TUDOR Pelagos & Morgan BOURC’HIS [in search of ORCAS]

This is French born, champion free-diver, Morgan Bourc’his who as part of the French national team became the World CNF champion in 2008 and 2013 after diving to a depth of 89 meters without fins or assistance, beating the French record - which he then improved upon in 2017 with a depth of 90m and, more recently, 91m. TUDOR recently accompanied Morgan on an ambitious new project of his, a documentary film called ‘The Quest for Nature’ which took him from the temperate waters of the Mediterranean Sea where he grew up to the icy fjords of Norway in search of orcas. In the documentary, world freediving champion and friend of TUDOR, Morgan travels to northern Norway on a quest to reconnect with the wild. As the protagonist of this Nordic sea adventure, Morgan was forced to leave the comforts of World behind. His challenge was to locate, and then swim alongside with some of the ocean's most powerful creatures – orcas AKA killer whales orcas which are some of the best adapted to their environment - in the bitter cold and murky depths of Norway’s icy fjords. On his quest for the perfect meeting with orcas and whales, Morgan goes in search of those for whom these animals are part of their daily lives. Spildra, a mysterious island steeped in history and legend, lies at the heart of all his encounters. On Spildra, Morgan meets an authentic character who knows remote fjords like the back of his hand; a gatekeeper if you will who will introduce him to the people and animals that are vital to his mission.

Audun Rikardsen, a former whaler, is one of them. Now a marine biologist, he has become an expert in his field. He helps Morgan to understand the importance of fully accepting your cultural heritage in order to transform it and use it to the benefit of living creatures. 

He also understands the subtle ties that connect us to marine mammals, ones that could turn any of us into a participant either in their demise or in the regeneration of their population.

One of the many benefits of being, a champion free-diver and underwater-filmmaker who is a friend of TUDOR is that you get to take one of their very cool timepieces on your adventures with you. 

For Morgan, the perfect watch for the job was TUDOR’s ultimate tool-diver, the PELAGOS ref. M25600TB-0001.

Powered by a Tudor Manufacture Caliber MT5612 (COSC) automatic movement it is a current Pelagos model and has been produced in Titanium with a ceramic matte blue bezel inlay – matched to the dial.  

Although the watch comes with a very cool fully adjustable all-Titanium bracelet; for this adventure, Morgan wore his Pelagos on its complementary blue rubber diver’s strap.