Molly Carlson becomes first woman to dive off a free-standing iceberg

Canadian cliff diver Molly Carlson has pulled off a leap like no other: on June 11, 2026, she completed a backwards dive of about 15 metres off a free-floating iceberg near Twillingate, Newfoundland, into the North Atlantic, becoming the first woman to dive from a free-standing iceberg. It was also her highest backwards dive to date.

An iceberg is not a diving board

Unlike a fixed platform, an iceberg can shift, roll or break apart without warning. Carlson prepared for months with Canadian ice climber Will Gadd: she learned ice-climbing basics in Canmore, Alberta, then did wetsuit testing and cold-water training in Montreal, before the team assessed swells, iceberg movement and weather at Twillingate and climbed to the top on a temporary rigging system installed by Gadd.

Courage is not the absence of fear

Carlson said the dive had been a long-time dream and by far one of the craziest and scariest things she has ever done, adding that bravery is not about getting rid of fear but about not letting it decide what you are capable of. The documentary 'Red Bull Iceberg Dive' was released on October 22, and Carlson also finished runner-up in the 2026 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series.

The support team stressed that icebergs can roll, calve or move at any moment and that visitors should keep a safe distance — this is not something to try to copy.