Lake Baikal Foundation starts its partnership with Alexey Molchanov, a legendary freediver, 14-time world champion, holder of 19 world records in different freediving disciplines, and president of Association «Freediving Federation». Alexey Molchanov is also well known as bearer of «the philosophy of freediving», ambassador of the ocean, the deepest man in the history of the competitive freediving.
Alexey will represent the Foundation’s programs in Russia and in the world and popularize scientific knowledge on Lake Baikal among the freediver community, which regards Baikal as symbol of deepness and pureness. Together, Alexey and the Foundation are going to hold educational events, fundraise for sustainable environmental initiatives, develop programs for the reduction of water footprint. This cooperation is aimed at combatting climate change and developing of charitable practices in environmental protection.
Lake Baikal Foundation is the Russian NGO which deals with systematic resolving of problems in the field of water protection and other related fields of sustainable development. The Foundation’s mission is to stop irresponsible pressure on the ecosystem of the Baikal natural area and unleash the scientific potential of Lake Baikal.
«We are glad about starting the cooperation with the most titled freediver in the world, who is able to attract more attention to our programs on the protection of the unique nature of Baikal. Worldwide, freedivers are known as active lobbyists of water protection initiatives. For instance, many people are familiar with the projects of William Winram, who is the author of a series of expeditions tackling myths about sharks as «killing machines» to attract attention with the aim of protecting and studying sharks. Another example is Hanli Prinsloo, the founder of I AM WATER Foundation, who is actively involved in eco-educational activity with representatives of socially vulnerable groups of society. The Foundation holds trainings and workshops, spreads the information about the ocean, illegal hunting and fishing, shapes eco-habits and embodies the idea of «making people fall in love with the ocean». In the person of Alexei, we hope to find a reliable partner who is ready for new experiments. Ahead us, there is an exciting journey of forming the emotional bond between the population of Russia and Russia’s fascinating water bodies», — commented Anastasia Tsetkova, CEO of Lake Baikal Foundation.
«Freedivers are called ambassadors of water bodies for a reason, we of all people closely interact with the underwater world without harming the environment. Such educational projects, which provide an opportunity to tell as many people as possible about the unique underwater world, to attract new resources for the support of environmental and eco-conservational initiatives, are extremely important for me not only professionally, but also personally», — said Alexey Molchanov.
On March 16th, 2021, Alexey is going to set a Guinness record on Lake Baikal, which is to become the 20 record in the bag.