The Depths We Travel

By Alexia Krizia La Palerma

To live would be an awfully big adventure.

Those words echoed in my mind as my 14-month-old son Leone and I pulled away from Montreal in a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV packed with equipment and purpose. Our destination: the icy depths of Flintkote Quarry in Thetford Mines, QC, a smalltown about 80 minutes south of Quebec City. Our mission: to dive under the frozen surface of Canada’s wild winter. To embrace the cold, the silence, and the unknown. And to show my young son what it means to live a life of ambition.

My name is Alexia. I’m a freediver, a creative director, and a single mother. I believe in following my purpose—living a life that leans into wonder, growth and awe. What drives my ambition is the desire to live fully and intentionally, to stay connected to that purpose as life evolves.

When I found out I was pregnant, I made myself a promise: I wouldn’t press pause on adventure—I would turn it into a legacy. I wanted my son to see that wonder is worth chasing, that bravery takes many forms, and that the world is meant to be explored.

This wasn’t just a road trip. It was a statement that a full life isn’t built by playing it safe, but by saying yes to the experiences that stretch us, ground us and reveal who we are.

Preparation and equipment

This wasn’t my first time beneath the surface. I’ve been training in freediving for more than five years with Apnée Aquarius in Montreal, holding a CMAS Level 3 certification. Freediving is accessible, but it requires proper training, technique and respect.

Packed into the back of the Outlander PHEV was everything I would need to safely take on this extraordinary challenge:

  • Buoy with a 40m descent line (perfect for training technique and depth)
  • Cressi Nano mask
  • Lobster weight belt with added regular weights (5.5 kg)
  • 5mm Elios wetsuit in Aurora Yamamoto open-cell neoprene with matching three-finger gloves and socks
  • Soft Leaderfins with T-straps
  • Changing poncho
  • Plastic bin for soaking feet in hot water post-dive
  • Heat pack warmers
  • Cooler filled with warm water to pre-fill my suit for longer dives
  • Emergency oxygen mask
  • Dive watch
  • Suit lube (conditioner + warm water)
  • Electrolyte-filled water bottle

Day 1: Montreal to the Bubble Hotel, Centre de l’Hêtrein Lac-Beauport

We began along the Lachine Canal, the Outlander PHEV waiting like a loyal guardian for our next adventure. After cruising west on Highway 20, we stopped for dinner at Archibalds—good food, great laughs and that pre-adventure buzz.

By nightfall, we arrived at the Bubble Hotel—part of the enchanting Centre de l’Hêtre, an eco-conscious retreat tucked in the forest near Quebec City. Known for its immersive nature experiences and transparent domes, the centre is dedicated to helping guests reconnect with themselves and the natural world. It was the perfect stop to transition from the buzz of the city into the stillness we were seeking. Snowflakes danced above the transparent dome as Leone and I giggled in the dark. Protected from the elements by the heated dome, we slept under the stars, the hush of snow and the excitement of what lay ahead surrounding us.

Day 2: Into the depths at Flintkote Quarry

We woke to a snow-covered wonderland. Trees bowed under the weight of fresh snowfall. “Ohhh mama—ohhh wowww,” Leone whispered, eyes wide. After a bit of play, we packed up and headed to Flintkote Quarry. The road was frozen and wild, but our Outlander PHEV held firm, with Super All-Wheel Control and the vehicle’s snow mode helping us carve a path through the forest with ease.

Prepping the site

The quarry stood still. Quiet. Sacred.

Because of the heavy snowfall, we began by shovelling a path on the ice to allow sunlight to filter through to the water below—my natural underwater guide. Without it, I would’ve been diving into pitch black, with only the triangle hole as my light source.

We pierced the ice using an auger, manually drilling three holes in a triangle formation. Using an ice saw, we connected the dots. One hole for entry. One for exit. The ice was 36 centimetres (14 inches) thick. Moving the slab underneath the ice was more physically demanding than anticipated. We chipped it down, section by section, until we had a safe, open space.

Inside an onsite container, I suited up: Elios wetsuit, gloves, socks, fins, straps and a mask. No snorkel, just trust. Then, I stepped onto the ice and reviewed the dive plan with my coach, Nikola Haddad-Edizel. Having a plan set with a coach or buddy is essential. It clarifies the dive type and establishes emergency protocols. Preparation is everything—on land and in the water. Sitting on the edge of the ice, I dipped my fins in and visualized the descent.  

The sound of the unknown

Ice diving demands full surrender—to your body, your breath, the body of water, and to your team.

As I descended, the world above shimmered into silver. Beneath the ice, everything changed. Time slowed. Pressure rose. Cold surrounded me—but so did clarity. Here, you exist only in the now. You find the stillness, and you find yourself.

This dive was more than an experience. It was a bridge. Two years ago, while 7.5 months pregnant, I dove in the Bahamas with the same underwater videographer, David Langlois. We saw a hammerhead shark, which was a lifelong dream of mine because these amazing creatures are a symbol of strength and purpose. Filming with David again for this project was a great connection between who I was then and who I’ve become.

In the first 20 minutes under the ice, we faced technical filming challenges, which forced us to stay submerged longer than expected—cue the warm water poured down into the suit. It reminded me of a mantra from my pilates teacher: “It’s only physical pain.”

Freediving is an extreme sport. It demands both respect and courage. But every athlete understands the pursuit of one per cent more. With the right coaching and mindset, we learn how to safely push beyond comfort and into growth.

Rising from the depths

Resurfacing isn’t about triumph—it’s about transformation. When I emerged from the ice, Leone came inching towards me. My knees buckled and tears filled my eyes. He had seen me, his mama, still dreaming, still diving and still daring. That moment—his little hand reaching out—will stay with me forever.

The road is the adventure

What made this trip unforgettable wasn’t just the dive—it was everything in between. The laughter, t. The music, t. The quiet. T, the snow.

It was how our Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV carried us through every stretch of wilderness with comfort and strength. How it allowed us to focus on what mattered most: the experience.

And it was about the lesson I want to pass to my son. That life is not something to fear. It’s something to feel, to follow and to explore.

Because the depths we travel—in water, on land, in life—make us who we are.

A guide to cold-water dive spots across Canada

Though Flintkote Quarry was our chosen destination for this adventure, Canada is rich with dive-worthy waters—each with their own allure and conditions. Here’s a quick guide to where to dive next:

British Columbia

  • Scuba: Browning Wall (Port Hardy), Race Rocks (near Victoria), HMCS wrecks (Nanaimo, Vancouver)
  • Freedive: Snake Island Wall (Nanaimo), Whytecliff Park (West Vancouver)

Ontario

  • Scuba: Sweepstakes and Niagara II (Tobermory)
  • Freedive: Limestone Islands (Kingston)

Quebec

  • Scuba and Freedive: Île-aux-Lièvres (Saguenay)
  • Secret Spot: Green Island (near Quebec City)

Newfoundland and Labrador

  • Scuba: Bell Island wrecks (Conception Bay)
  • Freedive: The Arches (Gros Morne National Park)

Nova Scotia and New Brunswick

  • Scuba: Sambro Island (near Halifax), Scots Bay (Bay of Fundy)
  • Freedive: Deer Island, Grand Manan (New Brunswick)

Nunavut

  • Scuba and Freedive: Arctic Bay (Baffin Island), Resolute Bay (Cornwallis Island)