Deep Sea Daredevils

Laura Dekker was born on a boat. And when she was just 14, she set sail around the world, becoming the youngest person ever to complete this journey. Meet Laura in this excerpt from Maidentrip, a documentary about her voyage. (If you’re interested in watching the full-length film about Laura, it is rentable on YouTube for $3.99. Be sure to check with a grown-up first, though!)

Scuba diving is intimidating enough—even with an oxygen tank. But did you know some divers specialize in deep-sea diving without oxygen? Called “free diving,” this extreme underwater sport is exhilarating, intense, and dangerous, too. Go underwater with free diver Guillaume Néry in this National Geographic short film.

Ocean Ramsey has the right job for her name: she’s a marine biologist. Ocean grew up around sharks, and now she’s committed to shark conservation. That means getting up close and personal with these many-toothed creatures of the sea.

We usually think of scuba diving for the sake of swimming with sea creatures or exploring coral reefs. What about scuba diving for history? Diving With a Purpose is a volunteer organization led by Black divers who want to use their diving passion to uncover the past. They’ve searched the wreckage of sunken ships that once carried enslaved people from West Africa, salvaged pieces of aircraft once flown by the Tuskegee Airmen, and more. Learn about their journey in this article, and watch the embedded video clips for more.

When you hear “polar bear,” you might be thinking of furry residents of the Arctic. We’re talking about people who dive into the frigid ocean...on January 1st. Learn about this chilly tradition (and maybe make your own plan for next year?).

In 1901, Annie Edson Taylor hoped to become rich and famous for going over Niagara Falls in a wooden barrel. She made it down the falls alive, but never quite achieved the acclaim she was hoping for.

Can you build a boat that floats on water? You definitely can. These ducks will show you how.

Think scuba diving isn’t hard work? Think again. Try these five exercises at home to get yourself in shape for scuba diving. (Be safe and just do what you can!)