Before attempting the insane Polar Plunge, the Sea Spirit sailed north of Storfjorden, an area rarely visited by ships in Svalbard for its potential to see mobile marine mammals (mmm) because recent ice charts indicated a significant band of ice forming . Young ice is blown out of the fjord south by northerly winds, leaving a large area of open water which freezes again. During freezing, the water layer under the young ice is enriched with salt, thus having a higher density and sinks to greater depths. Sea ice formation is an important factor for deep water currents and hence the “global conveyor belt” – a system of surface and bottom currents, a major force in the Earth’s climate system. (Video: Sea Ice and Pack Ice.)
Ice concentration is reported in tenths: Open water – large area of freely navigable water in which sea ice is present in concentrations of less than 1/10; Very open Drift Ice – sea ice with concentrations of 1/10 to 3/10; Open Drift Ice – sea ice with concentration of 4/10 to 8/10; Close Pack Ice – sea ice with concentration of 7/10 to 8/10 comprised of ice flues mostly in contact with each other; Very Close Pack Ice – sea ice with concentration of 9/10 to 9+/10, solid floes in close contact, nearly no water visible; Compact Pack Ice – sea ice with concentration of 10/10+, no water is visible but floes are not frozen together; Consolidated Pack Ice – sea ice with concentration of 10/10+ and ice floes are frozen together.
ice with bubbles in Arctic
ice floes in Arctic around Spitsbergen
There was certainly ample amounts of ice in the fjord; seen from cabins, decks, the lounge and the bridge, but no marine mammals.
As soon as an announcement was broadcast over the P.A. System that Sea Spirit would hold a Polar Plunge, loony passengers were seen making a dash to put on bathing suits and come to Reception. Thirty crazies showed up with bathrobes over bathing suits and listened as Annie gave information and instructions about the procedure. People were led two by two down to the Marina Deck (deck 2) where a zodiac was attached. A staff member harnessed and roped one person at a time who was then helped into the Zodiac where another staff member stood. You then crossed to the other Zodiac side and either jumped off a swimming pool ladder, or the pontoon.
Sea Spirit watch crazy people take the Polar Plunge into the Arctic water
I was scared but sucked up my courage, jumped off the ladder, went under, came up with a nose and mouthful of salt water, immediately turned around and had to be helped up the ladder! The coldest part was stepping on the freezing ladder! Most passengers couldn’t have been the water for more than 30 seconds except for one man who stayed in for one minute.
FYI: The water temperature stated in the video (the 30s) is incorrect. Surface salt water begins to freeze at -2 degrees Celsius/28 degrees Fahrenheit.
Sea Spirit Polar Plunge 6/21/13 in Arctic water
Sea Spirit Polar Plunge 6/21/13 in Arctic water
Staff had towels and hot chocolate waiting. Plungers than made a beeline back inside the warm ship. Steve came back to the cabin with me while I changed and I managed to intimidate him into taking the “Plunge” by repeating over and over again, YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE, DO IT! And after all that, I managed to miss him taking the actual plunge while waiting outside on the deck with others photographing and video’ing. Big thank yous to: Margit from Germany who took video of every “Plunger” ; Renae who took photographs; and staff member Alex who stood in another Zodiac taking photographs of every plunger. Without them, the video below wouldn’t have been so fantastic.
Thanks, Renae for some of the Polar Plunge photos
Sea Spirit Polar Plunge 6/21/13
If anyone had ever told us that a Polar Plunge into Arctic waters with little chunks of ice floating by would be a cruise highlight, you can imagine our response. The longest day of the year above the Arctic Circle became even more special when all 30 passengers received certificates of insanity at the nightly briefing:
Sheila Simkin (…..) who did most willingly plunge into spine chilling ice-filled Arctic waters at Storfjorden in Svalbard, surrounded by sea ice.
We do solemnly acknowledge that this was an act of indubitable courage (as well as extraordinary, incomparable foolishness). Based on the Expedition Leader’s observance of this act of absurd heroism, and the Ship Doctor’s confirmation of the said person’s temporary loss of any common sense, we consider the bearer of this certificate a key member of the Sea Spirit Polar Swim Club — 21st June, 2013.
Travels With Sheila sucking up courage for a Polar Plunge into the Arctic
Marine Steve getting ready for the “Plunge”
If you ever have the chance, just do it! Would I do it again? You bet!
Click here to view the embedded video.