Scuba Diver Australasia + Ocean Planet POLAR BEAR 2019-01-09 - Text by Ellen Cuylaerts Photos by Ellen Cuylaerts & Christian Vizl Polar Bear(Ursus maritimus, Red List IUCN status: Vulnerable) by: Shutterstock Polar bears can swim over long distances for hours at a time and even pursue seals underwater, holding their breath for several minutes