Featuring Jean Rydberg
Switzerland is much more than ski slopes and cow bells. In southern Switzerland's Ticino region lies the Valle Verzasca. Home to some of the cleanest river water in the world, the Verzasca River can be an oasis to fans of cold water scuba diving.
We followed Ambassador Fritz Liechti to Verzasca for the 1st annual Swiss Masters LIVE Underwater Photography Competition. Bring your camera and your sense of adventure and check out some of the coolest fresh water diving we've ever done.
More of a reader? Scroll down for the video transcript.
From Indianapolis to Switzerland
Ever since I got to know Fritz Liechti I became obsessed with the idea of diving the rivers of Switzerland with him. When he decided to stage the first annual Swiss Masters Underwater Photography Competition, we jumped at the opportunity to sponsor and fly out to see 10 of the best underwater photographers battle it out live without editing or post-processing.
Worth the wait, finally got the opportunity to dive with Fritz in Switzerland.
(Pictured: John Brigham, Fritz Liechti, Jean Rydberg).
Now I’m not afraid of cold water diving, I’ve dove Scotland in the snow, froze while standing in a cage watching great whites, and let’s face it- diving in Indiana’s quarries is no picnic. But Switzerland was another thing altogether.
No stranger to cold water diving, whether it's with great whites, in quarries, or European waters. © Frank Owens
First Stop - Fantic!
We flew in on the red eye and made a quick pit stop at Fantic. This underwater photography shop is a little oasis right outside of Zurich. The owners Tom and Judith are amazing people and they’ve built a 50,000 gallon, 10 foot (3 meters) deep freshwater aquarium in the back of the shop for customers to dive and test out the latest gear. It’s really cool and you should definitely check it out.
A freshwater aquarium to test your equipment and fantastic customer service too. Don't miss an opportunity to stop by Fantic in Switzerland. (Pictured: Jean, John, Tom, Judith).
Verzasca Valley
Another four hours drive through the mountains - and the longest tunnel in Europe - we were spit out into what seemed like another world. Southern Switzerland definitely has a different vibe complete with Italian style architecture and palm trees. As the sun set we got our first glimpse of the Verzasca valley. I was terrified of the steep drops down and mesmerized by the powerful rush of water below.
Ponte die Salti bridge over the Verzasca River, sandwiched between the Swiss mountains. © Steve Miller
It turns out you have to get past a lot more than the cold shock to dive Verzasca. The trail down to the dive site could be hard to follow - even the guides got confused once or twice. Once you get down, the staging areas are very rocky and can be difficult to navigate.
I entered the water the first time like the day tourists - with only a swimsuit and 3mm vest and it was COLD. Rainstorms at the top of the mountains had washed through the valley, creating some strong currents and dropped water temps to 12ºC (53.6ºF). I was glad I brought my 5mm and hood to layer on top of my vest for the next dip.
John braves the cold Verzasca River in the typical day tourist getup - 3mm vest and swimsuit.
Cold shock or sheer excitement?
Prioritizing Safety
Safety was always at the top of my mind when I was anywhere near the water - the local dive rescue team had plenty of stories of people being swept away by the river. Helicopters flying overhead had me a little on edge, though thankfully that day they were carrying building materials and not bodies.
The Swiss Masters team had all bases covered when it came to safety. There was an ambulance (with decompression chamber) staffed with full medical team, safety divers, and air rescue on standby.
A Sense of Wonder
Everything was worth it when I fully submerged on scuba. The rock landscape underneath was even more beautiful in person than I expected. The striations in the tall rock walls really gave me a sense of wonder at how our planet was formed. At the surface of the water, there are amazing split shot opportunities and tons of little waterfalls creating visual interest.
The ultimate playground for split shots - mountainous topside and unbelievable rock formations underwater. Nikon Z8 + NIKKOR 8-15mm lens at 15mm • 1/800 • f/14 • ISO 2000 © Steve Miller
Rock striations underwater in the Verzasca River. Canon R10 with the Canon RF-S 10-18mm lens at 11mm • 1/200 • f/5.6 • ISO 100 © Ikelite Underwater Systems
An oasis for cold water divers and rock enthusiasts. Nikon Z8 + NIKKOR 8-15mm lens at 15mm • 1/800 • f/14 • ISO 2000 © Steve Miller
Bring a really strong set of fins and a sense of adventure and I think you’ll enjoy diving the Verzasca Valley. If you have any questions about our trip, shoot us an email at ikelite@ikelite.com. Thanks for joining me and happy diving!
Additional Viewing
River Junkie: Underwater Photography in the Freshwaters of Switzerland
Customer Photos | Fritz Liechti from the Fresh Water of Switzerland
Fighting for the Best Picture: Live Underwater Photography Competitions
Freshwater Underwater Camera Settings and Technique
Safety Advice for Underwater Photographers
Swiss Masters Underwater Photography Competition
Jean Rydberg is the President & CEO of Ikelite. She has lived her whole life in landlocked Indianapolis, Indiana, but is no stranger to the water as a daughter of Ikelite’s founder Ike Brigham. She has traveled around the world shooting and testing gear and enjoys new challenges in both photography and diving. Jean loves to learn about the creative ways photographers achieve their visions. More than anything she wants to show aspiring underwater photographers that excellence is attainable with any system. When she's not working she's spending time with her husband and two daughters.
