IndyCar's James Hinchcliffe held underwater press conference in Long Beach

IndyCar's James Hinchcliffe is one of the more fun and adventurous drivers on the track, so, as a certified scuba diver, it seems only natural that he'd eventually hold a press conference under water.

This week at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California - ahead of Sunday's Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, which runs in the streets next to the aquarium - Hinchcliffe did just that. It was an IndyCar Series first.

The self-described "fish at heart" dove (literally) in the aquarium and answered questions while all kinds of creatures swam around him. His dive was complete with a microphone and listening device attached to his wetsuit, and he talked about the possibility of winning back-to-back Long Beach grand prixs.

About his love for diving, Hinch said, via IndyCar:

"I went diving when I was 10 on a family vacation, and fell in love with it right away," the 31-year-old Canadian said. "It took a couple years to get back to it just due to opportunity, but once I had the freedom to do it, I got certified, got a couple advance certifications as well.

"For me, it's the ultimate escape. It's the exact opposite of my life at the racetrack. It's exciting for me to get to be part of something like this."

Here's a look at some photos from Hinch's dive inside the aquarium.

Courtesy of IndyCar

Courtesy of IndyCar

Courtesy of IndyCar

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