About Under The Pole
Our Story
Founded in 2008 by Emmanuelle Périé‑Bardout and Ghislain Bardout, a couple who turned their passion for oceans' depths into a way of life, Under The Pole has become an international reference in ocean exploration and conservation.
For nearly 20 years, Under The Pole has conducted scientific diving expeditions around the world, carried out awareness programs for youth and the general public and advocated for ocean conservation with institutions and policymakers. All of our actions share a common goal : to make a real impact in conserving the ocean and its ecosystems.
Emmanuelle PÉRIÉ‑BARDOUT
Fascinated by oceans since childhood, Emmanuelle Périé‑Bardout trained to become a skipper and head a nautical base at the French National School of Sailing and Les Glénans. In 2004, she joined a year‑long expedition with French explorer Jean‑Louis Étienne as a sailor and nautical activities manager, then was first mate on a polar sailing boat in Norway.
After a mission at the geographical North Pole, she founded Under The Pole with her husband, Ghislain Bardout, in 2008. As a rebreather diver on the expeditions and captain of the WHY, Under The Pole’s sailboat, she co‑leads programs in the field and from their home base in Brittany, with a keen eye for education and conservation.
Ghislain BARDOUT
Inspired by the great outdoors, particularly mountains and the ocean’s depths, with an affinity for science gleaned during engineering studies at Switzerland’s École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Ghislain Bardout took the plunge into exploration at French explorer Jean‑Louis Étienne’s side in 2006.
An avid rebreather diver with strong curiosity, concerned about human impact on our planet, Ghislain—along with his wife, Emmanuelle Périé‑Bardout —conceived the first “Under the Pole” expedition in 2007. Over the past 15 years and through four ambitious programs, he has acquired an advanced expertise in deep and polar scientific diving and brought structure and development to his expeditions, focused on scientific discovery and raising public awareness.
«Curiosity sparks exploration. Inspiration fuels passion. Passion drives the greatest human achievements.»
Our Team
From our base in Concarneau and aboard the WHY, a passionate team organizes and carries out pioneering expeditions throughout the world to explore and research Oceans.
Deep Diving for Ocean Conservation
Under The Pole's mission is to contributesto the advancement of Ocean conservation and the preservation of its biodiversity.
For over 18 years, divers and scientists from Under The Pole expeditions have been exploring the mesophotic zone (30–200 m) to better understand the Ocean, reveal its biodiversity and protect it. To achieve this mission, Under The Pole deploys innovative means to carry out deep diving expeditions in polar, tropical and temperate environments.
Divers use underwater thrusters and closed‑circuit diving suits called rebreathers. Rebreathers do not release bubbles, allowing divers to observe marine life without disturbance and to stay underwater longer to conduct scientific research programs on marine biodiversity.
