Our suits have four layers: thermal (保暖的) underwear on the inside, followed by an electrically heated bodysuit, a thick wool coat, and a half-inch-thick layer of rubber outerwear. There’re two layers of hoods, waterproof gloves and 35 pounds of weights. There are two batteries for the heated bodysuit, a backup gas container, and finally, my photography equipment. We look like astronauts minus the helmets.

When we finally dive into the freezing water, we’re wearing 200 pounds each. The cold quickly numbs the few square inches of exposed skin on our cheeks, and as the dive goes on, it spreads into our suits and gloves, biting even harder. It’s almost unbearable. Toward the end, as we’re pausing on our way up to let the pressure drop, we search for anything to distract (使分心) us from the pain.When we finally drag ourselves out of the freezing ocean, I lie face down on the ice, my brain dulled, my skin hard and wrinkled, my lips, hands, and feet swollen and unconscious (无知觉的) — then, as my body warms and the blood starts to flow again, the intense pain is at its worst.

What could possibly make this worthwhile? The sight! Only a few species of seals, penguins, and other birds live in East Antarctica, and no land mammals at all. Below, it’s a rich garden. Antarctic marine life has been largely isolated from the rest of the planet for millions of years, ever since the continent separated from the other continents and froze over. Since then the powerful Antarctic Circumpolar Current has surrounded Antarctica from west to east, creating a sharp change in temperature that prevents the spread of marine animals. The long isolation has allowed a surprising diversity of species, unique to the region, to evolve on the seafloor.

The waters under Antarctic ice are like Mount Qomolangma: magical, but extremely unfriendly. Nothing short of full commitment gets you anywhere. The demand is too great. But that’s what makes the images you see here so breathtaking, and the experience of having photographed them and of having seen this place so unforgettable.

At Serious Readers we understand that the creative mind requires many factors to function properly.

Creativity and inspiration can often strike when we least expent it, and disappear rapidly when we feel we most need it. Inspiration demands attention, at any hour of the day; that’s why Serious Lights use a special technology that allows us to closely replicate (模拟) natural daylight and bring it indoors. This means that wherever you are, and whatever time it is, you can write like you are bathed in a pool of natural sunshine.

“Read a thousand books, and your words will flow like a river.”— Lisa See

Every author will tell you that the key to becoming a skilled writer is to devote yourself to reading. Reading develops your vocabulary, teaches you narrative structure, and provides a window to worldviews beyond your own. Time spent in front of a page is important for any hopeful wordsmith, and the longer you read, the better prepared you are to write. But many people struggle with reading for long periods of time. They experience blurred vision, headaches, hard concentrating and sore or dry eyes. These are symptoms of what is commonly known as eyestrain (视疲劳). A Serious Light works with your eyes to reduce these symptoms and allow you the freedom to read and write for as long as you desire.

“A writer is a world trapped in a person.”— Victor Hugo

Books often provide us with a sense of freedom. The common phrase “get lost in a book” indicates the sensation of allowing the world around you to fade away while the words on the page become a world inside your head. That feeling of freedom shouldn’t be hampered by tired and sore eyes. Most readers spend the majority of their time under some form of artificial light. This is where the problem starts. Most artificial light sources are not designed with your eyes in mind and will cause your eyes to overstrain and become tired and annoyed much faster. With a Serious Light you will experience sharper text, vivid colour, and breathtaking clarity, allowing you to read and write for as long as you desire.

Hearing aids usually bring to mind images of ugly, ineffective devices mainly worn by the elderly. But this ill repute is quickly changing, as they’ve recently taken a turn thanks to two innovators, Dr. Marco Vietor and Paul Crusius, who now lead the fastest-growing hearing aid company in the world—hear.com.

Hear.com’s years of research led to the development of two game-changing hearing aids—the Silk and Styletto. These impressive devices pack cutting-edge technology in designs that are practically invisible. They also use a unique way that has been clinically proven to deliver better-than-normal hearing so you can clearly understand speech in any environment. With additional features like Bluetooth and rechargeability, today’s hearing aids are attracting even younger customers skilled in tech.

But hear.com knows it’s not just about tech and design. They’ve put an enormous effort into the entire experience to make hearing care more accessible and more affordable. “Everyone should be able to hear well to live well,” Crusius says. “And it’s very individual. Each person’s hearing loss is different and requires a personalized approach to find the best solution.”

“We hear with our brains, not our ears. And it takes at least 30 days for our brain to adjust and relearn how to hear again with new hearing aids,” Dr. Vietor says. “To guarantee your best outcome with hearing aids, we developed the industry’s first 30-day program, Hearing Success Program, so customers have that extra level of care and knowledge to succeed.”

And it’s working. Hear.com has now helped more than 100,000 customers improve their hearing. Their A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and 5-star rating on the customer review platform, Trustpilot, speaks for itself.

Hear.com’s “never corporate” and “customer first” approach also helps drive the company’s success, encouraging employees to act like owners and put customers first. “We’re investing heavily in shaping our company culture,” Crusius says. “Individuals who work at hear.com say they are here to do more than a job. They’re helping change lives all around the world.”