THE CAPSULE
IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN !
November 28, 2019
14
Moorea, French Polynesia. The Under the Pole team has finally launched its Capsule into the water. Three divers spent 3 successive days and nights in the depths of the sea. It was an entirely unique experience!<br />
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“That will always be one of my greatest adventures,” said Emmanuelle Périé-Bardout enthusiastically as she came out of the water. Despite being tired, she had a huge smile on her face. After three days spent on the seafloor, she was happy to return to fresh air, sun, her children and husband... Above all, she was particularly thrilled with the wonderful adventure she experienced underwater with Gaël Lagarrigue and Franck Gazzola. When she was younger, she used to dream about exploring the seabed with Commandant Cousteau... “I’ve just achieved my childhood dream.”<br />
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This dream was made possible thanks to the Capsule, a unique underwater habitat designed by Under The Pole, which opens the way to a new era for underwater scientific exploration. The Capsule uses the technique of saturation diving to enable researchers to spend several consecutive days underwater. Free from the constraints associated with decompression at depths between -35 m and -15 m, divers can now explore the abyss as often and for as much time as they wish. And between two excursions, they also have the pleasure of continually observing the evolving underwater ecosystems through the Capsule’s enormous portholes. Back to dry land!<br />
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“Three days is really short and really long at the same time,” added Emmanuelle Périé-Bardout. “There were some exceptional moments and some more difficult ones too, with migraines and nausea. But at night, when darkness set in, the magic began. The zooplankton display was hypnotic. Huge worms rippled past the thin stream of light from our lamps. The whale songs made our little habitat vibrate. It was extraordinary.”<br />
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A unique place for a magical experience which also serves as an incomparable technological tool for scientific research, the Capsule will continue to be of use while also fulfilling childhood dreams.<br />
Who will be fortunate enough to be the next occupant? Join us in 2020 to follow the adventures.
