The seas and oceans cover over 70% of the surface of our planet, but no more than 10% of them is believed to have been explored.
While our knowledge of this world below the surface of the water is limited, we are well aware of the threat it is exposed to as a result of pollution and global warming: it is a sobering thought that between 1970 and 2010, half of the known marine species have become extinct.
However, the answers we’re looking for to preserve biodiversity and a crucial resource for our survival – because the seas and oceans feed two billion people and generate 50% of the world’s oxygen – could be concealed between a depth of 30 and 200 metres, in the mesophotic zone, mid-way between the surface and the depths.
This is why study of this area was encouraged on the occasion of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, and Under The Pole responded to this appeal.
Under The Pole, the international organisation for ocean research and diving innovation, of which Suex is a technical partner, will be conducting the DEEPLIFE 2021-2030 expedition to explore the mesophotic zone in areas of the planet with different climates.
The aim is to identify new species that live at a depth of between 30 and 200 metres, to understand how they have been influenced by climate change, to identify the geographical areas most sensitive to these changes and to propose solutions for the preservation of the environment and biodiversity.
These discoveries will then be transmitted by educating young people, informing public opinion and engaging in dialogue with the world of politics.
The approach to underwater exploration and the technology to implement it will be crucial to the success of the expedition.
The base for Under The Pole’s operations will be the WHY II, a new-generation oceanographic ship designed to explore the mesophotic zone, thanks to the marine biology laboratory and the decompression chamber.
Also used will be Capsule, a self-sufficient underwater habitat with a 360° panoramic view and zero impact on the surrounding environment, which enables 24-hour observation of the wonders of the underwater world.
A crucial contribution will also be made by the divers, who are able to make clearer observations and collect more precise, quicker samples, offering greater flexibility than any other research technique.
Reaching the deepest areas of the mesophotic zone will require the right equipment, i.e. oxygen recycling systems, thermal diving suits and underwater propellers to allow for prolonged dives.
The support of Suex as a technical partner will allow Under The Pole to access our most advanced technologies for DPV scooters, such as our Drive navigation system, and our expertise in underwater exploration, to reveal all the secrets of the mesophotic zone.
