What would make you hold your breath, plunge into icy waters, and search the seabed for other people’s trash? For the volunteers of FjordCleanUp, this isn’t just a crazy weekend challenge, it’s their Sunday routine.
Every week, all year round, the non-profit gathers in Oslo, Norway. With donated diving gear strapped on, they dive beneath the surface of the fjord, collecting everything from plastic bottles to lost bicycles. Summer sun or minus 10 degrees in winter — they’re always there. Why? Because they want a fjord that’s clean, swimmable, and thriving with marine life again. Pretty basic things.
Being curious as always, I gave it a shot. Spoiler: it wasn’t easy. Holding my breath, balancing the gear, focusing underwater… I quickly realized I might be better suited to storytelling on solid ground. But I wanted to understand what keeps people hooked on this unusual hobby. So, I sat down with Anoushka Nordby, deputy chair of FjordCleanUp, to ask her how she sees it.
Excitement or Anxiety Underwater?
“I find it quite peaceful, actually,” Anoushka told me. “You’re so focused underwater. There are no distractions. Your phone isn’t buzzing in your pocket. It’s just you staying safe, holding your breath, and looking for trash.”
She described a sense of excitement, like a treasure hunt. “I think, oh, I’m gonna go down here, and I don’t see anything… what’s going to pop up? And it could be anything, really!” she laughed.
Her words made me reflect on my own experience. For me, diving felt claustrophobic — like being trapped in a vast, dark space. But maybe it’s a question of framing.
You know how people say that the physical sensations of fear and excitement are nearly the same? Your heart races, your palms sweat, adrenaline surges through your veins. The difference lies in what you tell yourself.
I know this well from public speaking. Some people hate presentations; they feel sick with nerves. Me? I love them. I channel those same nerves into excitement about sharing an idea, performing in the moment. The biology is the same; the mindset is different.
So maybe that’s the trick for diving, too. Instead of saying, “I’m scared,” you hijack your brain and whisper, “I’m excited.” Would that transform the panic into peace?
I haven’t cracked it yet, but it’s a theory worth testing.
The Temperature Factor
Of course, there’s another challenge: the cold. Imagine plunging into near-freezing water and trying to stay calm while your body screams to get out. Yet FjordCleanUp volunteers manage it week after week.
What helps?
- Time – you build up tolerance gradually.
- Peace – the underwater world is strangely calming once you’re in it.
- Training – every new volunteer gets a free intro course to freediving.
- Support – you always have a buddy underwater and a safety team on shore.
It’s a community as much as it is an environmental movement. Everyone is looking out for each other, above and below the surface.
Would You Try It?
So, would you be able to do it? Could you swap your Sunday Netflix session for a freediving mask and a trash bag in icy water?
Maybe it sounds extreme. But think of it this way: for the FjordCleanUp divers, it’s not just about picking up bottles and cans. It’s about reclaiming a fjord, building friendships, and finding a new kind of peace in a world that rarely slows down.
Next time you’re by the sea, maybe ask yourself: Would I be brave enough to dive for trash?
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