A naked Russian woman swims with white whales in Arctic

A Russian female scientist braved sub-zero temperatures and threw herself naked into freezing Arctic ocean to tame two beluga whales, daily.co.uk reported Thursday.

Natalia Avseenko, 36, was persuaded to strip naked as marine experts believe belugas, or white whales, do not like to be touched by artificial materials such as diving suits, according to the report.

The taming of the whales happened in the Murmansk Oblast region in the far northwest of Russia at the shore of the White Sea near the Arctic Circle branch of the Utrish Dophinarium.

The skilled Russian diver took the plunge as the water temperature hit minus 1.5 degrees Centigrade.

The average human could die if left in sub-zero temperature sea water for just five minutes.

However, Natalia is a yoga expert and used meditation techniques to hold her breath and stay under water for an incredible 10 minutes and 40 seconds, the Daily Mail said.

Belugas (white whales), which can be about 5.5 meters long and 1.5 ton heavy, are famous for the way their faces are able to convey human-like expressions. Their large range of “facial expressions” comes from them having a more flexible bone structure than other whales.

Certainly, the two that swam with Natalia had big smiles for her.