big males can brake the neoprene ;-)

 

[Adrian]

Check to see if you will be in an area where there are no polar bears, there are quite a few in Norway.

 

[Seal]

Thx for the comments guys : )

There are Killer Whales but they only feed on hering in that area/Western Norway. And there are no Polar Bears.
And the seals are a very small breed. "Spottet seal" I don't think I have ever seen one bigger than 150-200 pounds/80-90kg.

The only thing im scared of is the fact that they have found dead Giant Octopus stranded out there from time to time. Huge ones 10m/30f long, but what are the ods of seeing one alive, my guess is zero.

 

[wes]

Great plan and the best of luck. I will give you some advice though I have never done anything like this myself. I think the four biggest hurdles you will have are:
1 - warmth, deal with this by bringing 2 sets of all the warm clothes you think you will need. Also have one set (wetsuit etc) for the water and 1 set for land.
2 - hygine, sores etc on the body can be ruinous, when you exit the water always go back in and rinse your wetsuit and yourself off with "fresh" salt water. If you have extra fresh water from rain collection rinse off with that.
3 - water, I am not sure how thirsty you will get, bring some plastic and containers or some other method to collect rain water, this may be biggest hurdle for you.
4- psycololgy/safety - I don't think you will have problems with actual safety, if you are careful you will be fine, if not you will die. What I mean is the psychology dealing with the "safety" that our society thinks is necessary, like a cell phone to call home every day etc. I don't think bringing a cell phone for safety is a good idea at all (people go ahead and say I am nuts), especially if you plan to phone home every day. This will add a tremendous torment to you trying to remember if you have phoned home yet, wondering when you should do it, and even worse rushing out of the water to your phone so that you can phone home at the appointed time etc. I would recommend instead not to take a phone or if you must to call just once that you are there and not to call any more to anyone under any circumstances unless you want to be rescued. This may seem "harsh" though I think when you are out with the seals you will find it much more pshychologically easier to not call at all then to call every day. Also I would plan that someone would row out to you every week to check on you and to bring some food along in case you need it. You can always say no I don't need it, or you can have a regular meal with them and then not take any more food if you want to remain "pure" to living like a seal. 1 week is about the longest you can live without water so a pretty good safety length of stay between visits. Depending on your row boat to get you home is foolish as is depending on your cell phone to call for help. There are many many tales of people who set out to do what you have done and the first 2-3 days lose thier row boats for various reasons and then die as they cannot get back.

Great Luck!! - I have a dream to live with dolphins actually in the water for weeks at a time (my wife thinks this is totally insane) and I am slowly working on the "technology" that I will need to do this. Cheers Wes

 

[fcallagy]

HI Seal,
first off best of luck but I must ask about your motivation is it to become a "better" freediver or to study the way of the seals ? You seem to have a very good static time and dynamic in comparison to your cw. I am just asking is this what you hope to improve ? or is it purely for motivation ? as far as i know seals (not sure if all species of seals) dive frc, are you also going to attempt this for the first time in Norway or have you already covered this option. I dive alone sometimes but usually not deeper than 10m on my own and would never attempt to improve my performance on my own. If you are just heading out to live with the seals and study them thats great. Also one last question and then i'll shut up, how long have you ever spent in isolation? i mean totally alone, you might be surprised the effects it can have and not all of them positive. I mean all of the above in the best way possible for you please don't take any offense.

I just see in another thread that yu know about frc/seal diving sorry.

 

[Seal]

Great feedback there wes.

First I should say that im no stranger to surviving outdoors. I have been a sleddog handler for a year, training above the polar circle in -40c. Also I have made a 70km/43.5 miles nonstop rowing trip around one of the islands took me 15 hours, because it's a big boat I have. And I have been in the Navy Seal cadet program. Or "Frogman" as it's called over here. I am quite confident in my survival abilities.

Depending on the rowboat is not a problem although it is 84 years old! (got it from my grandfather)If it springs a leak I can swim to shore. Water is not a problem all the islands have ponds and even lakes on the bigger ones.
And about the cellphone. My family is used to not getting any news. so I only plan on using it when something exiting happends. But the "rescue call" option is probably the best.

And I can't ask anyone to row out to me because it's a trip of about 40miles atleast. But we have motorboat in case of emergency.

 

[Seal]

HI Seal,
first off best of luck but I must ask about your motivation is it to become a "better" freediver or to study the way of the seals ? You seem to have a very good static time and dynamic in comparison to your cw. I am just asking is this what you hope to improve ? or is it purely for motivation ? as far as i know seals (not sure if all species of seals) dive frc, are you also going to attempt this for the first time in Norway or have you already covered this option. I dive alone sometimes but usually not deeper than 10m on my own and would never attempt to improve my performance on my own. If you are just heading out to live with the seals and study them thats great. Also one last question and then i'll shut up, how long have you ever spent in isolation? i mean totally alone, you might be surprised the effects it can have and not all of them positive. I mean all of the above in the best way possible for you please don't take any offense.

I just see in another thread that yu know about frc/seal diving sorry.

No offence taken at all. Those are all great reflections and qustions.

My motivation is both, I love animals and learning from them. And I feel it would be a great way for me to get away from stress and bad food etc.

My CV is low because I think it's the unsafest to do alone. And it's so dark down there in Norway. And no I would never attempt to make a personal best alone, never. I will wait untill I get home doing that. I will do some dry-statics to see if there is any progress.

Isolation. Well when I was 19 and came back from the sleddog job. I lived alone on the island for 6 months. And I have to say it was the best time of my life. So im safe in that area : ) And I don't start talking to myself or anything rofl

 

[fcallagy]

Great best of luck.


"And I don't start talking to myself or anything"
Its only when you start answering yourself back that the problems start.

 

[deep thinker]

Wow, this will be an amazing feat I think so best of luck to you as you allready seem to have looked at most things and seem to have pretty good survival skills Ill add just a few things that mite be considered or perhaps overlooked during the planning stages.
1- Make a list of what you will need for your stay and check them off as you pack.
2- Housing will you take a tent or stay in the open, sleeping bags and heat blankets ( those silver thingies medics use ) should be on your list.
3- Take a flare gun with a few spare flares for an emergency.
4- Why not take a 2 way radio instead of cellphone, is there cell service on the island you intend to stay. The radio you can switch on when needed and have a list of lines used by coast guard ect. and also have one for your home.
5- Cooking will you rely on fire or take gas cooker, also a pot to boil water should it need to be purified, purifying tablets mite not be a bad idea.
6- Camera with extra memory cards and lots of batteries.
7- Pens or pencils and paper, maybe keep a daily diary on your progress findings and experiences you mite even attempt drawing if you dont allready .
8- Perhaps a gas lamp and torch is not a bad idea, dont forget to perhaps take a extra canister of gas or two should you run out of your initial supply, that is if your going to make use of gas...
Best of luck and keep us posted mate

 

[Seal]

Wow, this will be an amazing feat I think so best of luck to you as you allready seem to have looked at most things and seem to have pretty good survival skills Ill add just a few things that mite be considered or perhaps overlooked during the planning stages.
1- Make a list of what you will need for your stay and check them off as you pack.
2- Housing will you take a tent or stay in the open, sleeping bags and heat blankets ( those silver thingies medics use ) should be on your list.
3- Take a flare gun with a few spare flares for an emergency.
4- Why not take a 2 way radio instead of cellphone, is there cell service on the island you intend to stay. The radio you can switch on when needed and have a list of lines used by coast guard ect. and also have one for your home.
5- Cooking will you rely on fire or take gas cooker, also a pot to boil water should it need to be purified, purifying tablets mite not be a bad idea.
6- Camera with extra memory cards and lots of batteries.
7- Pens or pencils and paper, maybe keep a daily diary on your progress findings and experiences you mite even attempt drawing if you dont allready .
8- Perhaps a gas lamp and torch is not a bad idea, dont forget to perhaps take a extra canister of gas or two should you run out of your initial supply, that is if your going to make use of gas...
Best of luck and keep us posted mate

Thx for input

1. You are right It's allways good to have a list.
2. I will sleep mostly in the boat, on an air madrass. With a cover over the boat.
3. Flaregun is ok but often missused, and can not be trusted. Sadly.
4.I can't afford one. And there is cell phone service even out there.
5.I have a Coleman burner for unleaded fuel. Works great. And theres lots of driftwood.
6.I don't have a good one. But im buying an underwater camera, for normal film. that can be developed as a cd-media.
7. Pen and paper, good idea I can't rely on memories.
8. I have a recharge/dynamo flashlight, shake it for 3min it has light for 30min genius, and it's waterproof.

 

[Nikkey]

Wow, good luck to you Seal! You are taking on a lot, please take care of yourself and have a safe return. I look forward to your pics and stories!

 

[Tol]

This is absolutely fascinating and I cannot wait to hear all!

Since advice is being tossed out left and right, I'll join in. I have two suggestions for things to bring: multi-vitamins and adult material. hehe