Under the Pole I

The first major polar underwater expedition conducted beneath the Arctic ice, from the North Pole to Canada.

2010

UTP I Key Objectives

Under The Pole was the first major polar underwater expedition beneath the Arctic ice, with the team exploring an extreme environment stretching from the North Pole to Canada.

The objective of Under The Pole I was to explore an environment affected by climate change and to document the world beneath the ice through photography and film, creating a scientific record of this increasingly fragile, yet crucial, region.

Between March 26 and May 10, 2010, eight explorers and a husky, led by Ghislain Bardout, journeyed across the Arctic ice on skis and pulkas, completing 52 dives just 65 km from the geographic North Pole. The divers and scientists participating in the expedition analyzed the underwater face of the ice to better understand the impact of climate change in a region that is increasingly affected by ice melt.

The underwater ice environment, unreachable without specialized equipment, shelters a largely unknown world that was studied to identify new species and habitats in need of protection. For the first time, previously unseen imagery of this extreme environment was captured, helping to create a scientific record of a fragile ecosystem that is essential to the equilibrium of our planet.

The data collected during the expedition contributed to an awareness campaign and enabled a wide audience to better understand conservation challenges facing the Arctic.

The expedition's scientific program :

Under The Pole I enabled the implementation of a large‑scale scientific program aimed at measuring snow thickness. Christian Haas, a sea‑ice specialist at the Alfred Wegener Institute, took part in this program and contributed to make more accurate measurements of ice thickness. In addition, the scientific diving program investigated the underwater ecosystems surrounding the pack ice.

Therapeutic reimmersion protocols were carried out in collaboration with hyperbaric physicians from the Géo‑Scaph association in order to advance knowledge of human physiology in extreme environments.

Under The Pole I in pictures

Science
Two scientific programs conducted to examine sea‑ice snow thickness and to assess team physiology in extreme environments.
R&D
51 dives completed between 0 and 35 meters in extreme cold conditions (‑1°C to ‑52°C).
Documentary + Content
A 52‑minute film produced for Thalassa and National Geographic, 5‑minute segments for France 2 TV news and a book published by Éditions Chêne.
Education
Scientific discoveries were shared with the public through talks, festivals, conferences, exhibitions and other multiple events.