• The submarine polar expedition "Deepsea Under The Pole by Rolex" is an innovative human adventure, focusing on the underwater side of the icefloe, this hidden side being still quite unknown due to its difficult access.

Its objectives consist in (1) realizing an audiovisual testimony (pictures, video and sound) about the underwater side of the icefloe in order to constitute its « memory » and to reveal it before it disappears victim of global warming (2) carrying out two scientific programs related to sea ice melting (ice and snow thickness measurement along the progression) and to human physiology under extreme conditions (particularly adaptation of divers’ decompression subjected to efforts and intense cold).

In order to reach these various objectives, 8 professional crew members will proceed on skis pulling pulkas from march to June 2010 trough 1200 km of icefloe and will realized 100 dives between geographical north pole and Ellesmere island in the extreme north of Canada.

• After 65 days on the sea ice, the last month of the expedition will be devoted to submarine exploration in the north coast of Ellesmere Island. Explosion of submarine life while approaching the coast will be enhanced by its frozen fjords, its marine mammals, narwhals, belugas, seals and polar bears.

• Therefore an evolution of icefloe morphology, life and ecosystems which go with it, will be related trough this expedition.

•In order to be best prepared before departure, the whole team went in northern Finland in February 2009 for a training, on the extreme north of the Baltic sea.

This expedition innovates by its purpose : capturing pictures of this world of unexpected relief in order to create an exhaustive data bank -pictures and videos- of the underwater side of icefloe.

It is surprising by it’s originality : combining ski trekking and scubadiving in one of the toughest climatic places of the planet.

Moreover, after the fourth International Polar Year, we will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the North Pole conquest.

Read the letter of support of French Doctor-Explorer Jean-Louis Etienne (French)

The spring : best period of the year to observe icefloe

The expedition will start 2010 March 15, at the beginning of the spring. The end of winter is the best period of the year to discover icefloe : sun is permanent, ice is strong and thick, and ocean water is crystal clear, giving us the opportunity to realize unparalleled images.

Only ski progression with regular supplies makes possible this project. It is impossible to realize it with an ice-breaker or by air with a plane or a helicopter for practical and financial reasons.

Icefloe is one of the last virgin territories of the planet, its submarine side even more. We just discovered it but it seems that it will have disappear in the summer in a matter of 8 to 15 years in all probability : each year reduces the show !