Feb 15, 2021
Southern California-based Caitlyn Webster is an “Undersea Specialist” who interprets the natural history of everything and anything under the sea. Through stunning videography, she’s able to bring the underworld to the surface and share it with others.
As an experienced dry suit diver, she is simply blown away by
being able to breathe underwater and has been able to develop a
truly unique career in marine biology and ocean exploration.
Her background as a kelp forest monitor recording ecological
aspects and key species in places like Africa and the South Pacific
led her to her current position with Lindblad Expeditions/National
Geographic.
In this episode, she regals us with stories of coming eye to eye
with a Leopard seal underwater and exploring kelp beds amongst
diving guillemots at Alkefjellet in Svalbard, while emphasizing the
importance of keeping calm, being present and trusting in your dive
partner.
HIGHLIGHTS
4:00 Caitlyn details how she got her start in dry suit diving and was offered her first job diving in the polar regions
9:05 What is an “Undersea Specialist?”
12:40 The extensive precautions and preparations you have to take when diving in really cold water
19:25 The “sheer bliss” of the first 6 minutes and mentally how to manage the remainder of the dive as the freeze sets in
26:35 A “surreal” and harrowing first polar dive at Alkefjellet in Svalbard
45:30 The key differences between diving in the Arctic and Antarctic
51:20 A breathtaking encounter with a Leopard seal underwater in Antarctica
1:03:07 What Caitlyn wants everyone to understand about our world’s coldest seas
1:06:35 Why the “sea angel” is Caitlyn’s favourite creature she’s encountered in the polar oceans
Caitlyn on Instagram: @sea_webster
Caitlyn's website: caitlynwebster.com