Canadian woman sets new record for deepest underwater photoshoot

globalnews.ca:

On a sparkling, clear and calm day in early December, part-time Montreal model Kim Bruneau slipped into the ocean off the coast of Nassau in the Bahamas, wearing a pink tutu, setting her sights on a new Guinness World Record for underwater modelling.

“With this type of challenge, the model has the hardest part because I put my life in their hands,” Bruneau, 38, said from her Montreal home.

Bruneau, photographer Pia Oyarzun and a large team of helpers swam 130 feet down into the ocean. There, Bruneau removed her oxygen tank and mask, holding her breath so Oyarzun could take photos of her posing for the world record. Every few minutes, an assistant brought over an oxygen tank so Bruneau could take in some air. Then she would hold her breath again, posing for the photographer.

In all, the team shot pictures at 130 feet for nine minutes. It set a new Guinness World record for deepest underwater modelling photoshoot.

“When you put your mind to something there is really no limit. They say the sky is the limit. The bottom of the ocean is the limit,” Bruneau said. “I removed my mask and the minute I remove my mask I no longer see anything, so it has to be full trust.”

After nine minutes the team started ascending, stopping as they went along to shoot pictures at various depths. In all, they shot for 37 minutes.

Oyarzun said safety is the biggest challenge to deep underwater shoots. And then she said posing at those depths without a mask or snorkel is a huge challenge.

“Posing underwater is extremely hard. Your body wants to go all over the place. You make faces while not breathing,” she said. “You could never tell Kim was at 130 feet. She was so relaxed and comfortable, you would think she was at 10 feet deep. I am still in