Under the Pole

A dedicated team of deep sea divers and scientists make first discovery of a marine animal forest in the icy waters of the Arctic

- Elizabeth Soong

In the underwater world known as the Mesophotic Zone, 30 to 200 metres below sea level, there is an ecosystem of arctic submarine life that have remained undiscovered—until now. With the support of the Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, Under The Pole IV—Deeplife 2021-2030 expedition is on a mission to find and survey marine animal forests with the goal of improving knowledge and awareness of these ecosystems and assist in their preservation.

Composing a team of both seasoned divers and marine scientists led by husband-and-wife and co-directors of Under The Pole, Emmanuelle Périé-Bardout and Ghislain Bardout, they sailed to the frigid waters of the Svalbard archipelago, off the north coast of Norway, in April 2022. This area is under threat as it is warming faster than anywhere else, and the floating sea ice that covers much of the Arctic Ocean is now half its usual size.