Photo essay: Freediver dances with killer whales in Norway's Arctic waters

World champion freediver Arthur Guerin-Boeri glides through Norway's Arctic waters to rub shoulders with killer whales.

The Frenchman is in the icy waters of Kvaenangen Fjord, off the island of Spildra in the Scandinavian country's far north, plunging to depths beyond 15 metres. This is where whales come to hunt herring.

"I'm in the water next to two super-predators that accept me. It's majestic," the 38-year-old told AFP after his first such dive with the mammals.

"They move in a synchronised way, in a kind of ballet. I'd like to follow them but it's impossible, they move too fast and rapidly leave me behind."

Guerin-Boeri is a five-time world champion in the dynamic apnea category of competitive freediving. He can swim more than 100m underwater and hold his breath for several minutes, but he's hoping to push the perception of freediving beyond sport and performance.

He spent a week diving off snowy Spildra, a tiny island in the Arctic Circle, aiming simply to watch the creatures and pursue "the excitement of making a discovery". His dives, he said, lasted no more than "about 30 seconds".

He said it was an "unforgettable memory" and plans to return next winter.

"In this environment, you forget the fatigue, the cold, the apprehension. And when I reach the surface to breathe again, there are ice-covered cliffs around me ... you're surrounded by beauty," he said.

"I want to return to the essence of freediving: the exploration of the undersea world, making discoveries, and I have been given a treat."

Explainer: Tanween Design Programme

Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.

The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.

It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.

The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.

Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”