Will Smith’s Story About Nearly Dying While Scuba Diving In The Arctic Is Giving Me Chills (And Chuckles)

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Will Smith has had an incredible career, spanning nearly four decades. He first became famous with his popular TV show, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and then became a major movie star and musician, becoming a constant presence in pop culture. Now, he’s starring in a new documentary series called Pole to Pole with Will Smith, which follows him on adventures from the North to the South Pole. During filming, he had a terrifying near-death experience while scuba diving in the Arctic – a story he tells with humor that’s both funny and frightening.

What Happened When Will Smith Almost Died While Scuba Diving In The Arctic?

Will Smith’s success story is a blend of dedication and good fortune. It’s taken him from winning a Grammy for his first rap hit, “Parents Just Don’t Understand,” to starring in blockbuster movies throughout the ‘90s like Men in Black and Independence Day. He’s continued to deliver memorable performances in films like Bad Boys, Ali, I Am Legend, and ultimately, King Richard, which earned him an Academy Award.

Will Smith recently shared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon that after achieving professional success with Pole to Pole (available on Disney+), he felt a need for a new challenge. He realized this would involve confronting some of his biggest fears. This desire led him to take on the series, and during filming at the North Pole, he experienced a particularly frightening incident while scuba diving, as he described:

We were scuba diving at the North Pole and went beneath the ice. The ice above us was incredibly thick, sometimes up to ten feet. We swam about forty yards out, and it felt like we were exploring an upside-down mountain range made of ice. Suddenly, we heard an urgent call to end the dive. I immediately started to surface, but unfortunately, I ran into the ice.

He’s already facing things I’d absolutely dread – being in the ocean, trapped under ice, relying on breathing equipment, and wearing a full wetsuit, all while in serious danger. I could list more, but let the rapper, known for his song “Gettin’ Jiggy wit It,” explain how this bad situation quickly became much worse.

I started to panic and told myself to calm down. I was connected to a safety line and needed to pull myself back to the opening, but I mistakenly yanked off my mask. I couldn’t breathe for a moment, and quickly put the mask back on. I was really scared and kept repeating, ‘Will, calm down!’ I even vowed that if I got out of the situation, I would only focus on and celebrate Black culture from then on, promising to do so sincerely.

It’s common for people who’ve faced a scary experience to make a promise to themselves – to stick to what they’re familiar with. Will Smith, in this case, vowed to focus on projects specifically representing Black culture if he got through this ordeal. For others, it might be a commitment to their profession or ingrained habits. Essentially, it’s a promise born from stress, hoping to avoid similar difficult situations in the future by staying within one’s comfort zone.

I’ve definitely been in situations where I’ve made desperate pleas to God, promising to make better choices if things worked out – especially when I felt tempted to do something risky. Thankfully, everything ended up okay.

I was lying there when I suddenly felt myself rising, as if someone had pulled me upwards by a rope. Once I realized I wasn’t in danger, I calmed down and looked around. The sunlight was streaming through the ice, and it transformed the terrifying experience into something incredibly peaceful and beautiful. I just kept thinking, ‘Please, whoever is helping me, don’t let go!’

Honestly, I’m at a loss for words, but it’s a good thing for Smith that any accidental urination in the ocean goes unnoticed.

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2026-01-22 21:41